{"id":23711,"date":"2025-02-01T06:29:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T11:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=23711"},"modified":"2025-02-01T09:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T14:12:15","slug":"bellmont-set-for-deep-run-after-claiming-ne8-blekes-1000th-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/01\/bellmont-set-for-deep-run-after-claiming-ne8-blekes-1000th-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Bellmont set for deep run after claiming NE8, Bleke’s 1000th point"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: Our coverage of Bellmont basketball this season is supported by the Bellmont Basketball Booster Club. If you’d like to advertise on WZBD.com and support our coverage, contact the station or e-mail Dane at dane@wzbd.com for more information. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emily Bleke sinks a three-pointer in the third quarter to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career. (Photo by Cheryl Hisner)<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bellmont Braves made it look easy Friday at the Teepee as they overwhelmed the Leo Lions, 53-22, to complete an undefeated run through the NE8 and claim their first conference title since 2019. The win also gave the Braves a 20-2 regular-season record, the best in coach Andy Heim\u2019s fourteen years at the helm of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Senior Emily Bleke added some individual splendor to the night by becoming the fourth girl in Bellmont history to score 1,000 points. She needed 12 points going into the game to reach the milestone, and she came close in the first half, scoring nine. She took care of business in a hurry in the third quarter, knocking down a three-pointer from the right wing at the 7:34 mark. The game was stopped briefly to commemorate the occasion. Bleke\u2019s teammates swarmed her on the floor as the crowd cheered and several students held up placards reading \u201c1,000 points.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heim had high praise for Bleke\u2019s overall brilliance. \u201cA thousand points is awesome, and after her freshman year we thought that there was a possibility if she kept the numbers up, she could do it,\u201d he said. \u201cBut not only is it a thousand; she\u2019s really close to 500 rebounds, she\u2019s really close to 200 steals, she\u2019s a little bit further but within reach of 200 assists. Those numbers are wild.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a testament to her,\u201d he continued. \u201cShe\u2019s always the hardest worker out there, or one of the hardest workers. She\u2019s willing to get on the ground. She\u2019s willing to do the dirty work to get the steal. She\u2019s willing to get her teammates involved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace Hunter, a 2019 graduate, holds the school and county records with 1,571 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title-clinching game was never in doubt. Leo (11-11, 1-6 NE8) took a very brief 5-2 lead on Mackenzie Collins\u2019 three-point play with 6:20 left in the first quarter, but Bellmont freshman Ashley Bleke tied it on the Braves\u2019 next possession with a three-pointer. Just 13 seconds later, after a Leo turnover\u2014one of 24 for the Lions\u2014she made a fast break layup. Kate Kitson hit a layup on the right side, and then Emily Bleke converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Ashley capped the rally with another layup off a Leo turnover. The 12-0 run took just 90 seconds and ended with the Braves holding a 14-5 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A happy bunch of NE8 champs after a 53-22 win over Leo. (Photo by Cheryl Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Grace Busch finally scored for the Lions, on an out-of-bounds play, but the Braves responded by scoring the last seven points of the quarter to lead 21-7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Bleke hit a pair of twos and Lanie French hit a three to help the Braves to a 10-5 advantage in the second quarter, putting Bellmont up 31-12 at the half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lanie French fires a three against Leo. (Photo by Cheryl Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If the Lions were going to get back into the game, the Braves\u2019 icy 2-for-13 shooting in the third quarter opened a window of opportunity. But Bellmont\u2019s relentless and dynamic man-to-man defensive pressure slammed the window shut on the Lions\u2019 fingers, forcing them into six turnovers and holding them to 2-for-8 shooting. The Braves hit four free throws in addition to Emily Bleke\u2019s three-pointer and Lanie French\u2019s two-pointer to win the quarter 9-5 and go up by a 40-16 score. In the fourth quarter, even with bench players getting lots of minutes, the Braves tripped the running clock by taking a 35-point lead, 53-18, on Kaitlyn Barton\u2019s second three of the game with 3:19 left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mary Bleke looks for an opening<\/em>. (Photo by Cheryl Hisner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is obviously one of the goals we put down at the beginning of the year,\u201d Heim said of the conference title. \u201cSome years it\u2019s more realistic than others, and honestly, I\u2019m not sure if you had asked me if this was a realistic goal at the beginning of the year if I\u2019d have agreed with that. We had to go through, obviously, a lot of tough opponents in our conference. We handled different things really, really well. That\u2019s pretty impressive with the group of freshmen we have. That says more about them than anything else. This is huge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n