BLANCHAT, HAZELWOOD LEAD LADY VIKINGS IN 29-POINT ROUT

By Staff

            NICKERSON – Friday night on the road at Nickerson it was the Katja Blanchat and Adrian Hazelwood show as the Smoky Valley girls jumped out early and scored a dominating 29-point, 67-38 win.

            Now 9-5 for the season, the Lady Vikings begin the final two weeks of the regular season play hosting Hoisington on Tuesday before going on the road to Haven on Friday.

            Jumping out to a commanding 17-point, 24-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, Smoky Valley still had a 17-point advantage at 35-18 at the halftime break. After pushing their lead to 20, 50-30, at the end of the third quarter, the Lady Vikings extended the lead to the final 29 points for the ending victory.

            It was all Smoky Valley as they out rebounded Nickerson 40-33, the defense forced Nickerson into 26 turnovers that included 22 steals by the Lady Vikings. On offense, the Lady Vikings took those 26 turnovers and turned them into a 31-11 edge on points off turnovers while holding a dominating 42-22 advantage on points made in the pain and a 15-5 edge on second chance turnovers.

            Individually, the Lady Vikings were led by Katja Blanchat and Adrian Hazelwood as they both score 16 points and both recorded double-doubles with Blanchat pulling down 12 rebounds and Hazelwood gathering in 14. Blanchat ended the night with a triple double as she also scored 10 steals in the game as well.

            Tinley Scott joined the duo in double digits with 14 points and Eva Malm just missed with nine. Breanne Peters led the team in assists by dishing out five.

SMOKY VALLEY LADY VIKIINGS at Nickerson

SCORING: LADY VIKINGS > 24-11-15-17 = 67;  Nickerson > 7-11-12-8 = 38.

TEAM STATS: LADY VIKINGS > 2-FGs – 21/48; 3-PTs – 6/19; FTs – 7/13; AST – 14; REBs – 40; TO – 12; STLs – 22; BLKs – 0; FLs – 10.  Nickerson > 2-FGs – 13/29; 3-PTs – 2/14; FTs – 6/11; AST – 9; REBs – 33; TO – 26; STLs – 5; BLKs – 0; FLs – 14.

LADY VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Adrian Hazelwood – 16; Katja Blanchat – 16; Tinley Scott – 14; Eva Malm – 9; Breanne Peters – 7; Clara McElroy – 5.  3-Pointers Made > Hazelwood – 3; Scott – 2; Malm – 1.  Assists > Peters – 5; Blanchat, Scott, Malm, McElroy – 2; Hazelwood – 1.  Rebounds > Hazelwood – 14; Blanchat – 12; Scott, Malm, McElroy, Nevaeh Spitler – 3; Peters, Sophia Fruits – 1.  Steals > Blanchat – 10; Hazelwood, McElroy – 4; Malm – 2; Scott, Peters – 1.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)