Gotta love the reasoning behind their Senior Night being against Kokomo in this rescheduled game from its snow day on January 7. This group of five seniors in Cori Cain, Kayleigh Herron, Becca Bergman, Audrey DeFoe and Erin Wood were all on varsity their freshman seasons in 2011-12. The first road game they played and won that season was the second game of the season at Kokomo and they wound up with a 43-29 victory. It seems pretty fitting that they're Senior Night would pit themselves against their first road win.Prior to the 20 minute warm-up, the five seniors, along with their parents, were introduced to the crowd at The Mill. They were greeted at mid-court by teammates with flowers and gifts and hugs all down the line from the coaching staff.
This group of five seniors is going to be tough to beat, as far as in Donna Keck's tenure and it's just her 7th season.
4A #5 Noblesville 69, Kokomo 40 - (Monday, January 26 at The Mill, Noblesville)
Wildkats 7 11 15 7 - 40
Millers 18 14 24 13 - 69
It was an all-senior starting lineup and it was only fitting that all five of them start. Normally Cain and DeFoe come off of the bench, but Keck started the four guards (Cain, Herron, Bergman, DeFoe) and Erin Wood.
From the tip, it seemed like a somewhat sluggish start, but that was mainly because this lineup never starts the game together, so they had to figure themselves out on the fly.Fueled by seniors from outside the arc in the first, the Millers got a pair of treys from Bergman and another from Kayleigh Herron. Alexis Shannon came off of the bench and quickly scored six in the quarter. Put that with a solid jumper from Wood and a couple offensive boards for her and just like that, Noblesville was up 18-7 after the first.
Kokomo's offense was a little more awake in the second. The play of Q Merriweather and Olivia Wilson kept things slightly honest, but with the Millers taking the 2nd 14-11, they still had a 32-18 halftime lead.Noblesville jumped out to a speedy start in the second half, thanks to the trusty junior tandem of Alexis Shannon (9) and Katelyn O'Reilly (6). Emily Kiser pitched in four of her 10 and Bergman added another five for the makeup of the Millers' 24-point 3rd.
Scoring all of her points in the second half, Kiser put up another five in the 4th, including her second 3-pointer of the season.
The seniors were all on the floor to start the 4th and left the floor at the same time. Coach Keck subbed the five seniors, in a classy move during the same timeout, one-by-one, so that they each left the floor to an applause.The Miller bench spent the remainder of the game on the floor and Noblesville won their Senior Night game 69-40 over Kokomo.
Kokomo (11-8) wasn't able to get anyone into double-digits in scoring, but had a balanced attack. Q Merriweather led all Wildkats with 9 and Jayda Andrews had 8. Allie Lowe, Sieara Langley and Sarah Tickfer all had 5.
Noblesville (17-1) was led by Alexis Shannon's 19 off the bench on seven field goals and a 5-for-5 effort at the free throw line, as well as 4 assists and 2 steals. Becca Bergman had 17 on six field goals made (4-for-4 on 3's), 5 assists and six steals. Emily Kiser netted a career-high 10 points and five boards to go along with a pair of blocked shots.
Erin Wood had a solid Senior Night output with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.The seniors combined for 31 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists and 12 steals between the five of them. Don't worry fans, they're not even close to done. They have some unfinished business to attend to.
Tonight (Wednesday), the Millers host Pendleton Heights (13-8).
I will see you at The Mill!
GO MILLERS!
(*all photos courtesy of Kent Graham at kentgraham.photoshelter.com)
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