Greencastle girls take their third loss

Saturday, January 9, 2016

GREENCASTLE -- The Northview Knights continue to keep topping themselves through the midway point of the regular season and the results have shown on the court. Just a few days after a big win on the road against Edgewood, the Knights surpassed that effort with a 60-45 conference win at Greencastle Friday night.

The win keeps the Knights in a race for the top spot in the Western Indiana Conference's Western Division. Northview improves to 3-1 and 8-5 overall as Greencastle falls to 3-1 and 13-3 overall.

In getting the road win, the Knights put together perhaps its most complete inside/out effort of the year as Hannah Reason scored 22 points and Olivia Lundy produced 20 points. Reason's five 3-pointers complemented Lundy's post production perfectly according to Northview coach Zack Keyes.

"I think I said earlier this week that (Edgewood) was our biggest win, but this one takes the cake," Keyes said. "We knew Greencastle was going to play 2-3 zone and we knew we were going to have to make shots. I didn't know that Hannah (Reason) was going to make five 3's. She stepped up big. For a senior to play that well on the road, in a big game, was very impressive."

Northview held a 24-22 lead at intermission as Reason nailed a pair of 3-pointers late in the second quarter and that sharp shooting was contagious.

Chelsea Vanatti opened the second half with a 3-pointer, Stacy Payton followed with another and Reason completed the hat trick with a trifecta as Northview's lead grew to 33-22.

Lundy kept the Knights close in the early going by hitting all six of her field goal attempts. The six-foot forward would add another five points in the third period as Northview maintained a double-digit edge. Reason's fourth 3-pointer put the Knights ahead 45-29.

Greencastle wouldn't go away though as it successfully found 5'10 sophomore Mia Stevens repeatedly for free throw jumpers in the second half. Stevens scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Tiger Cubs stayed within striking distance.

Olivia Lundy countered a Stevens' bucket off a turnover. Lundy scored of a lob pass from Payton to put the Knights ahead 56-44. Stevens added a free throw for Greencastle, but the Knights scored the final four points over the last 1:07 of the game.

"They had no answer for Olivia (Lundy) inside and we did a great job of getting her the ball," Keyes said. "We played excellent defense. This is an excellent win.

"We haven't used the inside as well as we have wanted to early in the season. Here in the last five or six games we've really been able to get it inside," Keyes added. "It's nice to be able to get some outside shots as well as inside. We were able to keep our hands up and defend the 3-pointer pretty well."

Payton had 14 rebounds and nine points for Northview as Reason added 10 boards and Olivia Lundy contributed six as the Knights had a 47-29 edge on the glass.

The Tiger Cubs will next play Monrovia on Saturday at McAnally.

Northview (60)

Reason 8-12 1-2 22, Vanatti 1-2 0-0 3, Conrad 1-2 0-0 2, Payton 3-16 2-2 9, O. Lundy 9-11 2-4 20, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, J. Lundy 1-2 2-2 4. Totals: 23-46 7-10 60.

Greencastle (45)

Burgeson 3-10 0-0 8, Smith 1-2 0-2 3, Bragg 3-13 0-0 9, A. White 1-9 2-4 4, Stevens 7-19 1-3 15, Ray 2-5 0-0 4, Barker 0-5 2-2 2, Duff 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-63 5-11 45.

Northview10142115-60
Greencastle9131211-45

3-point field goals -- Nv 6-17 (Reason 4-7, Vanatti 1-2, Payton 1-7, Conrad 0-1), GC 6-26 (Burgeson 2-8, Bragg 3-11, Smith 1-2, Barker 0-5). Total Rebounds -- Nv 47 (Payton 14, Reason 10, O. Lundy 6), GC 29 (A. White 5). Total Fouls -- Nv 10, GC 9. Turnovers

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