DAVE NATHAN
WZBD.com
Bellmont scored 20 straight points across halftime and beat Woodlan 54-13 Friday at home. The run turned a 26-10 lead into 46-10 on the night Bellmont unveiled its banner from last year’s 3A state championship.
The Bellmont girls led from the first basket of the game, an Ashley Bleke two-pointer. Alexa Peoples tied it 2-2 for Woodlan, and that was the only tie of the night. Bellmont answered with eleven straight points to lead 13-2. Marianne Bleke scored seven of them, and Kate Kitson, Hadley Caffee and Ashley Bleke added the rest. Woodlan got baskets from Brianna Noble and Kaitlyn Sterling to make it 13-6.
Marianne Bleke hit a three-pointer for a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. She scored 10 points in the period, and Woodlan’s six points were its most in any quarter of the game.
In the second quarter, Lanie French scored the first basket for an 18-6 lead. Addison Crozier and Alexa Peoples each made a free throw for Woodlan to cut it to 18-8. But Bellmont followed with eight straight points. Oni Krueckeberg hit a three-pointer and two free throws, and French added a three for a 26-8 lead. Peoples scored a basket to make it 26-10, and she finished with five points for Woodlan.
That basket was Woodlan’s last of the first half, and it started Bellmont’s 20-0 run. French hit a three-pointer to make it 29-10. Ashley Bleke followed with a three of her own, and Kitson scored a basket for a 34-10 lead. Bellmont outscored Woodlan 18-4 in the second quarter to lead 34-10 at half. Two of Woodlan’s four points in the period were free throws.
After halftime, Marianne Bleke scored the first basket of the third quarter for a 36-10 lead. Krueckeberg hit a three-pointer to make it 39-10. Kaitlyn Barton followed with a three-pointer and two two-pointers, and Bellmont led 46-10. That made 20 straight points for Bellmont, from French’s three-pointer in the second quarter to Barton’s second basket of the third.
Meanwhile, Woodlan’s only points of the third quarter came on a three-pointer by Sterling, which made it 46-13. Sterling finished with five points, and her three was Woodlan’s only basket of the second half. Barton answered with another basket, and Bellmont led 48-13 at the end of the third quarter. Bellmont outscored Woodlan 14-3 in the period, and Barton scored nine points in it.
In the fourth quarter, Woodlan didn’t score. Marianne Bleke scored two baskets, and Berkley Caffee made two free throws for the 54-13 final. Bellmont scored the last eight points of the game, starting with Barton’s basket in the third quarter. Bellmont won the fourth quarter 6-0 and held Woodlan to three points in the second half on banner night.
Marianne Bleke led Bellmont with 16 points.
Bellmont finished with eight three-pointers. Marianne Bleke, French and Krueckeberg made two each, and Ashley Bleke and Barton made one each. Bellmont also outrebounded Woodlan 27-17, and Woodlan finished with 27 turnovers.
Woodlan fell to 2-1. Bellmont improved to 2-0 and hosts Dwenger Tuesday.
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