Second half run carries Knights to regional victory

A 17-2 run that bridged the second and third quarters blew open a 21-21 game and lifted Fremont-Mills to a 51-27 victory over West Harrison in the Class 1A, Region 7 opening round Thursday in Tabor.

The Knights (14-9) used the 17-2 run – and out-scored the Hawkeyes’ 34-14 in the second half – to build a lead that swelled to as many as 23 after halftime.

“We talked a lot at halftime about how we played in the first half,” said Fremont-Mills coach Brett Weldon. “We didn’t play terrible but we just weren’t converting and made some mistakes. We needed to tighten up our defense convert when we got the chance around the basket and I thought the girls did that.”

The first half had all the makings of physical, grind-it-out post-season scrum as both teams took turns securing and then surrendering four point leads and trading fouls – 22 in the first half alone – over the first two quarters.

The Knights did manage to take a 17-13 lead into halftime.

But that lead was quickly erased on a 4-0 Hawkeye run.

After trading baskets, and another lead, the two teams were deadlocked at 21-21 with just over three minutes to go.
That’s when Fremont-Mills turned it on.

Lexi Howard’s layup with just :08 to go in the third quarter capped an 8-0 that put the Knights up 29-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

They picked up right where they left in the final frame with four points from Damita Fichter and five more from Clara Schaaf in a 9-2 run that put the Knights out in front 36-23 with four minutes to go.
Emma Jahnke’s two free throws with 2:02 to go extended the Knights lead to 46-25 with just over two minutes remaining.

The Hawkeyes’ game plan early was to attack the Knights with quick passes to neutralize their pressure. And it worked the first half, Weldon said.

“They had a great game plan,” Weldon said. “They obviously watched our game film and had a good plan for what we were going to do defensively. So we had to make an adjustment and it worked out well.”

The Knights opened the second half punching the ball inside on offense and using their superior height. The biggest change Weldon saw offensively from his team between the two halves was his team didn’t take unnecessary jump shots.

“We didn’t want to settle for three’s no matter how open we were,” Weldon said. “We wanted to attack and get to the free throw line or set up teammates.”

Defensively, after mixing pressure man-to-man and zone in the first half, Weldon went to a 2-3 match up zone most of the second half. The Hawkeyes scored just six points over the final 10 minutes of the game.

“We switched up our defense in the second half because I knew they were going to have to try and make a run and it worked out well,” Weldon said. “The girls executed really well.”

Jahnke led the Knights with 11 points. Howard chipped in nine and Fichter seven.

Cheyanne Rife led West Harrison with nine points.

The Knights were schedule to play at East Mills (9-10), a 60-25 winner over Heartland Christian Thursday, in last night’s quarterfinals in Malvern. Results were not available at press time.

East Mills 60,
Heartland Christian 25

East Mills used a 24-1 third quarter run to pull away for a 60-25 victory over Heartland Christian in its girls Class 1A, Region 7 opener last Tuesday.

The Wolverines (9-10) were out-scored 13-8 in the first quarter but overcame that sluggish start for their third win of the season over the Eagles.

Janette Schraft and Alex Knop each scored 14 points to lead East Mills. Shellby Moore added 10 points. Knop also pulled down 13 rebounds.

Nebraska City 53,
Fremont-Mills 31

Nebraska City downed Fremont-Mills 53-31 in interstate girls basketball tilt in Tabor last Tuesday.

The Knights (13-9 overall, 10-2 in the Corner Conference) never found their shooting touch in the regular season finale.

“We had trouble with their length and physicality on both ends of the floor,” said Fremont-Mills coach Brett Weldon. “We could never get in a rhythm offensively.”
Clara Schaaf and Bailey Hauschild had nine points each to lead Fremont-Mills.

Fremont-Mills 62,
South Page 33

Fremont-Mills used a 20-3 second quarter run to pull away from South Page in a 62-33 Corner Conference victory last Monday.

The Knights trailed 7-4 after a quarter before exploding in the second quarter.

“We struggled to get going offensively in the first quarter,” said Fremont-Mills coach Brett Weldon. “Kaylee Wright had a big second quarter, scoring nine of her game-high 18 points, sparking a big run. Defensively, we were able to force some turnovers that led to some easy baskets.”

Kaylee Wright led three Knights in double-figures with 18 point and 18 rebounds. Bailey Hauschild added 14 points and Clara Schaaf 11.

Fremont-Mills also held a 45 to 35 rebounding edge and recorded 15 assists on 27 made field goals.