By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
LA PORTE – The Noblesville Millers were back in the semi-state for the second time in three years and met up with Valparaiso, a team they played at home on Dec. 28 at home and won by nine.
In last Saturday’s rematch in the second semi-state semifinal of the day, Noblesville had little trouble en route to a 59-42 convincing win.
The Millers were ready from the opening tip with senior Ava Shoemaker knocking down a three from the top of the key. Valparaiso’s Cadynce Clark tied it 3-3, answering with a three from the left.
“Ava comes out and hits a three right away. She’s just a sass of a personality,” stated Noblesville head coach Donna Buckley laughing. “She has no fear, no conscience, and you have to have that this time of the year. If you play fearful, you’re going to get beat,” continued Buckley.
The Vikings had their only lead of the game (5-3) on a Mackenzie Wasserman jumper.
On the ensuing possession, junior Meredith Tippner made a basket and was fouled. She made the old-fashioned three-point play to grab a 6-5 lead, one that the Millers would not relinquish.
“These kids are just winners,” Buckley said. “You know they’ll bring their ‘A’ game no matter what. They are going to compete and give you everything they’ve got,” continued Buckley.
That’s exactly what they did. Their first quarter lead kept building. A three from Reagan Wilson made it 9-5, then Tippner made her presence known to Valpo again.
The junior all-state candidate would score nine in a row, pushing it to 18-9, forcing Valpo to burn a timeout to slow down the Miller momentum.
The timeout only fueled Noblesville. Sophomore C.C. Quigley and junior Kate Rollins each sank a pair of free throws and Quigley a putback layup off an offensive rebound and the Millers led comfortably 24-9 after one.
“I said, ‘Guys we have to hit a shot early.’ They came out and settled in,” Buckley stated.
Clark would get Valpo started well in the second, but Noblesville came right back.
Wilson swished her second three. After that, she took a pass from Tippner on a fast break for 29-12. Assisting Rollins on another fast break, she finished the 9–3 run to start the second by driving for a layup. Two more Tippner free throws when Lillian Barnes was whistled for her third foul extended it to 35-19 before taking a 35-22 lead into halftime.
“Reagan just waited and got hers. Our kids did a great job of setting screens to get her looks,” said Buckley.
Shoemaker got open for two more three-pointers to open the third and simply put the game out of reach for Valparaiso.
Holding the Vikings to just six third quarter points would be a big factor in the Millers’ quest to advance to the championship and defense seemed to be that common theme once again to guide them to victory.
Noblesville outrebounded Valparaiso 29-25, but the turnover battle is what stood out the most. The Millers forced 12 Viking miscues and only turned it over three times themselves, seven of those being steals.
Meredith Tippner led with 20 points, 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Reagan Wilson had 15 points, three assists and four steals, while Ava Shoemaker and C.C. Quigley each had nine, with Quigley grabbing eight boards and Kate Rollins added four.