DARLINGTON - Perhaps tired of counting by 2s, the Redbirds mixed up their cadence in a 51-47 victory over Riverdale on Tuesday night.
Darlington hit just four 2-point field goals, as Cassie Finnk led all scorers with 14 points and hit three long-range bombs and Mariah Gibson had 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc.
"As close as the scoring was, these were totally different teams with our small girls shooting really well from outside and their two 6-2 girls banging us around inside," Darlington coach Kurt Cohen said.
But the Redbirds went fearlessly inside as the Chieftains dove to the outside in the second half. As a result, they hit 16 of 30 free-throw tries and put up a decisive 16-12 fourth quarter in which Kelsi Blosch hit five of eight free throws.
ALBANY 51, JUDA 33
Something about Juda brings the best out of Albany's Amy Golz.
The Comet senior guard scored 21 points Tuesday night - after scoring 25 in a Dec. 7 victory - in front of the home crowd as Albany earned a season sweep of the Panthers.
"She got out and got some east baskets," Albany head coach Brandon Bakken said of Golz. "She's a good finisher."
Golz had help from her teammates, with five other girls finding the hoop. Nicolette Blumer added nine points and Hayli Peach had eight - with two 3-pointers - in the victory.
The Comets travel to Pecatonica on Friday night and get to play with house money as the underdogs. Bakken hopes that will help propel Albany against the Six Rivers East leaders.
"We can play kind of relaxed," Bakken said.
PECATONICA 56, MONTICELLO 28
A quick halftime visit to the optometrist was all Pecatonica needed to take care of the Ponies.
Monticello only trailed by two, 19-17, at intermission, but the Vikings got things straightened out to stay unbeaten in Six Rivers East play.
"We weren't focused and we were lucky they missed as many shots as they did," Vikings head coach Josh Tarrell said.
Brittany Kent had 13 points to lead the Vikings.
Pecatonica was without the services of sophomore Kimee Chandler, who sat out the game with a deep right thigh bruise. Chandler should be ready to go Friday against Albany. Alisha Esselstein filled in nicely with 10 points for Pecatonica.
BARNEVELD 50, ARGYLE 24
The frigid tempature found its way into the Orioles gym Tuesday night against the Eagles.
Argyle scored 24 points - 15 coming from senior Amber Thomas - as Barneveld doubled-up in a road victory.
"We just couldn't make a basket, it seemed," Orioles head coach Steve Dammen said.
Thomas buried all the Argyle triples, but Barneveld also doubled-up the Orioles in that department with six long-range bombs. Brooke Allen had four of those 3-pointers and a game-high 16 points.
BLACK HAWK 63, WARREN (Ill.) 56
After crossing the state border, Mike Flanagan got to experiment on Tuesday.
The Black Hawk head coach mixed and matched his Warriors rotation, looking for future lineups in a non-conference victory at Warren.
Sophomore Kim Wellnitz had 23 points and junior Paige Butler 19 to lead Black Hawk per usual, but sophomore Katie Place turned her coach's head with nine in the victory.
"We're still looking for that third scorer," Flanagan said. "Place had nine and that was encouraging."
Darlington hit just four 2-point field goals, as Cassie Finnk led all scorers with 14 points and hit three long-range bombs and Mariah Gibson had 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc.
"As close as the scoring was, these were totally different teams with our small girls shooting really well from outside and their two 6-2 girls banging us around inside," Darlington coach Kurt Cohen said.
But the Redbirds went fearlessly inside as the Chieftains dove to the outside in the second half. As a result, they hit 16 of 30 free-throw tries and put up a decisive 16-12 fourth quarter in which Kelsi Blosch hit five of eight free throws.
ALBANY 51, JUDA 33
Something about Juda brings the best out of Albany's Amy Golz.
The Comet senior guard scored 21 points Tuesday night - after scoring 25 in a Dec. 7 victory - in front of the home crowd as Albany earned a season sweep of the Panthers.
"She got out and got some east baskets," Albany head coach Brandon Bakken said of Golz. "She's a good finisher."
Golz had help from her teammates, with five other girls finding the hoop. Nicolette Blumer added nine points and Hayli Peach had eight - with two 3-pointers - in the victory.
The Comets travel to Pecatonica on Friday night and get to play with house money as the underdogs. Bakken hopes that will help propel Albany against the Six Rivers East leaders.
"We can play kind of relaxed," Bakken said.
PECATONICA 56, MONTICELLO 28
A quick halftime visit to the optometrist was all Pecatonica needed to take care of the Ponies.
Monticello only trailed by two, 19-17, at intermission, but the Vikings got things straightened out to stay unbeaten in Six Rivers East play.
"We weren't focused and we were lucky they missed as many shots as they did," Vikings head coach Josh Tarrell said.
Brittany Kent had 13 points to lead the Vikings.
Pecatonica was without the services of sophomore Kimee Chandler, who sat out the game with a deep right thigh bruise. Chandler should be ready to go Friday against Albany. Alisha Esselstein filled in nicely with 10 points for Pecatonica.
BARNEVELD 50, ARGYLE 24
The frigid tempature found its way into the Orioles gym Tuesday night against the Eagles.
Argyle scored 24 points - 15 coming from senior Amber Thomas - as Barneveld doubled-up in a road victory.
"We just couldn't make a basket, it seemed," Orioles head coach Steve Dammen said.
Thomas buried all the Argyle triples, but Barneveld also doubled-up the Orioles in that department with six long-range bombs. Brooke Allen had four of those 3-pointers and a game-high 16 points.
BLACK HAWK 63, WARREN (Ill.) 56
After crossing the state border, Mike Flanagan got to experiment on Tuesday.
The Black Hawk head coach mixed and matched his Warriors rotation, looking for future lineups in a non-conference victory at Warren.
Sophomore Kim Wellnitz had 23 points and junior Paige Butler 19 to lead Black Hawk per usual, but sophomore Katie Place turned her coach's head with nine in the victory.
"We're still looking for that third scorer," Flanagan said. "Place had nine and that was encouraging."
