DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
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KINGSLAND – Saturday night’s contest between the Bellmont Braves and the Norwell Knights was one with a bit of a different feel compared to recent years. With the two rivals no longer in the same sectional and set to compete in different classes of the IHSAA tournament for the next two postseasons, the two teams didn’t spend Saturday positioning themselves for the all-important rematch, but rather simply playing for pride and a conference title, knowing that there would not be a rematch.
The home Norwell Knights led for much of the game and forced enough turnovers that the Bellmont Braves simply did not get enough good looks at the basket, taking 19 less shots in the contest compared to the home team.
The Braves’ defense seemed determined to keep Norwell’s star, Vanessa Rosswurm, in check, but that created opportunities for Macie Saalfrank in the game, and she took advantage of every single one of them, leading all scorers with 21 points, including four three-pointers, all of which seemed like daggers in the Braves’ hearts.
Norwell led early, but the Braves had just enough success in the rebounding battle to trail by just three at the first break. The Knight doubled their lead at halftime at 29-23, with both teams picking up their pace and shooting in the second quarter.
Foul trouble for the Knights began to take hold in the third quarter, but the turnovers continued to cost the Braves and it seemed like each time they cut into the Norwell lead, the Knights would knock down a shot and have an answer. A fine offensive rebound by junior Kate Kitson led to an opportunity for a bucket in transition for the guard, but she was called for a charge on her way to the bucket in one of the most pivotal moments of the second half.
Mary Bleke’s turnaround shot off the glass for the first bucket of the fourth quarter cut the Norwell lead to five at 40-35 with under six to play, and it was followed by another kiss off the glass from the other side by her twin sister, Ashley, drawing the Braves within one possession for the first time since the second quarter.
Norwell, though, had an answer and Ashley Waldman’s three with the Bellmont student section behind her may have been the single most important shot of the game. The only argument against that statement could come on the next Norwell bucket, which saw Ashley Bleke waiting under the basket for a driving Rosswurm. The official did not hesitate to put his fists to his hips, signaling a blocking foul on Bleke and Rosswurm’s shot also counted, putting the Knights up eight, despite missing the “and one.”
The Braves never got closer than six points after that, with Norwell knocking down just enough free throws to seal the deal.
Rosswurm finished the game with 17 points, complementing the 21 of Saalfrank, but it was perhaps the contributions of the role players that made the difference. Five other Knights reached the scoring column with a bucket or big free throws down the stretch.
Ashley Bleke finished with 20 for the Braves, with Mary Bleke adding ten. Oni Krueckeberg had five points.
It was just the second loss of the season for Bellmont, who will now focus on a tournament run that does not involve the prospect of facing Norwell again. The Braves will host Huntington North on Friday night.
Norwell will play an intriguing game at Jay County on Tuesday and then return to NE8 play at New Haven Wednesday.
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