MIKE MACKE
WZBD.com
Two of the contenders for the NE8 Conference crown met Friday night at the Teepee when Columbia City brought a 14 – 2 record and a #7 ranking in 4A to take on the Braves who were 12 – 3 on the year, and 3 – 0 in the conference. Featuring three senior starters and one of the best juniors in the area, the Lady Eagles flexed their muscles and defeated the Braves 52 – 37 in a hard-fought, physical game.
Bellmont won the opening tip and after working for a good shot took a 2 – 0 lead on a Hailey Cole basket. It would be the only lead of the night for the Braves as Columbia City got a layup from Addison Baxter and a three-point basket from Kyndra Sheets. Cole answered to make it 5 – 4, but a six to zero run gave the Lady Eagles a seven-point cushion early. The Braves hung tough though, and Gwen Laurent hit a baseline jumper at the end of the quarter to close the margin to three, 15 – 12 after one.
Cole would hit two free throws to open the second period to get Bellmont within a point. Columbia City would go on a seven-point run and open the lead to eight. The Braves would score just four more points and CC just five more in the quarter as both teams ramped up the defense, but the Lady Eagles held a 27 – 18 lead at halftime. Cole scored just two points in the period after an eight-point first quarter. Emily Bleke was held to just three free throws in the half as Columbia City obviously focused on double-teaming the Bellmont play-maker.
Coach Andy Heim noted that it made things difficult for the Braves. “They did a really nice job frustrating Emily. Teams know her motor and aggressiveness and it takes a couple of girls to do that.”
The third quarter was closely contested as both teams continued their tough defensive play. Baxter, the Lady Eagles’ leading scorer for the season was held to one basket in the period and just nine points for the game. Cole scored just two, but Bleke did find a couple of openings and Kate Kitson hit a basket and a free throw to keep the Braves in it. However, Molly Baker hit two free throws just before the buzzer to make the score 36 – 26 with one period to play.
The opening sequence of the fourth quarter was the death knell for the Braves. CC’s Tessa Tonkel hit a three to open the period. Two consecutive turnovers by the Braves led to another Tonkel three followed by the third three of the night for Sheets. A Bleke free throw ended the 11 – 0 run, but the margin had grown to nineteen and the lead was too much to overcome.
“The run that started the 4th put us in too big of a hole,” stated Heim. “Honestly, though I thought our defense was really good most of the night. When you have to worry about four good shooters, they are bound to find an opening. That allowed them to knock down a few shots.”
Bellmont was able to outscore the Lady Eagles the rest of the game 11 – 7, but it was not enough. Columbia City improves to 15 – 2 on the season, 3 – 1 in the NE8 with the win. Bellmont drops to 12 – 4, 3 – 1 in the conference. Columbia City was led by Sheets with 15 points. Baker had 13 and Tonkel 11 to go with Baxter’s nine as the Lady Eagles just had too many weapons. Bellmont was led by Cole with 15 points and Bleke with nine. Kitson had six, Kam Jarvis scored five and Laurent had two.
The Braves host Northrop on Tuesday in a non-conference test, then travel to Norwell on Saturday. Bellmont could be in position to tie for the NE8 crown if they can defeat the Lady Knights who upset Columbia City earlier in the season.