DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Coach Andy Heim knew this stretch of the season would challenge his team.
The Bellmont Braves were set to begin 2025 with five games in 15 days against some of the very best teams in the Fort Wayne area.
“Two down, three to go,” said Heim’s long-time assistant Denny Reinking as he exited the gymnasium Saturday.
With a win at 2A #10 Eastside Friday, the Braves doubled up and beat 2A #8 Bluffton Saturday at home, 53-47, to push their record to 14-1 ahead of a major conference showdown next weekend at Columbia City.
Ashley Bleke led the Braves with 17 points. Her older sister, Emily, had 16 and they were the only two Braves to reach double figures in what was a very physical game that turned contentious at times.
The Braves held a slim margin heading into the final minute of Saturday’s contest and Bluffton was putting plenty of pressure on the home team with a full-court press. With 50 seconds remaining, the Braves beat the press but missed the layup and Isabella Stout came right down the court and cut the Bellmont lead to 49-47.
Bluffton head coach Doug Curtis used his final time out with 38.3 seconds remaining to set up his press to attempt to create one big, game-changing turnover.
Instead, the Braves rose to the occasion and beat the Bluffton press, putting the ball in the hands of senior captain Emily Bleke, who calmly repeated her feat from Friday night, knocking down two big free throws to put the game away.
The Braves began the game on the right foot, with Ashley Bleke knocking down a three and Emily Bleke blocking the first shot Bluffton attempted, but the home team could not take advantage of a cold shooting start from the Tigers. They led just 12-5 after one quarter with Marly Drayer draining a three on the final possession for Bluffton.
Maryn Schreiber helped the visitors establish the post game early in the second quarter and it got Bluffton back in the game. A three by Isabella Stout from the corner in transition cut that Bellmont lead down to one at 14-13 and Kamryn Ault tied the game at 16 with a three after a long scrum on a loose ball. The Braves were struggling at that point to maintain their lead with Ashley Bleke on the bench with two early fouls.
Kate Kitson nailed a three near the end of the second quarter to ensure that the home team went into the locker room with a lead.
In the second half, Bluffton kept pace with the Braves, seemingly answering every hard-fought Bellmont bucket with an easy basket in the third quarter.
The Tigers took the lead for the first time when Stout scored in transition with Kaitlyn Barton in her face, putting Bluffton up 33-31 with three to play in the third quarter.
Lanie French was not about to let the game get away from the Braves, nailing a three in transition directly in front of coach Heim to give the Braves the lead back at 40-37.
French picked up a steal in between buckets by Ashley Bleke and the Braves led 44-37, setting up the game for the exciting last few minutes.
The Braves finished 18 of 28 from the free throw line, making just enough to give them the winning edge. Emily Bleke was 8 of 11 from the line.
No other Brave had more than four points in the win.
Saturday’s win against the Tigers was not an easy one for the Braves, who are currently ranked #8 in 3A. In order to compete with the top two teams in the NE8, 3A #4 Columbia City and 3A #7 Norwell, the Braves will have to play better.
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