Top-ranked Pioneers squelch Warriors' bid

By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com

STEPHENS CITY -- Millbrook continued to apply its vise-like grip on first place in the Northwestern District with an 87-57 win over host Sherando in girls basketball action on Friday.

The victory extends the Pioneers' winning streak to 69 games.

Millbrook, which led by just 11 points at halftime despite forcing the Warriors into 19 first-half turnovers, shot just 36.1 percent (13 for 36) from the floor in the first half.

The Pioneers responded with more consistency on offense in the second half, and outscored Sherando 25-12 in the game's final period to blow the game open.

"The only inconsistent thing we had early was that we didn't knock down jumpers," Pioneers coach Debby Sanders said. "We were leaving everything short in the first half. I think we made up for that in the second half."

Millbrook burst out of the gate early, taking a 15-2 lead when senior Alisha Mobley converted a traditional three-point play with 3:57 remaining in the opening period.

Sherando, on the other hand, struggled mightily against the Pioneers' full-court pressure and turned the ball over 11 times before finally registering its first shot attempt nearly four minutes into the game. Freshman Jessica Hakel, who led the Warriors with 18 points, recorded Sherando's first field goal of the game at the 3:30 mark.

Sherando (13-6, 5-2 Northwestern) battled back late in the period as a 3-pointer by Hakel cut the deficit to five before Millbrook senior Lisa Merriman hit a jumper in the lane to give the Pioneers a 25-18 lead going into the second period.

Both teams visited the free-throw line frequently in the game's first eight minutes, as they combined to shoot 25 free throws in the first period.

Sherando continued to fight during the second period, as a pair of free throws by senior Allison Boespflug made the score 31-27 in favor of Millbrook with less than four minutes remaining before halftime.

"We carried ourselves with class. We played a great basketball game tonight," Warriors coach Kevin Reed said. "I'm very proud of our effort and how we competed. We respect [Millbrook], but we don't fear them. Once our girls settled in, they just decided to start playing."

Millbrook ended the first half on a 13-6 run to hold a 44-33 lead at intermission, as Merriman and senior Courtni Green combined for all of the Pioneers' points during the run.

Green led all scorers with 38 points and was 13 for 14 from the free-throw line for the game, and Merriman and Mobley chipped in 14 points apiece for Millbrook.

Sherando senior Morgan Sirbaugh finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman Heidi Brown added 13 points for the Warriors.

Millbrook held a 62-45 lead entering the fourth quarter before pouring it on in the game's final eight minutes. The Pioneers ended the game on a 16-5 run, sinking five of their final six shots in the process.

"We never lose our focus -- this is what these kids do, they just play basketball and they're playing the game that they love to play," Sanders said. "They just know how to go out there and get the job done and focus on the task at hand."