DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Note: WZBD’s coverage of Bellmont Girls Basketball is supported by the sponsors you see below, along with the Bellmont Girls Basketball Booster Club. For just $97/month, you too can support the Braves or any other team in Z-Land.
This current group of Bellmont girls sure has accomplished a lot over the past few years. From getting a first-place vote in a state poll, to cracking the overall Top 20 this year, to getting coach Heim over 200 career wins, they’ve done it all.
One thing no one on this team had done, prior to Tuesday night, though, was beat the Northrop Bruins.
Check that off the list for 2026.
Bellmont led for much of the game, but Northrop came back in the third quarter to cut the lead to just one point.
What had been a 41-29 lead for the home team midway through the third was suddenly a 43-42 game with eight minutes to play.
Having not tasted defeat since facing Homestead back in November, the Braves were not about to let one slip away on their home court.
Bellmont knocked down 10 of 14 shots from the line in the final quarter to hold on for the victory, with Oni Krueckeberg hitting the most clutch shots, knocking down all four of her attempts in the final stanza.
One of the biggest moments in that fourth quarter featured three pivotal plays, none of which will show up in the final box score.
Possessing the ball for nearly two minutes interrupted, the Braves showed incredible hustle with a small lead. Ashley Bleke tracked down an offensive rebound in the corner, diving into the cheerleaders, while a few moments later, Mary Bleke forced a jump ball by diving on the floor to keep possession.
Kaitlyn Barton had a shot blocked, but her hustle forced Northrop to step on the line and give Bellmont the ball gain, while Lanie French came up with another offensive board. Eventually, the Braves got Ashley Bleke to the line and the lead grew to 47-44.
Northrop answered back with a bucket to cut the lead back to one point, but Krueckeberg knocked down two free throws with 90 seconds left. The Braves got the ball right back when Kate Kitson forced a Northrop turnover.
Krueckeberg then put the game away with an acrobatic reception of the inbound pass, taking the ball straight to the hoop and scoring with extra points for style and timing, giving Bellmont a five-point lead with a minute left.
Mary Bleke finished with a team-high 20 points, while Lanie French had eleven. Ashley Bleke and Oni Krueckeberg each had nine.
The focus, with this big win in hand, now goes on Saturday. Both Norwell and Bellmont have been gearing up with challenges, social media wars and the Bellmont administrators have even organized a fan bus for the BHS students.
The game between the most bitter of rivals, Knights and Braves, will be broadcast Saturday on WZBD’s YouTube channel.
About the Author
