Kewanee spoils Bureau Valley Senior Night

MANLIUS - The Bureau Valley Storm girls basketball team were hoping that Senior Night would be the opportunity to avenge Monday’s 26-24 loss to the Kewanee Boilermakers.

However, whatever Kewanee did right on Monday they did even better Thursday night, winning 42-22 over BV in the Storm Cellar.

“We played Kewanee really tough the first time,” Storm coach Daniel Sinclair said. “Some shots that went in the first game didn’t go in the second game. (Kewanee) came back with a good game plan that got them going, especially in the second quarter.”

The Boilermakers led from the start, let the Storm catch up to tie midway in the first period, but reestablished their advantage and never looked back, slowly extending their lead throughout the evening.

“We only shot 19 percent from the field on Monday, so we worked a lot on shooting throughout the week,” Kewanee coach Jessica Shipley said. “Just shooting better was our biggest goal, and shot selection is big for us.”

Sophomore Marissa Stevens led the charge for the Boilermakers with 10 points, followed by Isabella Tondreau and Emma Crofton with seven each. BV junior Aspen Balensiefen led the Storm with five.

“We always have a good fight with Bureau Valley. Always interesting to come to the Storm Cellar and see what happens. You just never know,” Shipley said with a laugh.

The Kewanee lead was a slim 11-6 at the end of the first period, extended to 20-9 at the half, but then hit the gas to be ahead 33-14 at the end of the third period.

“We told the girls the rebounding from that first game was our main concern,” Sinclair said. “They killed us on the boards (Monday). We played a heckuva defensive game, we just couldn’t get our own defensive boards.

“(Tonight) I thought we did a little bit better, but they simply executed better and that’s the main story line tonight.”

Still, Sinclair saw plenty of positives in the evening, three in particular: seniors Kamryn Kolb (4), Paige Wagner (4), and Madison Dye (2).

“All three of those girls have been in the program all four years,” Sinclair said. “I am lucky to have coached them three of those years, and from a coaching standpoint it was nice to see all of them score on their Senior Night.”

* The BV sophmores fared better earlier in the evening, defeating Kewanee 28-26. Katelyn Stoller led the Storm sophs with 10 points, followed by Kate Salisbury with seven.