Thunder win fourth-straight, set table for 275 push
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley junior Savanna Marriott shoots a 3-pointer on Wednesday night in Hopkins.
HOPKINS, Mo. — All season, this week was the one that fans of the 275 Conference knew was likely to decide what has been a fantastic girls race atop the standings.
Going into Tuesday, Platte Valley, Nodaway Valley and Rock Port each were perched atop the league with undefeated conference records. Platte Valley (19-0) took care of its business on Tuesday with a 45-30 win over Rock Port (14-4).
Both Platte Valley and Nodaway Valley (17-3) kept pace with each other by winning rivalry games on Wednesday as Nodaway Valley beat North Nodaway 57-25 and Platte Valley survived a scare from Northeast Nodaway 34-25.
Now the next week for the Thunder looks like this — a Friday trip to Rock Port where a win would set up a de-facto 275 Championship Game on Tuesday in Burlington Junction with Platte Valley.
Nodaway Valley wasted no time jumping all over North Nodaway on Wednesday night. Junior Savanna Marriott scored the first five points of the game with a floater and 3-pointer, then capped the 14-0 start with another 3-pointer as the Thunder were rolling.
“We were motivated,” Savanna Marriott said. “We want to win that conference championship, so every single game from here out matters. (We are focused on) doing the little things and starting the game out strong. We’ve really been trying to turn up our defense lately.”
Mustang senior point guard Lauren Herndon briefly quelled momentum with four free throws, but Thunder senior point guard Sydney Marriott had the response to cap the first quarter scoring with a 3-pointer and 17-4 lead.
Nodaway Valley began the second quarter as efficient as the first, but with different players getting involved. Paige Hanson scored the first four points of the quarter and of a 10-0 spurt to open the period.
“We were putting pressure on them and that is something we work on,” Nodaway Valley coach Mitch Barnes said.
Ava Graham capped the run with a basket to make it 27-4. The junior went just over her 18.4 points-per-game average with 19 points in the game.
“Get stronger mentally, practice the little things and just stay together and grow as a team for these last couple weeks of basketball,” Graham said of the focus of the team.
The Thunder took a 32-13 lead into the third quarter and Mustang freshman Lily Blane got her first basket of the game to open the half. Graham and the Thunder responded with a 18-0 run the rest of the quarter including 10 points from the All-State candidate.
“When they can hit outside like that from all the other four, that is hard to stop,” North Nodaway coach Sami Jackson said.
Blane scored again to open the fourth quarter. Despite the Mustangs’ (8-9) struggles while losing 7-of-8 games, Blane has been a bright spot. She finished with eight points — sharing the team lead with Herndon while Saryn Brown had seven.
“She is still young, she still makes those freshman mistakes, but out of everybody, she is definitely one of them who is stepping up and trying to make an impact,” Jackson said of Blane.
After Graham’s 19, Savanna Marriott had 12, Sydney Marriott had nine, Hanson had eight, Haylee Dawson had three and Paidyn Linville, Hadley Fast and Mackenzie Hanig each had two.
“I haven’t been shooting very well this whole season, but it is good to finally be able to get that shooting back,” Savanna Marriott said. “It is all mental, a mental game. So if I stay mentally strong, do the little things to get my shot perfect — then hopefully it will start falling.”
While Nodaway Valley has its championship push this week, North Nodaway will look to get back on track with home games on Friday with Mound City and Tuesday with Union Star.
“We need to get to a point where we are having fun,” Jackson said. “I don’t think that we aren’t trying to, but like you said, it has been rough. If we can get to the point where we are having fun again, then we are going to be alright.”
