RANDY HISNER
WZBD.com
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The Bellmont girls’ basketball team used its signature depth and full-court defensive pressure to dismantle the Garrett Railroaders, 61-23, at Garrett Wednesday.
The game, postponed from Tuesday because of frigid weather, was played in front of a sparse crowd. That was a not totally unexpected situation, given the postponement, early start (6:00 P.M. because of no JV game), and continued freezing temperatures.
The Braves (17-2) got big games from senior Emily Bleke, with 19 points, and freshman Kaitlyn Barton, with 17.
The versatile Bleke bagged her points in a variety of ways—aggressive drives, fast break layups, a pair of put backs, and a three from the right corner. Barton had more of a one-track mind, scoring 15 of her points on a blistering 5-of-9 three-point shooting performance.
“She can catch fire; she can get like that, which is nice to have coming off the bench,” said Bellmont coach Andy Heim of Barton. “That’s two games in a row for Barton that she’s done a really nice job.” (Barton’s second half play against Norwell Saturday was a key factor in a huge NE8 victory.)
The Braves’ full-court press and tenacious half-court man-to-man defense forced the Railroaders (3-16) into 11 turnovers in the first quarter, yet Heim’s squad held only a 6-4 lead after five and a half minutes of play.
“I thought we came out just a tad sluggish just because of the bus ride, and a little bit of the cold, and a little bit of a not-super-packed gym,” said Heim. “We got really good looks at the basket in those first few minutes; we just didn’t make many of them.”
Sparked by Emily Bleke’s pair of baskets and Barton’s first two three-pointers, the Braves came alive offensively to outscore the Railroaders 12-4 in the final 2:30 of the quarter and take an 18-8 lead.
The second quarter was more of the same. At the 7:14 mark, Ashley Bleke hit the first of her two threes in the period. Gwen Laurent followed with a put back. Barton got her sole two-pointer on a put back of her own miss, and Bleke then hit her second three to complete a 10-0 Bellmont run. Barton hit two three-pointers in the last 1:20, and when the half ended the Braves had outscored the Railroaders 17-4 for a 35-12 lead.
In the third quarter, Barton again hit a pair from long range, and Emily Bleke scored seven points as the Braves dominated the Railroaders 18-2. That made it 53-14 heading into the final period, when Heim played his bench extensively, getting all 13 players into the game. Nine Braves scored. Only three players scored for Garrett.
The Braves hit 9-of-30 two-point attempts (30%), 10-of-30 threes (33%), and 13-of-20 free throws (65%). The Railroaders were 8-of-25 on twos (32%), 1-for 11 on threes (9%), and 4-of-4 from the line.
Garrett had 24 turnovers, Bellmont ten.
For the Braves, Ashley Bleke and Lanie French each had eight points. Mary Bleke scored three, Gwen Laurent and Emma Fuelling two, Bri Converset and Hadley Caffee one.
Sarah DePew led Garrett with 15 points. Emma Coffman and Rilyn Flotow scored four each.
The Braves will put their undefeated NE8 record on the line at Huntington North Friday in their next-to-last conference game of the season.
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