Maconaquah Schools

The Lady Braves traveled to Walton to face a strong Cass team with a record of 15-6 leading up to their Friday night game. Both teams showcased their skills, which will benefit them as they head into sectional play next week. In the first quarter, the Lady Braves experienced some difficulties with their shooting, making only three of twelve attempts from the floor. In contrast, Cass excelled with an impressive five for seven shooting performance, achieving 71% accuracy. However, the Lady Braves stayed competitive, thanks to timely three-point shots by Delaney Betzner. As a result, they managed to cut into Cass's lead, ending the quarter down 8-14. The second quarter saw the Lady Braves ramping up their defense, making it challenging for Cass to score. They held Cass to just two of eleven shooting and forced five turnovers. Offensively, the Lady Braves improved, shooting five of twelve and committing only three turnovers. Four different players contributed to the scoring, with Ireland Kile leading the charge with five points. Kasey Murry and Aubrey Stoll also contributed with three-pointers. The Lady Braves outscored Cass 13-5 in this quarter, taking a 21-19 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, Cass gained momentum, forcing eight turnovers from the Lady Braves. The Lady Braves struggled offensively, making just one field goal but managed to get to the free-throw line, converting two of four attempts. This shift in mindset led to more aggressive play as they attacked the basket in the final quarter. However, Cass outscored the Lady Braves 12-5 in this period, taking a 31-26 lead into the final quarter. The last quarter saw both teams ramping up their offensive efforts, attacking each other off the dribble. Ireland Kile was particularly effective, going five for six from the free-throw line, while Addie Maiben hit two three-pointers, narrowing Cass's lead to 40-39 with about two minutes left in the game. Cass's point guard, Aftin Griffin, had a standout quarter, scoring nine of her total twenty-two points. Cass also went five for five from the free-throw line, helping them secure the victory. Before the game, Mylie Sipe, an Indiana Tech signee from Cass, was averaging over 9 points per game and was the team's leading three-point shooter. Throughout most of the game, Aubrey Kaiser was tasked with guarding Sipe. With strong support from the rest of the Lady Braves' defense, they successfully limited Sipe to zero points on four attempts and recorded only two rebounds. Looking ahead, the Lady Braves' next game is set for Wednesday, February 5, in the Twin Lakes Sectional against the host school, Twin Lakes. They will play in the second game of the night at 7:30 PM. Game Stats: Transition Points: +2 Second Chance Points: +6 Offensive Rebounds: +3 Steals: +2 Individual Stats: Ireland Kile: 14 points, 2 assists Delaney Betzner: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals Addie Maiben: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals Aubrey Stoll: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals Kasey Murry: 3 points, 2 rebounds Aubrey Kaiser: 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals Team Contributions: Averie Maiben and Gabby Griffis both provided great energy during their time on the floor. Additionally, the players from the bench contributed by offering energy and positive encouragement throughout the game.