MILLER CITY – Host Miller City jumped out to a big lead early in Monday night’s non-league tilt with Cory-Rawson and was forced to hold off the Hornet advances late in the game for a 53-42 victory.
Cory-Rawson opened the contest with a basket just five seconds in by junior Paige McVetta to take a 2-0 lead but found themselves tied after the opening 90 seconds of play at 4-4 on two scores by Miller City senior Abi Lammers.
Unfortunately for the visiting Hornets, their second basket, a make by Brynn Reese with 6:35 left in the opening period of play would be their last for nearly five minutes while Miller City built their lead.
Suffocating defensive pressure by the Wildcats forced Hornet turnovers that were turned quickly into points during a 14-2 run to end the quarter by Lammers, Ava Ruck, Carley Hermiller, Liz Otto, and a three point goal by Nicolette Inkrott for an 18-6 lead.
In the second quarter the Wildcats Carley Hermiller splashed home a trio of three point goals on her way to 10 of her 13 opening half markers and helped to facilitate scores by teammate Abi Lammers to give their team a 34-13 lead at the break.
Behind a pair of McVetta’s and Makayla Gillfillan the Hornets fought their way back in the third quarter. Chelcie and Paige McVetta combined for nine of the teams 12 points in the eight minute span and gave Cory-Rawson a 12-9 scoring advantage to cut the lead to 43-25 heading into the final period.
Miller City was held to just 10 points in the final stanza but found themselves with their scoring coming at opportune times from Lammers and a three point goal by Grace Pfau to keep themselves afloat.
Another period of work from sophomore Gillfillan and classmate Chelcie McVetta pushed the Hornet attack to outscore their hosts 17-10 but fall at the final buzzer 53-42.
Cory-Rawson drops to 2-1 with their first loss of the season and will next be in action on Thursday night as they host Vanlue in a Blanchard Valley Conference tilt at the Hive.
Miller City (1-1) travels to Pandora Gilboa High School on Thursday evening to open Putnam County League play against the Rockets at the Launch Pad.
Abi Lammers led all scorers and rebounders for Miller City in the game as she hauled down 19 rebounds to go along with 20 points while teammate Carley Hermiller scored 16. Cory-Rawson was paced by Chelcie McVetta and Paige McVetta who each notched 11 markers.
Scoring:
Miller City (53):
Abi Lammers 20
Tori Wenzinger 3
Ava Ruck 4
Carley Hermiller 16
Liz Otto 4
Grace Pfau
FT: 5/9
3PT: 6 (Hermiller 3, Wenzinger, Pfau, Inkrott)
TO: 14
Cory-Rawson (42):
Lanie Kempf 3
Karissa Welte 2
Brynn Reese 4
Chelcie McVetta 11
Morgan McVetta 2
Paige McVetta 11
Olivia Bacon 1
Makayla Gillfillan 8
FT: 11/16
3PT: 0
TO: 12
JV: Miller City 41-8