By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – Last Saturday night’s season opener showed a lot of things for both Noblesville and Avon. They both tested each other throughout the contest, but it would ultimately be the Millers finding ways late to distance themselves from the Orioles for a 66-61 win.
Noblesville got off to a 7-0 start to get comfortable right away on their home floor. Freshman Maia Blower scored the first point of the season with a free throw. Junior C.C. Quigley followed with two herself for a 3-0 lead.
Senior Kate Rollins nailed a jump shot from the left and fellow senior Meredith Tippner sank an eight-footer for a 7-0 score.
Avon woke up a little to catch up with the Millers’ pace and Noblesville led 18-10 after one.
Quigley produced six points in a row for a 24-12 count. Avon’s Aniah Smith and Ella Robinson each hit a three to bring it under 10 at halftime, 30-22.
“In the first half, we got in foul trouble and that really kept us from being able to stretch that lead out,” said Noblesville’s 17th-year head coach Donna Buckley. “At halftime, we talked about doing a better job of rebounding. They were out rebounding us at half. We just talked about paint touches and how we need to do a better job of doing that.”
The Millers got it up to an 18-point advantage in the third, thanks to a 13-6 run to start the second half. Tippner sank a pair of free throws and Blower a layup, along with Ally Hutchinson scoring two consecutive buckets for 38-22.
“We did a great job of turning them over, rebounding and getting the ball in the paint,” Buckley stated.
The Orioles started to close the gap toward the end of the third by another couple of three-pointers from Robinson. Noblesville held a 47-36 lead with one quarter remaining.
Avon took advantage of opportunities and it worked, for a short time. The Orioles made five three-pointers in the fourth and shaved off every bit of the 18-point Miller lead and tied it 58-58.
“And then we got a little crazy and they hit a bunch of threes and obviously brought it all the way back. We had five turnovers in the first half and 11 in the second, all live ball turnovers that led to easy opportunities for them,” continued Buckley.
Noblesville got back on top, where they stayed for good, when Tippner made a basket and was fouled. She made the free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play and a 61-58 lead with 1:20 left.
“Reagan (Wilson) graduated and we’re trying to replace a four-year starter at point guard. We had some young or inexperienced moments. I love that we fought through it. In the end, our seniors made huge, huge plays. Tipp was awesome and then Kate had an and-one that gave us an opportunity to win the basketball game,” said Buckley.
With the lead at 64-58, Makaylee Butts hit a three from the top of the key for Avon to bring it back to three at 64-61.
Tippner got a steal and was fouled with 2.7 seconds left, sinking those two from the charity stripe for the final of 66-61.
Noblesville (1-0, 1-0 HCC) was led by Meredith Tippner’s career-high 31, including 6-of-6 free throws and 11 two-point field goals. She was joined in double figures by C.C. Quigley’s 13, who was also perfect at the line (7-for-7). Freshman Maia Blower scored 10 in her varsity debut and was all over the court with steals, assists and rebounds.
Kate Rollins had six, Ally Hutchinson four and freshman Norah Vetor two in her first game.
The Millers hit the road on Tuesday at Bishop Chatard (1-0). The Trojans were winners at Scottsburg to open their season on Saturday, 57-50. Noblesville plays another away game Friday at Hamilton Heights.