By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – Last Saturday afternoon, the Noblesville Millers welcomed in the Cathedral Irish. It was the first matchup between the two schools since 2001, when Cathedral won 75-35.
This time, it would be the Millers getting the win to extend their winning streak to eight in a row now with a 64-53 victory over the Irish.
The first period was tight from the opening tip. Noblesville was able to lean on sophomore Meredith Tippner, who accounted for nine in the quarter and she was just about matched by Cathedral’s Layla Gold, netting seven herself.
“Honestly, we missed a couple shots. We’ve been shooting the ball really well in this stretch,” said Noblesville head coach Donna Buckley on how her team has shot during their current eight-game winning streak.
“We just didn’t shoot it as well as we have. If we had knocked a couple of those down, the momentum totally swings and it might have looked a little different,” continued Buckley on the Millers’ rough shooting performance to start the game.
Regan Wilson scored the game’s first basket from 16 feet out, but not until 1:14 into the contest. Tippner was the go-to in the first, propelling the Millers on a 9-2 run after being tied 2-2, giving Noblesville an 11-4 lead at that point.
The Irish and Millers traded scoring stints the rest of the first, but the Millers were able to stretch the lead twice to six, leading 17-11 through one.
Cathedral tied it up at 17-17 immediately to start the second on a Catherine Cline three from the right wing.
Dani Mendez then sank two free throws for a 19-17 Miller edge.
Layla Gold then made a basket with the free throw to put the Irish out in front again 20-19.
Brooklyn Ely took a pass in the left corner for a triple and a 22-20 Noblesville lead again. Just after that, a Cline layup tied it for the third time at 22-22.
After a defensive stop, Reagan Wilson found room in the Irish defense and spotted up for a wide open three at the top of the key for a 25-22 lead that Noblesville would not relinquish.
Noblesville went on a 6-3 run to end the half, thanks to baskets consecutively from Tippner, WIlson and Tippner again for a 31-25 halftime lead for the Millers.
“In the first half, we just missed a few shots. It was the difference and that allowed them to hang around,” added Buckley on how Cathedral kept the game close in the first half.
Things started to click better in the third for the Millers. Their lead increased to seven, nine and got as high as 12 at 45-33. They hit the boards harder and shots were falling better as they picked up the speed on both ends of the court.
“The third quarter, we did knock those shots down. And, you see what we look like when we make shots, we get going. We speed you up and we’re a very different basketball team,” stated Buckley on how her team thrives on playing at a faster tempo than their opponent.
Reagan Wilson found her way to score seven of the last nine points in the third for the Millers, including another three from the top of the arc for a 54-40 lead after three.
“At halftime, we talked about getting a good start in the second half and being confident when you shoot the basketball. Reag and Tipp just kind of went off in that quarter. When you get one of our kids going, whether it’s Reagan and Tippner today or Shoemaker (Kaitlyn), we’ve got kids that can fill it up real fast,” stated Buckley on how Noblesville’s confidence was key to opening up the game and the Millers getting back to their normal style of play.
Noblesville started off the fourth with a Tippner bucket, giving the Millers their largest lead of the game at 16 points, 56-40.
The Irish once again leaned heavily on Layla Gold. She was able to score seven of her game-high 25 points.
Just like it was throughout the game, it was a game that Tippner and Wilson took advantage of every opportunity and fed off of each other throughout.
“We always want to challenge teams. Can you play with us for 32 minutes? That third quarter definitely at both ends was how we’ve been playing,” Buckley on how the Millers eventually got back to how they’re used to.
The Millers kept their lead comfortable in the fourth, notching their eighth win in a row and ninth in their last 10 with a 64-53 matinee win over Cathedral.
Cathedral drops to 7-9 on the season. Layla Gold led the Irish with 25 points and eight rebounds. She was joined in double-digits by Catherine Cline with 14 and four boards.
Noblesville (15-3) keeps its momentum going and will look to continue its streak when it takes a road trip to Mount Vernon (12-5) on Jan. 10.
The Millers were led by Meredith Tippner tying Gold for game-high honors with 25 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Reagan Wilson produced another great offensive day with 21 points and four boards. Kaitlyn Shoemaker had seven and Dani Mendez six.
Earlier in the week, the Millers beat Ben Davis 75-59 last Tuesday at The Mill.
Noblesville led 20-5 after the first quarter, with Wilson and Tippner both scoring six points. The Millers poured in another 20 points in the second period for a 40-17 halftime lead. Noblesville led 57-30 after three quarters, then held off a 29-point fourth quarter from the Giants to get the double-digit win.
Tippner had another double-double, this one totaling 23 points and 11 rebounds. Wilson scored 22 points and Kaitlyn Shoemaker added 10 points and six rebounds. Mendez collected six rebounds and made six steals, while Wilson dished out eight assists.