Saturday, it was a possibility that the scoreboards at The Mill might see that many points from this talented group, but it wasn't completely necessary for the win. They got close to it in their most lopsided, largest margin of victory so far this season, dominating the Avon Orioles 90-27.
4A #7 Noblesville 90, Avon 27 - (Saturday at The Mill, Noblesville)
Orioles 4 9 9 5 - 27
Millers 29 24 22 15 - 90
Erin Wood controlled the opening tip to Katelyn O'Reilly and she immediately found guard Kayleigh Herron in transition, jetting up the left side of the court and easily put the ball off the glass and in for a quick 2-0 score.O'Reilly (left) made it 4-0 the next trip down with an offensive rebound. After Avon scored their first two, Kayleigh and Alexis Shannon each sank a pair of free throws to make it 8-2. Avon just couldn't handle the defensive presence of the Millers and turned the ball right back over. Passing the ball around the figure out their next option for a shot, Becca Bergman found Cori Cain on the left wing for a three and at 11-2, Avon head coach David Cupp took a timeout to try and slow down the momentum.
That's not how you slow down this group of Noblesville Millers. Through 7 games, I'm not really sure what can or will.
Selflessly, the Millers just kept dishing the ball around to open teammates and by the end of the first, they were way out front, 29-4.
There was honestly no way that Avon was going to be able to slow down or even come close to it for the remaining 24 minutes of play. Keck's team kicks it into 5th gear and keeps the pedal to the metal until that clock displays 0:00.
Ten points from leading scorer Alexis Shannon, 4 each from O'Reilly and Wood, along with wide open treys from Bergman and Rachel Shipman and the Millers were well in command with still one half of basketball to play. Noblesville put the game into cruise control early in the 2nd and led 53-13 at halftime. Were the Millers going to just pack it in having a 40-point lead heading into the locker room at half? Absolutely not. There is no quit in
this team.
Avon turned the ball over at-will even more in the third, which obviously only fueled Noblesville the rest of the way. With each Orioles turnover, there seemed to be an outlet pass to a Miller streaking down the court, waiting for the long ball for a layup. O'Reilly and Shannon each poured in another 8 and before we knew it, it was 75-22 after three.
Keck emptied her bench for most of the 4th quarter and her Millers produced a solid Saturday afternoon conference win, 90-27.Avon committed 31 turnovers, 21 which were the result of Noblesville steals. Noblesville gave the ball away just 12 times.
The Orioles (1-4, 1-1 HCC) were led in scoring by Katrina Hopkins with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Bailey Wulle came off the Avon bench for 5 points, while Camille Vann and Lexi Short each had 4.
Noblesville (7-0, 2-0 HCC) was paced with 26 points on 12 field goals from Alexis Shannon. Katelyn O'Reilly had her 4th double-double of the season for the third game in a row with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals and one blocked shot.
Kayleigh Herron had her best offensive output of the year with 9 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Erin Wood had 8 points and 4 rebounds, while Becca Bergman added 6 points and 7 assists.
Through seven games, the Millers are averaging 82.7 points per game and giving up 51.1 for an average margin of victory of 31.6.
Noblesville travels to North Central (4-2) for another midday Saturday game. The Panthers have a tough weekend, as they'll play on the road at 4A #6 Pike (3-0) on Friday night before hosting the Millers on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers' game at North Central on Saturday will be covered live on HamiltonCountyTV.com. I'll have the play-by-play for you just prior to tip-off!
GO MILLERS!
(*all photos courtesy of Kent Graham at kentgraham.photoshelter.com)
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