Lady Indians squeeze by Valle again

By DONN ADAMSON / Daily Journal Sports Editor

SUNSET HILLS - The Bismarck Lady Indians had already defeated the Valle Lady Warriors two out of three times in the year, but Tuesday night's game was for all the honors since one team would advance on to the district semi-finals and the other team would end its season. Valle's season is over at 13-12.

Bismarck made free throws in the final minute that gave them a 50-46 win in a game that was a close battle from beginning to end. The difference came down to the Lady Indians having less turnovers and scoring more points with free throws. Bismarck had only eight turnovers and shot 70 percent from the line (14-20), while Valle had 13 turnovers and made only four free throws (4-8).

The Lady Warriors had pulled even with the Lady Indians, 39-39, in the fourth quarter with 5:41 left in the game. It marked the fifth time the score had been tied in the game. Valle called time to set up the final minutes of play, but Chelsey Politte changed their thinking.

Politte nailed a three from straight on to give the Lady Indians a lead they would not relinquish. The Lady Warriors were able to score on their end, but Bismarck matched them point for point.

With time running out, the Lady Warriors were able to pull to within one point, but Bismarck made six of their last seven free throws and Valle could not catch up.

The Lady Indians threatened to run away with the game at the start of the third quarter, but Danielle Donze pulled Valle back into the thick of things by making three three-pointers in a row to make it a one-point game.

Holding a two-point advantage at the half, 23-21, the Lady Indians opened up the third quarter with two straight baskets to make the lead six, but Donze cut it in half with her third three of the game. Chelsey Politte answered with a 10 footer for Bismarck, but again Donze cranked one from beyond the arc. Donze wasn't quite done as she made her third three of the quarter and fifth of the game to pull her team to within one point of the Lady Indians.

Coach Julie Ward changed her defense to a box and one with Tori Henson doing the honors of shadowing Donze. Henson did her job well as Donze scored only a two-point basket the rest of the way.

The Lady Indians, 10-14, will pay again at South County Tech on Thursday when they will face the top seed, Metro.

Valle 10 11 13 12 - 46

Bismarck 10 13 14 13 - 50

Valle - Donze 17, Bergtholdt 13, Bruns 8, Shuh 3, Stoll 3, Naeger 2.

Bismarck - C Politte 18, Henson 11, Kneiss 9, Blunt 7, S Politte 5.

3-Pointers: Donze 5, Shuh, Henson, C Polittte.

Viburnum 64, Valley 28

The Valley Lady Vikings had individual players step up each quarter, but as a team they were outclassed by the 21-0 Viburnum Blue Jays by a score of 64-28.

Sarah Kearns took charge of the first and third quarters. Kearns scored all seven of Valley's first quarter points and had eight of their 12 points in the third quarter. Tiffany Martin scored all of Valley's points in the second quarter with three free throws, and Kylie White did the same in the fourth quarter with three baskets.

Valley was unable to pass the ball successfully, giving up four turnovers to the Lady Blue Jays. Viburnum made good use of them as they ran off to a 12 -0 score before Valley coach Tracy Dace called time to settle his players down.

The time-out did not slow down the barrage of points by Viburnum. They had jumped out to 20-0, but that's when Kearns took over, scoring all seven of her points in a row, which included a three-pointer and two free throws.

The Lady Blue Jays first 18 points of the second half came on either breakaway lay-ups after steals or putbacks after offensive boards. Kearns made two steals for Valley and converted both into points with breakaway lay-ups.

White was able to front her defender, taking the pass and laying it in with ease in the fourth quarter. Later, White would be a part of a two-on-one break with Kearns feeding her the ball for another lay-up. White again was able to take the ball to the hoop on a later play to finsh off hers and Valley's scoring.

Kearns had 15 points and six boards to lead Valley in both departments. Viburnum's Olivia Reddick and Sara Cox both had 16 points to lead their team.

Viburnum will play Crossroads on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Valley goes home with a 3-21 record.

Valley 7 3 12 6 - 28

Viburnum 23 18 20 3 - 64

Valley - Kearns 15, White 6, Martin 5, Neier 2.

Viburnum - Cox 16, O Reddick 16, LaRue 13, E Reddick 13, Coleman 4, Pospeshil 3, Adams 2, Kirkwood 1.

3-Pointers: O Reddick 2, Kearns, Emma Reddick,