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by Joelle Doye
Basketball is a game of momentum. Usually each team comes up with runs, and the team that wins is the one that has its runs at key times.
The Pointer girls basketball team held off a feisty Riverdale squad 46-38 Friday night by coming up with big baskets at big times.
The teams battled back and forth to start the game, but the Pointers closed the first quarter with a 12-2 run to take a 16-9 lead. Highlights of that stretch included old fashioned three point plays from Jessica Schultz and Emily Mitchell, as well as Natalie Chubb's basket right before time expired.
Another key 8-2 run in the middle of the second quarter, six from Mitchell, made sure the Pointers stayed out in front at the halftime break 27-19.
That eight point lead, however, was quickly erased as Riverdale stormed out of the break and tied the game at 27 all. The Pointers were able to respond with an 8-2 stretch to end the quarter and take a 35-29 lead.
Clara Chambers' three point shot at the 5:40 mark was clutch as it put the Pointers up by 10 points. The Chieftains would get as close as six at 42-36 on a hoop from Haylee Rognholt with 2:26 to go, but that would be as close as they would get.
Mitchell led all scorers with 15 points. Chambers added 10.
Megan Kleist was the only Chieftain in double digits with 10.
The Pointers reached the .500 mark with the win at 3-3 and currently sit in a three way tie for second place in the league.
"Paula Pittz is an intense athlete, and has a real nose for the ball," said Pointer coach Mitch Wainwright. "But sometimes we need a little more size up front, so being able to insert Clara Chambers as the point guard is a big plus. She was 3/4 from the line in the fourth quarter, as well as coming up with a big three point shot."
"We had a poor start to the second half--we didn't score for the first four minutes. It seemed like we just wanted to catch and shoot instead of being patient and running the offense, but we were able to settle down and come away with a good win."
The Pointers are at Darlington Thursday in a key conference matchup.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
R: 9-10-10-9--38
MP: 16-11-8-11--46
BOX SCORE
RIVERDALE (fg-ft-tp) 38: Harris 1-0-3, Meister 0-1/2-1, Rognholt 1-3/4-5, Fradette 3-2/2-8, R. Pedek 2-1/4-5, S. Pedek 2-0-4, Kleist 5-0-10, Frazier 1-0-2. Totals: 15-7/12-38. Fouls: 17. Three pointers: Harris 1.
MINERAL POINT 46: Qualley 1-0-2, Pittz 0-0/1-0, Pilling 3-2/3-8, Mitchell 7-1/1-15, Chambers 1-3/4-6, Chubb 2-1/3-5, Schultz 4-2/4-10. Totals: 18-9/16-46. Fouls: 16. Three pointers: Chambers 1.