Wolverines knock off Knights, 40-28

East Mills built a lead that extended to 17 points and then held on late to knock off Fremont-Mills 40-28 in Corner Conference girls basketball Friday in Malvern.

The Wolverines led 18-14 at the half but used a 10-3 run to open the second half to take a commanding 28-17 lead. That lead swelled to 17 points in the fourth quarter.

All game long the Knights had trouble puncturing the Wolverines’ length in their zone defense.

“When we switched over to that zone, we do have length and that’s something we knew we had,” said East Mills coach Lexie Moreno said. “I’m just happy it was super effective in the zone. A lot of the girls don’t realize you’re super long if you keep your arms out.”

The Knights trailed for much of the game but didn’t go away quietly. They rallied back from being down 35-18 with three minutes to go to trim the lead to 35-28 on Carlie Nuckolls’ layup and free throw with 1:08 to go. They then forced a turnover and had a chance to gut the lead further but a turnover of their own led to a pair of Wolverine free throws on the other to end the comeback.

Fremont-Mills coach Brett Weldon credited his team’s defense, particularly their full court press, for giving them a chance to get back in the game.

“We knew we were going to go to a press at some point but just being so limited on the bench we have to pick and choose,” Weldon said. “We probably went a little too late, stayed in our zone a little too long. But we battled back. I told the girls all of our games are going to be like that. We’re just going to have to battle and try to find a way and we did; we found a way to get back in the game.

“It could have been a 25-point game at one point, and we battled, got some deflections, finished and made a couple baskets.”

The Wolverines’ Caitlyn Crouse led all scorers with 16 points. Ava Grindle chipped in 11 points.

Lana Alley and Nuckolls scored eight points each to lead the Knights.

Lenox 44,
East Mills 29

Zoey Reed scored 23 points to lead Lenox to a 44-29 victory over East Mills in non-conference girls basketball Thursday.

Reed hit on 9-of-20 shots and grabbed six steals in the win. Sadie Cox chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers.

Ava Grindle paced the Wolverines with 11 points.

Fremont-Mills 55,
Griswold 36

Fremont-Mills outscored Griswold 31-17 after halftime in a 55-36 win over Griswold last Tuesday.

Carlie Nuckolls paced a balanced scoring effort for the Knights with 13 points. Saige Mitchell added 12 points, Reese Gute 11, Bella Gute nine and Lana Alley eight.
Sadie Gohlinghorst scored 12 points to top Griswold.

East Mills 48,
Diagonal 29

East Mills outscored Diagonal 25-6 after halftime in a 48-29 victory last Monday in Malvern.

Caitlyn Crouse scored 18 points and Ava Grindle added 13 points to lead East Mills.

Ashlynn Allee scored 14 points for Diagonal.