By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Under normal circumstances, Tori Nikirk and Katie Godlevske would have been listed as questionable, perhaps even doubtful, on a pregame injury report. They have definitely felt better. But Senior Day is not the norm. The special situation demanded exceptional effort.
In their home finale, Nikirk and Godlevske not only survived their maladies, they thrived during their goodbye, farewell and amen moments in BNL Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. With an alumni coach threatening to spoil the celebration, the Stars rallied from the edge of doom to cap the careers of their five seniors with a send-off victory.
After a sluggish start, not uncommon when the first wave consists of the departing seniors, BNL battled back to conquer Class A No.6 Orleans 48-42. Nikirk scored 13 points and Godlevske added 12 as BNL (6-14) recovered from an early 10-point deficit to make the matinee day memorable.
Orleans (15-5) was in spoiler mode for a long time. The Bulldogs, with former BNL standout Jared Gilbert making his coaching return to home ground, had a shot in the air for a tie in the final minute. After that missed, BNL capped the win with free throws that made the postgame cake taste a little sweeter.
Makaya Jackson, another of the five BNL seniors honored during the annual pregame festivities, added 7 points, including clutch contributions during the final 80 seconds.
“It’s a great feeling, knowing we have the whole community supporting us for our day,” Nikirk said. “Getting a win makes it extra special.”
At first, that conclusion was in jeopardy. BNL started its five seniors, including Trinity Schmeichel and Harrison Hayes, although the Bulldogs ignored the pomp and circumstance while zipping to a 15-6 advantage. Nikirk had all 8 BNL points in the opening quarter
Orleans extended to its biggest lead at 18-8 before BNL returned to normal with its personnel and its execution. After committing seven early turnovers, the Stars had only one in the second and allowed only one Orleans basket. Miley Sherrill sparked a 13-3 burst with a layup, Jordynn Blann and Nikirk swished treys, and Godlevske popped a deep one from the key for a 21-21 deadlock at the half.
The Stars continued their run in the third quarter. Godlevske stroked another trey, Jackson grabbed a missed free throw and scored for another 3-point trip, and Godlevske converted a steal into yet another bomb for a 32-24 advantage. That was quite the turnaround.
“If Tori doesn’t hit shots early, we get overwhelmed in that first quarter,” BNL coach Greg Burton said. “That was huge. And Katie came up big.”
Orleans, trailing by 9 at 35-26, scrambled back with treys by Savannah Russell and Chelsea Ralph, then pulled even with two Russell free throws for a 38-38 deadlock with 3:20 left. Sherrill put BNL in front for good with her wing trey, then spotted Jackson underneath the Orleans zone for a layup and 43-40 lead with 1:15 left.
Two Jackson free throws gave BNL a 45-42 advantage, and Ralph missed a good look from long range. BNL closed it out with free throws by Sherrill and Trinidy Bailey.
Nikirk hit double digits for the third straight game. Godlevske finished with four treys.
“We shot a lot of jump shots, which is kind of the DNA of our team,” Burton said. “Katie got hot, and the longer the game went we were able to get the ball inside to Miley. Good things happen when we do that. The most important part was we got stops.”
“It felt good to hit shots,” Godlevske said, “especially at crucial times when we needed the points.”
Callie Alston paced Orleans with 12 points while Russell totaled 11. Orleans was plagued by 25 turnovers (after committing only two in the first quarter).
“It was what we feared,” Gilbert said. “We knew we would have to handle their pressure. We knew we would see pressure we don’t see throughout the year. Some of it was self-inflicted where we made bad decisions.
“Overall it was good for us to see. Our kids battled. We played well enough to give ourselves a chance to win. We just came up short.”
Both teams will learn their postseason fate when the IHSAA announces the sectional draws on Sunday evening. The Stars will return to action at Class 3A No.3 Silver Creek on Tuesday.
ORLEANS BULLDOGS (42)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
20 Mylie Knight, f 2-4 3-5 0-0 4 2 8
22 Savannah Russell, f 1-3 4-9 2-2 8 1 11
14 Callie Alston, g 0-1 4-6 4-5 3 3 12
10 Adrian Abel, g 0-1 0-1 3-4 2 2 3
31 Cambree Cline, g 0-0 0-2 2-2 3 2 2
35 Chelsea Ralph 2-3 2-6 0-2 1 1 6
Totals 5-11 13-29 11-15 22 12 42
BEDFORD NL STARS (48)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
30 Makaya Jackson, f 0-0 2-6 3-4 4 4 7
50 Harryson Hayes, f 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
12 Tori Nikirk, g 3-8 4-11 2-2 1 3 13
23 Katie Godlevske, g 4-9 4-10 0-0 2 3 12
11 Trinity Schmeichel, g 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
22 Miley Sherrill 1-3 2-6 6-8 3 4 11
21 Jordynn Blann 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 0 3
24 Elise Williams 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
20 Paige Burton 0-2 0-2 0-0 1 0 0
32 Trinidy Bailey 0-2 0-3 2-2 5 1 2
Totals 9-25 13-40 13-16 21 17 48
Orleans 17 4 5 16 – 42
Bedford NL 8 13 14 13 – 48
Turnovers – Orleans 25, BNL 16
Field goal percentage – Orleans 13-29 (.448); BNL 13-40 (.325)
Free throw percentage – Orleans 11-15 (.733); BNL 13-16 (.813)
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