JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
CHBC built a 9-point lead by the break over visiting Dieterich on Beecher City Senior Night, Saturday. But, then gave it all away in the third. BC would have to win the game in crunch time. They did, 57-54.
The Hornets had to use a season-high and game-high performance from freshman post player Micah Jones (24 points) and 20-of-35 foul shooting to get the 3-point win.
"Dieterich was on top of their game," said CHBC coach Carolyn Wendte. "They gave us everything we wanted. We didn't shoot the ball well, but that can be accredited to their defense and it was basically one shot and one shot only. Also, we had too many turnovers."
Free throws were key for the Hornets (21-4, 4-2 NTC) in the conference win. Dieterich made 21 field goals, including out-shooting CHBC at the arc. CHBC had just 18 field goals, an 8-point advantage (45-37) from the floor for the Maroons.That's where the foul shots came in. CHBC went to the line 17 times to Dieterich's 11 times. CHBC made 20 free throws (57%) and Dieterich just nine (41%), an 11-point advantage.
CHBC took a 5-point lead after one, 17-12, and almost repeated that spread in the second frame to lead by nine at the break, 33-24. However, Dieterich attackedout of the locker room and put on a 16-7 run in the third tie knot the game heading into the fourth, 40-40. CHBC's 17-point fourth did the trickm as they held Dieterich to 14.
Jones (freshman) was followed by two CHBC sophomores in scoring. Faith Wendte had 12 and Bailey Doty 10. Senior Hillary Shelton had five and another sophomore Breeanna Strauch had three. Sophomore Courtney Myers had two points.
Candace Niemerg led Dieterich with 17 points, followed by Chelsea Storm with 16 and Brittney Niemerg with 12. CHBC's top three scorers had 46 points and Dieterich's top three had 45. Shelton and Amber Durbin's five points each canceled each other out. The scales tipped thanks to the 3 points from Strauch.
In the prelim, Dieterich did not have a JV team, so CHBC hosted Central A&M; JV and won, 53-46.
CHBC (21-4, 4-2 NTC) finished the regular season and now enter the South Central Regional next week as the #1 seed. CHBC could end up playing Dieterich again. CHBC plays on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Dieterich/Louisville game from Monday.
Varsity
CHBC 57, Dieterich 54
CHBC 17-16-7-17--57
D'trich 12-12-16-14--54
CHBC stats: Micah Jones 24 (9 FGs, 6/10 FTs), Faith Wendte 12 (3 FGs, 6/11 FTs), Bailey Doty 10 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 3/4 FTs), Hillary Shelton 5 (FG, 3/4 FTs), Breeanna Strauch 3 (FG, 1/4 FTs), Courtney Myers 2 (FG), Monica Gardner 1 (1/2 FTs). Team FGs 18 (1-3 pt: Doty). Team FTs 20-of-35.
D'trich stats: Candace Niemerg 17 ( 8 FGs, 1/3 FTs), Chelsea Storm 16 (5-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 3/5 FTs), Brittney Niemerg 12 (2-2s, 2-3 pt FGs, 2/6 FTs), Amber Durbin 5 (FG, 3/6 FTs), Miranda Goodman 2 (FG), Brandi Orsborn 2 (FG). Team FGs 21 (3-3 pt: B. Niemerg 2, Storm 1). Team FTs 9-of-22.
CHBC built a 7-point lead at the break and rode it all the way to victory, 53-46, and the two teams played even in the second half.
Courtney Myers led CHBC with 15 points and Emily Wheeler followed with 12. Strauch and Ava Paruleski chipped in eight and seven to help put CHBC over the top.
JV
CHBC 53, Central A&M; 46
CHBC 14-13-11-15--53
A&M; 11-9-11-15--46
CHBC stats: Myers 15 (5-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/5 FTs), Wheeler 12 (2-s, 2-3 pt FGs, 2/5 FTs), Strauch 8 (3 FGs, 2/5 FTs), Paruleski 7 (FG, 5/7 FTs), Katlynn Kersey 5 (FG, 3/4 FTs), Marissa Klee 2 (FG), Megan Meier 2 (FG). Team FGs 18 (3-3 pt: Wheeler 2, Myers 1). Team FTs 14-of-26.
A&M; stats: Cox 10 (5 FGs, 0/1 FTs), Graven 9 (4 FGs, 1/3 FTs), Townsend 8 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/2 FTs), Waddington 7 (2-3 pt FGs, 1/3 FTs), Stinson 6 (FG, 4/8 FTs), Renfro 4 (FG, 2/6 FTs), Bond 2 (2/2 FTs). Team FGs 16 (3-3 pt:
Waddington 2, Townsend 1). Team FTs 11-of-25.
