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By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence will close the regular season with a historic road trip.
For the first time in program history, the Stars will journey to Borden, known for the former Brewer’s General Store, tornadoes and speed traps, to face the latest town landmark, one of the best basketball teams in Class A.
The Braves (16-5 and ranked No.3 in their class) already own a victory over BNL this season. They collided in the consolation round of the Donna Cheatham Classic in Scottsburg on Dec. 28, with Borden salvaging seventh place in that event with a 59-37 triumph. The Stars (6-15) will learn how much progress has been made in the rematch on Saturday afternoon.
Borden shot BNL out of a first-half zone with three bombs in a 90-second span to end the first half. A.J. Mallard hit three treys en route to 10 points, while junior standout Ava Wheeler was a problem with a game-high 20 points. The Stars hit only 12 of 45 shots and committed 18 turnovers. That combination has been a constant issue.
“We did a good job in the first half of that first game,” BNL coach Greg Burton said. “We played zone, which is not what we do. But we left a shooter open and she hit some shots late in the first half.
“Wheeler got the best of us the first time, (Riley) Rarick has been good all season. Those two are big-time players. We have to be ready to go. They have two studs and a shooter to go with them. We will have to bring a better effort.”
BNL will counter with sophomore scoring leader Miley Sherrill, who’s averaging 10.0 points and totaled 13 against the Braves. Senior guard Tori Nikirk is contributing 6.4 points while Katie Godlevske is adding 5.7. The Stars are still struggling to score (40.5 points per game while converting only 30 percent of their shots).
Beating Borden would be a huge springboard into the postseason.
“It would be great to get a win, to have that mindset going in,” Burton said. “This game doesn’t matter on paper, but it matters. That’s why they’re on the schedule. It’s a very good basketball team, on the road, so it will test us.”
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BNL at BORDEN
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 6-15; Borden 16-5, ranked No.3 in Class A
Sagarin ratings: BNL 63.01; Borden 81.52
Last meeting: On Dec. 28, in the consolation round of the Donna Cheatham Classic at Scottsburg, the Braves topped the Stars 59-37. Ava Wheeler had 20 points for Borden, while Miley Sherrill totaled 13 points for BNL.
Previous game story: Struggling Stars finish eighth
Game notes: BNL is making its first road trip to Borden. The Stars won the first meeting in the series last season at BNL with a 57-41 victory.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 So.
F – Makaya Jackson 5-8 Sr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 Jr.
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Sr.
G – Jordynn Blann 5-2 So.
Borden Braves
F – Riley Rarick 6-0 Jr.
F – Ava Wheeler 5-11 Jr.
F – Emma Hart 5-10 Jr.
G – A.J. Mallard 5-5 Jr.
G – McKenna Mullen 5-6 Jr.