By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
There’s nothing as satisfying as a Senior Day basketball win.
The Noblesville girls got exactly that on Saturday afternoon, and it helped that the game was exciting, too. The Millers beat a good Martinsville team 78-71 for their sixth straight victory.
“Our last time playing in The Mill,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley. The coach said as the game went into the fourth quarter, the girls realized it was the last eight minutes they would be on their home floor – “let’s make sure we make the most of it,” said Buckley.
“My goodness, these kids have done so many things for our program and had a tremendous career,” said Buckley about her two seniors, Emily Kiser and Olivia Morales. “So to finish with two wins this week against really good teams, it was a nice way to send these seniors out.”
The game was back and forth during the first three quarters, with the Artesians leading 17-15 after the first period, and the Millers up 35-34 at halftime. Kiser took over in the second quarter, scoring 13 points. That included an 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line, a sign of things to come later in the game.
The two teams continued to trade the lead during the third period, with Abby Haley and Maddie Knight both hitting 3-pointers to put their team in front on separate occasions.
Kiser got the Millers ahead 50-48 on a traditional three-point play, but that was answered by a basket from Martinsville’s Jessica Nix. So, the “last eight minutes” began with a 50-50 tie.
But Noblesville would never trail in the fourth quarter. Knight’s 3 opened the period, then Mallory Johnson made it a run by making three of four foul shots, as an Artesians personal foul was followed by a technical foul. Knight then made a layin, and the Millers were up 58-50 just like that.
Noblesville took its biggest lead of the quarter with 4:38 left, when another pair of Knight free throws put the Millers ahead 63-54. Martinsville made one last push, getting to with 68-66 on a Nix jumper.
Not to worry, as Noblesville got it done at the free-throw line. The Millers received 26 foul shot attempts in the fourth period, making 21 of them. Knight was 10-of-12 all by herself.
Buckley credited the free throws with clinching the game for Noblesville. Those foul shots offset a ferocious rebounding effort by the Artesians, who at one point scored a basket after getting three consecutive offensive rebounds.
“It was very frustrating to not rebound better than what we did,” said Buckley. “We were able to make some plays. Maddie Knight really took over. Her and Emily, big free throws.”
Kiser made 5 of 6 foul shots in the fourth quarter. Overall, Emily was an astounding (and outstanding) 16-of-17 from the line, and finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots.
Knight totaled 26 points, which includes 11 of 14 foul shots made and three 3-pointers. Johnson had 13 points and four assists. Abby Haley dished out five assists.
The Millers are now 13-7, and play their next game Wednesday at Pendleton Heights.
Noblesville 78, Martinsville 71
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Mallory Johnson 3-9 5-8 13 4
Maddie Knight 6-12 11-14 26 4
Madison Whetro 1-5 0-0 2 1
Abby Haley 1-1 1-2 4 3
Emily Kiser 7-17 16-17 31 4
Olivia Morales 1-1 0-0 2 0
Anna Kiser 0-0 0-1 0 2
Kailyn Ely 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 19-46 33-42 78 18
Score by Quarters
Martinsville 17 17 16 21 – 71
Noblesville 15 20 15 28 – 78
Noblesville 3-point shooting (7-15) Knight 3-6, Johnson 2-4, E. Kiser 1-2, Haley 1-1, Whetro 0-2.
Noblesville rebounds (31) E. Kiser 17, Knight 4, Johnson 3, Haley 2, A. Kiser 2, Whetro 1, team 2.
Noblesville’s defense played tough against Martinsville during the Millers’ Senior Day game Saturday afternoon at The Mill. Noblesville won 78-71, notching its sixth straight victory.
Pictured from left: Emily Kiser, Maddie Knight, Madison Whetro, Abby Haley, Mallory Johnson. (Kirk Green)