Cedarville Indians win home opener over Greenon Knights

By John Bombatch

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CEDARVILLE — Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz was right. There’s no place like home.

A few days after struggling to get their shots to fall, in a road win against London Madison Plains, the Cedarville High

School girls basketball team couldn’t seem to miss in their own gym.

The Indians (2-0) scored on seven of their first 10 tries to roll out to a 17-0 lead, in Tuesday night’s 60-23 win over Greenon’s Knights.

Greenon could only manage to score from the free-throw line until the second half, when Alexis Reyes drained a 3-pointer from the right wing with just over a minute to go in the third quarter. By then, Cedarville was in command and leading 44-7.

Cedarville sophomore Isabelle Bolender led all scorers with 20 points, and freshman Maggie Coe also got into double-figure scoring with 11. Junior Haley Melton, Sidney Ryman and Ryanne Rinaldi finished with eight, seven and six points respectively. While the Indians have three seniors on its roster (to one for Greenon), Cedarville coach Chad Mason started a freshman, sophomore and three juniors.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call us veterans, but I am happy about having my starting five back from last year,” Murphy said. “Honestly, the difference between how we played in this game and how we fared at Madison Plains is that we made shots tonight. Against Madison Plains, we had four points in the first quarter. We missed the very same shots that night that we drilled today.”

Murphy played his entire lineup. Every Indians player either scored, or got into the scorebook with a foul.

“The credit needs to go to Cedarville. Not to take anything away from them, but we’re young and we’re just not where we need to be yet,” Greenon coach Gary Falkenbach said. “We’re getting better. Small baby steps, but we’re definitely better than scoring three points in the first half.”

Cedarville led 32-3 at the break.

Despite the lopsided halftime score, Greenon (1-1) continued to play hard the rest of the way.

Junior Mackenzi Waddle led the Knights with seven points, and Bailey Benedict scored five of her six points in the second half.

Greenon gets to play its home opener at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Springfield Northwestern.

Cedarville’s next game will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, when the Indians invade Xenia Christian.

Cedarville’s Isabelle Bolender (14) drives in for a first-half score, Tuesday night in the Indians’ home opener against Greenon. Bolender led all scorers with 20 points in the Cedarville win.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/11/web1_BolenderDrive.jpgCedarville’s Isabelle Bolender (14) drives in for a first-half score, Tuesday night in the Indians’ home opener against Greenon. Bolender led all scorers with 20 points in the Cedarville win.

Indians freshman Maggie Coe sets up a play, as Greenon’s Macey Hardy (11) defends, during Tuesday night’s girls high school basketball game at Cedarville High School.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/11/web1_CoeHardy.jpgIndians freshman Maggie Coe sets up a play, as Greenon’s Macey Hardy (11) defends, during Tuesday night’s girls high school basketball game at Cedarville High School.

Players dive for a loose ball during Tuesday night’s game at Cedarville High School. Cedarville defeated Greenon, 60-23.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/11/web1_Scramble.jpgPlayers dive for a loose ball during Tuesday night’s game at Cedarville High School. Cedarville defeated Greenon, 60-23.

Greenon junior Bailey Benedict (left) drives around Cedarville’s Rachel Lee (23) in the first half of Tuesday’s game at Cedarville High.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/11/web1_BenedictDrive.jpgGreenon junior Bailey Benedict (left) drives around Cedarville’s Rachel Lee (23) in the first half of Tuesday’s game at Cedarville High.