Noblesville nearly came all the way back against Mount Vernon Tuesday night at The Mill, before dropping an overtime game to the Marauders by the score of 51-48.
The Millers struggled in the first half after taking an early 4-0 lead; Ashlynn Shade and Anna Kiser made baskets to get Noblesville on the board. Abby Haley hit a free throw to get the Millers ahead 5-2 with 5:31 left in the first quarter.
But Noblesville would not score again for another nine minutes. Meanwhile, Mount Vernon poured in 19 consecutive points. The Marauders led 15-5 by the end of the first period, then Olivia Yeley added six more in the second quarter to put Mount Vernon ahead 21-5.
“We just played so flat in the first half,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley.
Shade hit a 3-pointer with 4:32 left in the half to stop the Marauders’ run. Still, Mount Vernon led 27-14 at halftime, as Lexi Shelton hit a pair of 3s in the final three minutes of the quarter.
Noblesville came roaring back in the third period. The Marauders started the quarter with a free throw from Tessa Freeman, but after that it was all Millers, as they went on a 17-2 run. Five different players scored in the third, including six points from Mallory Miller. The junior hit consecutive baskets to get Noblesville within one, then Shade’s fadeaway basket got the Millers in front 31-30.
Yeley hit a free throw with 31 seconds left in the third, so the score was tied at 31-31 going into the fourth quarter. Mount Vernon never trailed in the fourth or the overtime, but Noblesville never let the Marauders lead by more than four points.
Sydney Perry made two free throws with 2:18 left to push MV ahead 41-37. Noblesville responded with Miller converting a three-point play to get the Millers within one again, then her free throw tied the game with 1:10 left.
“We came out and played really well in the second half, and just a play here or there and we have an opportunity to win it,” said Buckley. “Credit to us to put ourselves back in the game.”
Free throws got the Marauders ahead 43-41 with under 10 seconds to play, but Shade hit another fade to send the game to overtime. Mount Vernon scored all of its points from the line, starting with two from Shelton to put the Marauders up 45-43. Mount Vernon hit 8 of 10 free throws in the extra period.
“I love our grit and fight to get back in it, I just would like to see us make a play or two and get out of there with a win,” said Buckley.
Shade led all scorers with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and reached double-double status with 10 rebounds. Miller added 11 points and had four steals. Haley handed out five assists to go with her eight points.
Noblesville is 7-12 for the season. This was the last home game of the year for the Millers, who finish with three road games before playing at the Westfield sectional. Noblesville’s next contest is Friday at Zionsville in a girls-boys Hoosier Crossroads Conference doubleheader.
MOUNT VERNON 51, NOBLESVILLE 48
(overtime)
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Kaitlyn Shoemaker 1-7 0-0 2 3
Ashlynn Shade 7-17 0-1 18 4
Abby Haley 2-5 4-6 8 3
Mallory Miller 4-9 3-5 11 5
Anna Kiser 2-4 0-0 4 3
Dani Mendez 0-0 0-0 0 0
Emily Wood 1-1 0-0 2 2
Brooklyn Ely 0-0 0-0 0 0
Kailyn Ely 1-1 1-2 3 2
Totals 18-44 8-14 48 22
Score by Quarters
Mt. Vernon 15 12 4 12 8 – 51
Noblesville 5 9 17 12 5 – 48
Noblesville 3-point shooting (4-18) Shade 4-8, Shoemaker 0-5, Miller 0-3, Haley 0-2.
Noblesville rebounds (22) Shade 10, Kiser 5, K. Ely 2, Shoemaker 1, Haley 1, Miller 1, Wood 1, team 1.
Noblesville’s Mallory Miller scored 11 points for the Millers during their Tuesday game with Mount Vernon at The Mill. (Kent Graham)