FROM STAFF REPORTS
Pioneer’s girls basketball team clipped Delphi 46-44 to win in its home opener Saturday night.
“Nobody had more than a four-point lead at any time,” Pioneer coach Darren McKaig said.
The Panthers (1-1) helped seal the win by going 11 of 13 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
“That was the difference,” McKaig said.
The Oracles (0-1) had a chance to tie in the closing seconds but they had a shot that was off the mark.
Kelsey Williams’ 12 points and nine rebounds led a balanced Pioneer attack. Katie Galbreath had nine points and 12 rebounds, and Taylor Conn had seven points and six boards. Morgan Shanks and Marissa Centers scored six points apiece, and Anna Ayers added five.
“It was important to get our whole team involved,” McKaig said. “Katie Galbreath was really special [Saturday night] with nine points and 12 rebounds. For our size, [rebounding is] about all we practiced on Friday and the girls really responded with their rebounding.”
Jordyn Jargstorf and Danielle Burge led the Oracles with 12 points apiece. Whitney Arion added nine.
The Panthers were able to rebound from a 16-point loss at Tri-County earlier this week.
“It was a little questionable after Thursday night how our team would respond this year,” McKaig said. “They had a great practice [Friday] and then [Saturday night] they came out and played more physical than I would have ever dreamed. That really helped.
“We made some adjustments and didn’t press as much, and I think that really helped. [Delphi was] really athletic with a lot of skilled players, and we focused on betting back on defense and trying to help on shutting them down. It seemed to work most of the night.”
Pioneer hosts North Miami on Thursday.
North Miami 51, Caston 42
The Comets led 18-17 at halftime, but the Warriors outscored them 20-7 in a decisive third quarter to take control in Denver.
“We just didn’t execute in the third quarter,” Caston coach Richard Scully said. “They came out in a 1-3-1. ... We turned it over 13 times in the third quarter. Quite frankly, we didn’t execute very well. We made a run and cut it to five with 30 seconds to go, but didn’t get over the hump.
“Emily See was at the free throw line with 30 seconds to go and we were down five, and they called a lane violation. I guess one of the girls had a toe on the line along the side, which ... was a very tough call.”
Jada Powlen scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Comets (2-0). Haley Markley added 14.
Sammi Wood scored 12 points and Allie Louthen added nine for the Warriors (1-1).
Caston travels to Frontier for its Midwest Conference opener on Friday night.
Peru 63, Culver Academy 58
The Bengal Tigers got 25 points from Bridgette Beard and 11 each from Sarah Gallahan and Paige Blanton as they evened their record at 1-1 with a win at Culver.
The Bengals led 30-23 at halftime but scored just six points in the third quarter to go down 41-36 at the break. The home team expanded its lead to nine points before Peru roared back.
“I was just proud of their effort, and [they] played hard the whole game,” Peru coach David Weeks said. He said Culver Academy’s press caused trouble for Peru in the second half. “They kind of frazzled us, but we fought back. We broke the press pretty well after we got it figured out. I was proud of how they fought hard and never gave up.”
Peru hosts Western on Friday.
