{"id":10441,"date":"2023-12-03T14:49:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T19:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=10441"},"modified":"2023-12-03T14:49:12","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T19:49:12","slug":"braves-kick-off-ne8-season-with-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/03\/braves-kick-off-ne8-season-with-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Braves kick off NE8 season with victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First quarters can be deceiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening with a 10-9 first-quarter lead, the Dekalb Barons (5-3, 0-1 in the NE8) looked as though they could challenge the Bellmont girls\u2019 basketball team Saturday night at the Teepee. But the Braves (7-1, 1-0) quickly put that notion to rest by outscoring the Barons 17-4 in the second quarter and 18-8 in the third on their way to a lopsided 61-31 NE8 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame.jpg?resize=640%2C646&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=1014%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1014w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=297%2C300&amp;ssl=1 297w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C776&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=1521%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1521w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=2028%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2028w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1034&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dekalbgame-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Kate Kitson and Emily Bleke trap a DeKalb guard Saturday at midcourt. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Two big runs keyed the Braves\u2019 dominance in those middle quarters. An 11-0 run to close the second quarter turned a slim 15-14 lead into a 26-14 Bellmont advantage at halftime. Then, after the Barons scored the first four points of the third quarter, the Braves reeled off 13 straight points to take an insurmountable 39-18 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HeimDeKalb.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bellmont head coach Andy Heim spoke with WZBD&#8217;s Randy Hisner after the game about beating DeKalb. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Freshman Kate Kitson started the second-quarter run with a putback at the 6:00 mark. She followed with one of two free throws after being fouled on a drive, and with 1:50 left, she hit a three-pointer from the right corner. Hailey Cole\u2019s 15-foot jumper and Belle Laurent\u2019s three-pointer completed the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four different Braves scored in the 13-0 blitz, with Cole and Emily Bleke scoring four each. Bleke also contributed a dramatic assist when she corralled Laurent\u2019s missed three-point attempt and, falling out of bounds under the basket, rifled a pass to Cole on the right elbow for a jumper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706.jpg?resize=640%2C528&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C845&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C248&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C634&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1267&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1690&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1706-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Emily Bleke goes hard to the basket during a 13-0 run by the Braves. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cole led all scorers with 19 points on seven field goals and 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Bellmont\u2019s swarming defense frustrated the Barons\u2019 usual leading scorer, Ashely Cox, and held her to nine points. The Braves made it difficult for her to drive, and when she also had a tough time getting open looks from outside, she resorted to several unsuccessful three-point attempts from well beyond the arc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s a good three-point shooter, but she wants to get to the rim, and I think that\u2019s where her frustration started,\u201d Heim said. \u201cWe knew she liked the right-hand drive and a sort of a slide-through to get through people, and Hailey is such a freak athlete in there\u2014to get by her is really hard. She (Cox) then got frustrated because of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?resize=640%2C523&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?resize=1024%2C837&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?resize=300%2C245&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?resize=768%2C628&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?w=1512&amp;ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/benchdekalb.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Coach Andy Heim speaks with his team during a time out Saturday against DeKalb. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Heim thought his team was perhaps a bit too keyed up in that lackluster first quarter. \u201cWe were so amped up to start this game,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it was just too much adrenalin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicdieservices.com\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"133\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Classic-Die-Services-Logo-PDG.jpg?resize=640%2C133&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Classic-Die-Services-Logo-PDG.jpg?resize=1024%2C213&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Classic-Die-Services-Logo-PDG.jpg?resize=300%2C62&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Classic-Die-Services-Logo-PDG.jpg?resize=768%2C159&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Classic-Die-Services-Logo-PDG.jpg?w=1161&amp;ssl=1 1161w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the second quarter, the Braves\u2019 full-court 1-2-2 press helped turn things around as they forced the Barons into five turnovers, many of which the Braves converted into easy baskets. The Braves kept the press on almost the whole game, causing several of Dekalb\u2019s 21 turnovers. The Braves turned it over only 10 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"806\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=640%2C806&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=813%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 813w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=238%2C300&amp;ssl=1 238w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=768%2C967&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=1220%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?resize=1024%2C1289&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?w=1344&amp;ssl=1 1344w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/HaileydefenseDeKalb.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hailey Cole and the Braves&#8217; high-pressure defense caused 21 turnovers by the Barons Saturday. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought we did a really nice job in our full-court press,\u201d praised Heim. \u201cAnytime we can play fast but under control in that trap, I think we\u2019re a really good basketball team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bellmont had a solid shooting night, going 14-for-31 (45%) on twos, 8-for-20 (40%) on threes, and 9-for-13 (69%) on free throws.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kitson finished with nine points, while Bleke and Belle Laurent scored eight each. Kamryn Jarvis added seven, Lanie French five, Lillian Garner three, and Ella Franze two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb.jpg?resize=640%2C679&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=965%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 965w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=283%2C300&amp;ssl=1 283w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C815&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=1447%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1447w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=1929%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1929w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1087&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/arabelleDeKalb-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Arabelle Laurent had eight points for Bellmont Saturday. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiragehallDecatur\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1.jpg?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/JonesConcert-1-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Freshman Abbie Harris led Dekalb with 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bellmont won the JV game 27-22. Emma Fuelling led the Braves with nine points, and Bri Converset had six. Grace Pfister led Dekalb with 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Braves will travel to Bishop Luers next Wednesday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RANDY HISNER WZBD.com First quarters can be deceiving. Opening with a 10-9 first-quarter lead, the Dekalb Barons (5-3,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10445,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[41,13,15,26],"class_list":["post-10441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-basketball","tag-bellmont","tag-featured","tag-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1708-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}