Notre Dame girls ride hot start past Neelyville

~ The Bulldogs posted a 73-53 win on senior night

It was a fitting last home game for Allyson Bradshaw.

The senior led the way in a monstrous first quarter for Notre Dame, and the Bulldogs never looked back for a 73-53 victory over Neelyville, state ranked in Class 2.

Bradshaw, who finished with 12 points in the first quarter, had a game-high 26 points to pace the Bulldogs on senior night.

"I wanted to make a statement," Bradshaw said. "I didn't want it to be my last game and play really bad. I just thought I'd give it my all."

Notre Dame never trailed after taking a 3-2 lead. The Bulldogs were ahead 13-11 midway through the quarter when they went on a 15-0 run to close the period with a 28-11 lead.

The Bulldogs' defense forced seven first-quarter turnovers and Notre Dame also clicked on offense, hitting 10 of 14 (71 percent) shots inside the arc and 2 of 3 (66 percent) from long range during the period.

"That was really nice," Bradshaw said. "We haven't gotten out to a big lead in a really long time. We were rebounding the ball really well and that's what helped us, because our big girls were rebounding and our little girls were running."

The Tigers refused to fold completely.

Neelyville picked up its defensive pressure in the second quarter, forcing eight turnovers to cut the lead to 34-24 with just more than two minutes to play in the half.

Neelyville dominated the offensive glass in the second quarter and worked itself to the free-throw line. The Tigers hit 9 of 11 free throws in the period.

"They got a lot of offensive rebounds," Notre Dame coach Renee Peters said. "They got good shots, they penetrated well and they got second and third opportunities. And when we don't box out, it's going to come back and kick us. They didn't quit and they kept fighting for every basket. When we stop rebounding and stop running the floor, we're going to let teams back in, and that's what happened."

Notre Dame regained momentum right before the intermission. Brooke Bohnert and Summer Burger hit back-to-back baskets and Bradshaw drained two free throws in an 8-2 burst that extended the lead to 42-26 at the break.

"That's one thing we talk about -- we got to finish," Peters said. "We don't want to get complacent with any lead. That was huge. Now we had a little momentum going into halftime."

Added Bradshaw: "We just got after it a lot. We got out in the passing lanes and that's what we've been working on recently."

Bradshaw and Bohnert combined for 11 of the Bulldogs' 13 points in the third quarter.

"It's a lot easier," Bradshaw said about Bohnert scoring down low. "She's good at dishing down low too. That really helped."

"Allyson knows the scope of what's going on right now, she wants to win," Peters said. "It was senior night and she wanted to go out with a bang. It means a great deal to her. This game was a stepping stone for districts and she wants everybody involved. At this point, it's do whatever it takes to win, and she was a leader for us."

The Tigers never got within 13 points in the second half.

"Last game wasn't too good," Bradshaw said, referring to the Bulldogs' loss to district rival Dexter on Monday night. "So we all wanted to come out and prove a point that we're not the same team we were on Monday. We want to go further than people expect us to."

The Bulldogs honored three seniors Thursday: Bradshaw, Kaelin Hale and Nicole Blattel.

Bohnert finished with 15 points, while Burger added 13.

"They're a very good team," Peters said about Neelyville. "They're a state ranked team in Class 2. They're scrappy. This is a good win for us. It was a good team effort."

Neelyville 11 15 12 15 -- 53

Notre Dame 28 14 13 18 -- 73

NEELYVILLE (53) -- Chelsey Maupin 21, Jackie Griffin 7, Brittany McElhaney 12, Kaitlin Morgeson 2, Kayla Maupin 10, Brooke Sheppard 1. FG 19, FT 15-25, F 16. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Morgeson.)

NOTRE DAME (73) -- Miranda Fowler 6, Summer Burger 13, Allyson Bradshaw 26, Brooke Bohnert 15, Nicole Blattel 2, Kaelin Hale 4, Morgan Schumer 2, Annie Siebert 3, Shelby Beussink 2. FG 30, FT 11-18, F 21. (3-pointers: Bradshaw 2. Fouled out: Blattel.)