Wood paces three in double-figures, balanced scoring attack for Millers
4A #15 Noblesville 68, Avon 48 - (Saturday, January 18 at The Mill)
Orioles 17 12 4 15 -- 48
Millers 19 12 15 22 -- 68
On paper, it was looked to be a blowout for Noblesville. We all know that how things are projected to be and how they end up are always completely different. That's exactly how it started in Saturday's midday matchup in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. The host Millers eventually ran away with a 68-48 win over the visiting Orioles.
It was almost as if Erin Wood knew that a great game was expected out of her against this Avon squad. Wood posted up in the lane and Noblesville's guard spoon fed her as she dropped down four field goals and a pair of free throws in the first quarter alone to lead the Millers.
Wood wasn't the only scorer to start the game hot. Avon's Megan Hunt had six points to keep the Millers honest and her Orioles still in the ball game, trailing Noblesville just 19-17 in a tight first quarter.
The Orioles hung tight and kept the Millers on their toes for the remainder of the first half. One thing that was a big factor was that Noblesville had forced Avon into committing 9 personal fouls in the first quarter, so Keck's girls spent a majority of the second at the free throw line. Those trips to the charity stripe proved pivotal. Noblesville took full advantage by going 8-for-8 to take a 31-29 slight lead into the locker room.
Kiser's quarter was the theme of the third. She flipped a switch in her head and scored seven of her 14 points. Her seven, along with Wood and Brooke Herron each knocking down a three, got Noblesville the chance to open the game up with a 15-4 third and lead 46-33.
The Millers kept pouring it on in the fourth. Just into the quarter, Katelyn O'Reilly scored two buckets in a row on consecutive Avon turnovers for a 52-33 score.
Taking turns to help put this game to bed, Noblesville was exhausting Avon as it kept things up down the stretch. Cori Cain sank two free throws with 6:14 left for the Millers' biggest lead yet at 57-36.
With 2:14 left, two fast break layups from Alexis Shannon put Noblesville back up by 21 (65-44) and it was all but over. Donna Keck emptied her bench for the final couple minutes. Rachel Shipman's three in the final minute and a half put the icing on the cake as the Millers protected The Mill with pride, taking down Avon 68-48.
Avon (1-13, 1-6 HCC) was led in scoring by Megan Hunt (13), Monique Ellis (11) and Lexi Short (9).
Noblesville (11-3, 4-2) was led in a balanced scoring attack by Erin Wood's solid 18 point performance on six field goals and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Jessica Kiser woke up her offense a little bit with 14 points, making 8-of-10 at the foul line. Alexis Shannon was the third Miller in double-figures with 12. Brooke Herron and Katelyn O'Reilly had 6 apiece and Cori Cain with 5.
The Millers hit the road tonight and face a fierce opponent in the Western Boone Stars (13-2). The Stars started out their season on a 12-game winning streak, but are reeling lately with dropping two of their last three. Losing on a neutral court to 4A #12 Logansport, 69-60 and at Brownsburg 58-57, whom Noblesville beat 91-70, Western Boone has since gotten back to winning with a 53-32 win at Frankfort on Friday, January 17.
Tonight at Western Boone, it's a 6 p.m. JV start, followed by the Varsity.
Noblesville comes home to host Zionsville for a Saturday night tilt this weekend on January 25.
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