The Bellwood Antis Lady Blue Devils have had their share of ups and downs this year. Coming into the game with a record of 7-5, Bellwood needed an opportunity to beat a quality team on their own home floor. Juniata Valley came to town on Friday night with a 9-2 record and boasted an experienced, well-balanced group of players. The Hornets got the better of the Lady Blue Devils as they outscored Bellwood-Antis in every quarter and picked up the 71-50 victory.
Both teams came out hot in the first quarter. Bellwood scored the first four points of the game but found themselves trailing 16-12 after one quarter of play.
The second quarter featured tough play by both squads, but it was the rebounding advantage that keyed the Lady Hornets. They had 17 offensive rebounds in the game, and a number of them came in the 2nd quarter. It seemed as if the Hornets always had better position, regardless of whether the ball bounced long or short. These second chance shots helped Juniata Valley grab a 33-22 lead at intermission.
Bellwood’s Katie Gardner scored 12 of her game high 23 points in the first half and kept the Blue Devils in the game with her scoring. She made numerous layups along with some nice inside moves and several nice aassists on passes into the paint to get her easy buckets to help her team’s cause. Ashley Edevane was the next leading scorer for Bellwood with eight points.
“I was proud of the way we started,” said BA coach Nick Lovrich. “We just couldn’t stay with them though. Juniata Valley starts four seniors, and they have been battle tested. They played us tough on defense.”
Juniata Valley came out in the third quarter with a 6-0 run to make the lead 17 before Bellwood called time out. The third quarter saw both teams turn the ball over, and Juniata Valley held a 53-36 advantage after three.
At this point, the game was out of reach, and Juniata Valley left Bellwood with a 71-50 victory. Juniata Valley displayed a great deal of balance as Lindsey Irvin netted 21 points, Ashley Bartlebaugh had 20, and Claudia McDowell finished with 18. Lindsey Irwin led the way for Valley in rebounding with 11 boards and Claudia McDowell added six.
“They just beat us on the glass,” said Lovrich. “Also, Katie has really been consistent scoring for us, but we need other people to step up and help her out. We just have to rebound from this and focus on the next game.”
The Bellwood JV’s picked up a win as the beat Juniata Valley 25-18. Apryl Swanson led BA with nine points. Lauren Carterhad nine rebounds for the winning Blue Devils, Allison Sinisi added eight and Apryl Swanson had six.
Juniata Valley 71 Bellwood-Antis 50
JUNIATA VALLEY – Irvin 9 2-5 21, Tate 2 0-2 4, Butterbaugh 8 2-3 20, Donaldson 3 0-0 6, McDowell 9 0-0 18, Curley 0 0-0 0, Fox 0 0-0 0 Mowrer 1 0-0 2, Moffet 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 32 4-10 71.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS – Worthing 0 0-0 0, Edevane 3 1-4 7, Hatch 4 0-0 8, Meredith 2 0-0 4, Gardner 11 1-4 23, Swanson 0 0-0 0, Sprankle 0 0-0 0, Erickson 0 0-0 0, Smith 1 0-0 2, Ridgeway 0 0-0 0, Carter 2 2-2 6. TOTALS 23 4-10 50.
Score By Quarters
Juniata Valley 16 17 20 18 – 71
Bellwood-Antis 12 10 14 14 – 50
Three-point goals Juniata Valley 3 (Irvin 1, Butterbaugh 2).
