By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
SULLIVAN – If the best things in life are free, the best things in basketball are free throws. That’s where Bedford North Lawrence was at its best while winning its regular-season opener. The Stars were almost perfect at the line, an advantage that made the obvious difference during a successful launch to the Chase Spreen coaching era.
Other phases, and second-half leads, fluctuated like a dieter’s weight and will power. But each time Sullivan took dead aim, BNL deflected those Golden Arrows and hit the mark with a solid road victory on Thursday night.
BNL took control with crucial bursts during the final two quarters while rolling to a 53-46 triumph over Sullivan. Balance was a factor as three Stars scored in double figures, with Jordan Blann and Trinidy Bailey leading the way with 13 points each.
All the statistical categories that are often studied and pinpointed were virtually identical, save one. BNL was bull’s-eye amazing at the foul line, converting 13 of 14, all in the second half. Robin Hood would have been proud of that superior marksmanship. The Arrows, on the other hand, were not as accurate as their nickname implies, hitting less than half (7 of 15) their open attempts at the line. Thus the reason BNL went home with the prize.
“That’s the difference in the game,” Sullivan coach Vance Edmondson said. “They made free throws and we didn’t. When it came down to a free-throw shooting contest, we didn’t get it done.”
It also came down to BNL spurts. The Stars trailed 22-20 early in the third quarter when Miley Sherrill sparked a run with a three-point play. That ignited a 9-0 eruption. When Sullivan closed within 31-30 late in the frame, BNL answered with a 10-2 response, with Sammie Nusbaum ending that blast with a trey from the key. And when the Arrows fought back once more, scrambling within a single possession midway into the final period, Blann bounced home her fourth trey for a 48-38 lead that was the dagger.
“In a game like that, on the road, you have to figure out a way to get it done,” Spreen said. “The kids did. We did not play well in a lot of facets, but it was their grit to figure things out.
“The kids kept responding, Every time we got comfortable, we took our foot off the gas. We have to understand, from a mentality standpoint, when you have a foot on their throat, you have to finish it. You can’t let them back in the game, That’s a learning point, They figured out a way to get it done.”
Blann was the early catalyst with three bombs in the opening quarter, but Sullivan shook off that attack and rumbled in front for the first time at 17-16. Bailey’s post-up basket gave BNL an 18-17 lead at the half.
The go-ahead run started by Sherrill also included Paige Burton’s layup off a Sherrill steal and dive to win possession, SherrilL’s hustle rebound basket, and Bailey’s layup following Nusbaum’s theft. Notice how defense played a role?
“That was huge,” Sherrill said. “I knew I had to change my mindset. We started on the defensive end and that got us going offensively. That really boosted us.”
The put-away run capped by Blann’s last sling against the Arrows featured a beautiful Bailey reverse layup and two Burton free throws with 2:27 left.
In addition to the lucky 13s from Bailey and Blann, Sherrill totaled 12 points while Nusbaum added 9 points and a game-high 8 rebounds. Avari Kelley paced Sullivan with 17 points while Rigley Goodman added 12.
For the Stars, who set dubious records during last season’s struggles, starting with a victory was vital for confidence and morale.
“Coming off what we went through last year, we hit rock bottom,” Sherrill said. “I don’t know how else to say it. We knew we had to bounce back.”
“It’s a win, right?” Spreen said.
BNL, which is starting this new season with a three-game road swing, will visit Bloomington North on Tuesday.
BEDFORD NL STARS (53)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
23 Sammie Nusbaum, f 1-1 2-5 4-4 8 3 9
22 Miley Sherrill, f 1-1 5-10 1-1 5 4 12
32 Trinidy Bailey, g 0-3 4-12 5-5 2 2 13
21 Jordan Blann, g 4-6 4-6 1-2 3 1 13
11 Paige Burton, g 0-2 2-6 2-2 6 4 6
12 Elahdy Ray 0-1 0-1 0-0 1 0 0
24 Caroline Sheldon 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
31 Audrey Hoffman 0-0 0-1 0-0 0 1 0
Totals 6-14 17-41 13-14 28 16 53
SULLIVAN GOLDEN ARROWS (46)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
25 Kinley Mason, f 0-2 0-2 0-0 5 0 0
33 Ally McKinney, g 2-6 3-7 1-1 4 5 9
10 Rigley Goodman, g 2-4 5-7 0-2 2 3 12
3 Katherine Sarver, g 0-1 3-9 2-4 4 4 8
1 Avari Kelley, g 3-6 5-8 4-6 2 2 17
23 Addie Fosdick 0-5 0-6 0-2 4 0 0
15 Hallie Howard 0-0 0-1 0-0 1 1 0
Totals 7-24 16-40 7-15 22 15 46
Bedford NL 11 7 15 20 – 53
Sullivan 5 12 13 16 – 46
Turnovers – BNL 12, Sullivan 11
Field goal percentage – BNL 17-41 (.415); Sullivan 16-40 (.400)
Free throw percentage – BNL 13-14 (.929); Sullivan 7-15 (.467)
