Exhibition against Miners opens Northview's season

Lauren Webster makes a pass to an open teammate during Wednesday's scrimmage against Linton. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Times Sports Editor

The Northview girls' basketball season got its first chance to face unfamiliar competition this season with an exhibition against Linton on Wednesday night.

The situational scrimmage was broken into four quarters, each one with a 15-minute running clock, no free throws were shot in the game and each squad was prohibited from using a pressing defense. After each quarter the score was reset back to zero as well.

Not surprisingly, the usual culprits were to blame for some sloppy play by both teams as each had turnover problems. The Knights had a number of near misses as an open pass slipped off a driving players' hands, but those plays should come together with more work.

In the opening period, the Miners went to their go-to center, Stephanie Fougerousse, who poured in five buckets as Linton was able to outscore the Knights 16-10. Northview's scoring was balanced as Alyssa Conrad, Emily Phillips, Lauren Webster and Taylor Carter each had a hoop.

Kelsey Searing drives to the basket against Linton. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

In the second stanza, Webster was able to find her outside stroke, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers as part of her team-high 15 points. One constant throughout the game was the hustling play of Kelsey Searing who hauled in nine rebounds and threw her body after loose balls with seeming disregard for her well-being. Carlee Bell grabbed five boards over the last three periods with three steals and four points.

The Miners were able to outscore the Knights 16-11 in the third period despite seven of Webster's points and four from Phillips, who had 11 in the exhibition.

In the final period of play, each team could select which type of defense it wanted to play and the Miners were able to use the fast break to edge the Knights 16-7 as Phillips had five points and two rebounds in the period and Bell added two rebounds, a steal and a fieldgoal. Carter, who is a freshman, had two rebounds in the fourth quarter to go with four points in the contest.

For Linton, Fougerousse had 24 points and six rebounds to lead the Miners.

The Knights open the regular season in the Terre Haute Classic at West Vigo on Nov. 11 against Terre Haute North.