Honors it's Seniors athletes McDonald, Double as well junior exchange student Tiina Erho.
By The Den's Mike Rice
With sectional play beginning next week, Friday night’s battle between the Huntington North Lady Vikings and DeKalb Lady Barons represented the final tune up opportunity for both teams.
From the opening tip, it was evident points would be at a premium. The game’s first tally waited until over four and a half minutes passed when DeKalb got on the board via two free throws.
A Taylor Double three pointer pushed the host Lady Vikings ahead, 3-2, less than a minute later, in what would be the final points of the quarter.
Just twenty-three seconds into the second period, a Katelynn Arnold basket edged Huntington North in front by three points, at 5 to 2.
Ba
ck to back DeKalb three balls from Page Pettis and Sarah Brown fueled a quick DeKalb run and the Lady Barons grabbed a 14-10 lead with under four minutes remaining in the opening half.
A Reece Colclesser steal and assist on a score from Leah Campbell, coupled with a Campbell trip to the charity stripe knotted things at 14-14 as the game headed to the halftime break.
DeKalb’s Lillie Cone opened the third quarter scoring with a three pointer of her own, but Cone’s basket would be the only Lady Baron points of the period.
Meanwhile, Arnold dropped four of her ten points in the period, leading the Huntington North charge and granting the Lady Vikings a 20-17 lead as the third stanza concluded.
Just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, an “and one” from Brown had the score tied at 24-24.
Brown struck again, as the clock neared the two-minute mark, nailing a three pointer and giving the Lady Barons a 27-24 lead.
DeKalb’s Addison Ruby added a free throw, extending the Lady Baron lead to 28-24 with under ninety seconds to play and when the Lady Vikings appeared to come up empty on their next possession, it looked as if DeKalb might put the game away.
A steal by Huntington North’s Grace Sell, following a missed Lady Viking jumper, sent Sell free throw line.
Sell hit one of two shots and Huntington North was back within three points, trailing 28-25.
Forced to foul, the Lady Vikings sent Ruby back to the line with just fifteen seconds left to play. Ruby dropped her first attempt and the Lady Barons led by four points, 29 to 25 as Ruby prepared for her second free throw.
A Ruby miss had Huntington North in business and the Lady Vikings pushed the ball up the court.
Just seven seconds later, Campbell added three more or her team high eleven points, draining a long three pointer, closing the deficit to a single point with eight ticks left in the game.
DeKalb’s Morgann Leslie nudged the lead to 30-28 by converting the front end of a one and one, but a miss on her second attempt left the game’s outcome hanging in the balance.
A time out from Huntington North, with 2.8 seconds on the clock, set the stage for the game’s final action.
Shooting for the win, the Lady Vikings in bounded the ball to Campbell, who hit Double near the top of the key. The freshman guard’s shot looked good, but fell just off the mark as the final buzzer sounded.
Final score, DeKalb 30 Huntington North 28
Huntington 3 11 6 8 - 28
DeKalb 2 12 3 13 – 30
Huntington North won the junior varsity contest by a final score of 44 to 21
Huntington 9 13 11 11 - 44
DeKalb 4 7 3 7 - 21
Prior to the start of Friday’s game, Huntington North celebrated the careers of two seniors, Bayleigh Double and Meg McDonald, as well junior exchange student Tiina Erho, who will return to Finland after the school year is completed.
Bayleigh is the daughter of Brian and Jennifer Double. She has been a member of the basketball team all four years of high school, was a member of choir for two years and has participated in track and field.
Bayleigh is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to attend college to study mental health therapy.
The daughter of Brad and Lisa McDonald, Meg is a four-year member of the basketball and track teams.
Meg ranks in the top 25 in her class and is a member of the all A honor roll, National Honor Society, Class Council, Student Athletic Board, Campus Life Student Leaders and Huntington County Youth Leadership.
Meg was also a Junior Rotarian, volunteered with Blessing In a Backpack and Middle School Campus Life.
She plans to attend Huntington University to study biochemistry in preparation to become a pediatrician, while running track and cross country.
Tiina’s host parents are Matt and Janelle Pflieger.
On top of playing basketball for Huntington North, Tiina also participated in Lady Viking soccer.