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Bears breeze through North Cedar to advance
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · February 23, 2017
The West Branch girls basketball team won their first post-season game Feb. 14 69-46 home game against the Knights of North Cedar. It was their second victory over the fellow River Valley Conference team in a month.
With the win, the Bears moved on to face the Bellevue Comets at Bellevue Feb. 17.
The West Branch post players continue their solid play with a combined 20 rebounds in the Bears’ win over North Cedar. And, continuing their winning formula, the West Branch shooting guards combined for 49 points with another 11 points by senior Paige Miller. The combination was too much for the Knights.
“I thought our post people were like they were in practice the last few games,” West Branch Head Coach Jarod Tylee said.
“You know they don’t blow up the stat sheet, but they were tough. They were physical, they rebounded the basketball pretty well. We gave up a few stretches where we gave up too many offensive rebounds, but overall I thought our post people played pretty well.
“The last time we went up there (to Bellevue), we played really well. It was one of our best games of the year which means they’re going to be well-prepared, and they’re going to be out to get some revenge on us. We have to be ready to go.”
The Bears won the opening tip, Paige Miller got an offensive rebound, and Haley Mullinnix made a three-point basket to start the scoring. Abby Knoop got a defensive rebound, but a travel was called on the Bears, and the Knights made a jump shot for a 3-2 score.
The Bears were fouled on a shot but missed both free throws, and the Knights got the rebound. Abbey Fryauf got a defensive rebound, and Mullinnix drove to the hoop to score. Fryauf got a steal, and Tatum Koenig was fouled on a shot. She made both free throws with 5:26 left in the quarter. The Bears had a 7-2 lead.
Mullinnix got a steal, the Knights fouled, and Koenig drove the baseline for a 9-2 score. The Knights made a basket, the Bears turned the ball over on a pass, and Miller got a steal and a layup for her first two of 11 points in the game.
“First practice post season, we pride ourselves on every possession and rebounding,” Miller said. “Our posts did a really good job this game, and our guards came through.
“Defense is my main thing, but I always want to make it a point that if I play well offensively, we’ll be harder to beat, and I’ll be harder to stop if I’m an offensive threat.”
The Knights made a two-point outside basket for an 11-6 score with 3:15 left in the first quarter. A jump ball went to the Knights, and they made another basket for an 11-8 score.
Riley Vaughan made a three-point basket with just more than two minutes left in the quarter. The Knights stepped on the line and turned the ball over. Mackenzie Heise got an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback try. She made both free throws for a 16-8 score.
Mullinnix got a defensive rebound and made a jump shot with a minute on the clock. The Bears fouled with less than a minute on the clock. The Knights made the second of two free throws. Each team turned the ball over, then Koenig hit a three-point basket with 17 seconds on the clock for a 21-9 West Branch lead after one quarter.
The Bears started the second quarter with possession. They traveled, but Koenig got a defensive rebound, and Mullinnix made a three-point basket for a 24-9 West Branch lead. The next basket came after a North Cedar turnover when Koenig made a three-point basket, assist Fryauf.
Koenig got a steal and was fouled on a shot. She made both free throws. The Bears led 29-9 with 5:59 to go in the first half. A jump ball went to the Knights, then a rebound went out of bounds off North Cedar. Mullinnix dished the ball inside to Koenig who scored for a 31-9 Bears’ lead.
Fryauf got a defensive rebound, then North Cedar got a steal and was fouled on a shot. At the 3:21 mark, the Knights scored their first point of the quarter on a free throw for a 31-10 score. Courtney Jarrett was fouled and made both free throws. At the 2:25 mark, the Knights made their first basket of the quarter, a three-pointer for a 33-13 tally.
Mullinnix made a basket, then the Knights made a basket. The Bears were fouled but missed both free throws. The Knights got the rebound. A jump ball forced by Kaiya Luneckas went to West Branch. Mullinnix was fouled and made the first of two free throws for a 36-15 score. In the last 20 seconds, the Knights threw up a couple of air balls. Halftime score was 36-15.
To start the third quarter, the Knights had possession and scored right away. Paige Miller answered with a three-point shot. North Cedar scored then got a defensive rebound.
The Knights were fouled on a shot and made both free throws for a 39-21 West Branch lead.
An outside shot by Mullinnix stretched the Bears’ lead to 20 points. Mullinnix got a steal, and Miller scored, assist Mullinnix. Koenig got a steal and a basket then Mullinnix got a steal and a basket for a 47-21 score. North Cedar was fouled and made the second of two free throws. Miller made a layup for a 49-22 score.
North Cedar was fouled and missed both free throws. Vaughan got the rebound. Heise made a basket. In the final 10 seconds of the quarter, North Cedar got two steals and baskets. The score with one quarter left to play was 51-26, Bears.
The Knights missed a shot to start the fourth quarter. Knoop got the rebound. Miller scored, assist Koenig. North Cedar made a basket, then the Bears turned by ball over.
Knoop got a defensive rebound. Miller grabbed an offensive board, Mullinnix made a three-point basket, assist Miller. North Cedar scored, then Koenig drove to the hoop and scored. The Knights got a putback basket for a 58-32 score.
The Knights got a defensive rebound and a basket. Koenig was fouled on a shot and made both free throws. A technical foul was called on the Knights. Koening made one of two free throws. A jump ball went to the Knights.
The Knights were fouled and missed the free throw. Fryauf got the rebound. Mullinnix scored, got a defensive rebound, and scored again. North Cedar completed a three-point play for a 63-37 score.
The Bears took a time out then turned the ball over on the inbounds pass. The Knights made a three-point basket for a 65-40 score. Koenig was fouled on a shot and made both free throws with 2:04 left in the game. Miller got a steal and Mullinnix scored, assist Miller. North Cedar was fouled and made both free throws for a 69-42 score. The Bears turned the ball over, and North Cedar got a putback basket for a final score of 69-46.
“We played hard like we always do,” North Cedar Head Coach Glenn Hay said. “When you have girls that are talented like West Branch does at the guard position, that can penetrate and get that floater. Mullinnix was awesome tonight, and Koenig was normal (very good).
“In the postseason, people don’t always know who they’re going to play, and have to go in and wing it,” Mullinnix said. “But we know who we’re going to play.”
1 2 3 4 T
WB 21 15 15 18 69
NC 9 6 11 20 46
West Branch stats: Abbey Fryauf 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Courtney Jarrett 9 2-2 20, 2 rebounds; Riley Vaughan 1 0-0 3, 1 3-pointer, 2 rebounds; Paige Miller 5 0-0 11, 1 3-pointer, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals; Abby Knoop 12 rebounds; Taylor Thein 1 steal; Tatum Koenig 6 9-10 23, 2 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; Maddi Luneckas 1 rebound; Haley Mullinnix 11 1-2 26, 3 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 4 assists; Kaiya Luneckas 1 rebound; Mackenzie Heise 1 2-3 4, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
North Cedar stats: not available
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