Angle’s fast start powers Platte Valley to blowout

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Platte Valley senior Brylie Angle follows through on a 3-pointer in the first quarter on Thursday in Conception Junction.

CONCEPTION JCT., Mo. — As a team that is 11-0 without a single game within 12 points this season, Platte Valley has simply looked to improve each time they have taken the floor in their first semester slate.

Platte Valley (11-0; 4-0 275) continued to do that last Thursday night before their 2-week hiatus with a 52-11 victory over Stewartsville-Osborn (2-6; 0-4 275).

“We’ve been taking it up a notch every day in practices, and I think that our intensity has definitely grown,” Platte Valley senior Tina Turpin said.

Senior Brylie Angle got the second-ranked team in the state started fast by going 4-for-5 on 3-pointers in the first quarter. The 2-time All-State selection wasn’t necessarily hunting her own shot, but the ball movement from Platte Valley against the packed-in zone defense created open looks for one of the state’s premier shooters.

“The last few games I’ve really been playing in the post, so I haven’t been getting up as many shots as normal, but I knew coming into this game that they were going to be running a zone,” Angle said. “I knew that to do my role I needed to go out there and be a threat at the 3-point line and then Maggie (Collins) can do her job in there. I just went out there confident and my teammates made great passes and got me those open looks.”

It was the inside-out All-State duo of Maggie Collins and Angle who powered the first quarter. Angle had 12 points while Collins had six and Platte Valley took a 18-3 lead into the second quarter.

“Brylie is a great shooter,” Platte Valley coach Tyler Pedersen said. “She actually, these last couple games, has struggled a little bit, which is very uncharacteristic for her. But she is a great shooter and the best thing is that she kept shooting and I didn’t even have to tell her. Maybe earlier in her career, she would have gotten down on herself and not been as aggressive, but as a senior, she understands that it is a role that she has and she kept shooting. Percentages have a way of equaling out.”

In the second quarter, they were able to get another scorer going, but it started on the defensive end for Maleeah Bliley. The junior started the quarter with a free throw and a 3-pointer. She capped it with back-to-back steals and layups.

“It is just great having Maleeah out there really,” Angle said. “She has just been out there getting steals. Our defense has been something that we’ve always prided ourselves on.”

Sophomore Mya Wray also had a steal and layup to help Platte Valley to a 31-5 halftime lead. Platte Valley didn’t lean on its press on Thursday, but were able to force plenty of half-court turnovers and fastbreak opportunities.

“We talked about really trying to run the floor and put a lot of pressure on them,” Pedersen said.

Bliley started the third quarter the same way she ended the second quarter. Bliley got a steal and fed Kali Redden for a layup.

Tina Turpin stood out for the rest of the quarter. The senior got the next points on a layup and later fed Bliley for a basket. She added another bucket later.

Angle finished with 14 points while Collins had 13 and Bliley had 10. None of the starters played after midway through the third quarter.

Wray finished with seven points off the bench while Turpin had four, and Kali Redden and Kenzie Redden each had two.

Platte Valley returns from its two weeks off with a Jan. 5 matchup with South Holt.

“It is good to have a break, but I mean, basketball is always in the back of our minds,” Turpin said.