Bears pick up 9th win in 'biggest game yet'

Blair girls top Bennington, 56-50

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The Class B No. 9 Blair girls basketball team picked up its ninth win of the season Saturday.
“I think this, for sure, was our biggest game yet,” senior guard Kaitlyn Johnson said.
Led by her 25 points, the Bears (9-2 overall) topped Bennington (6-4) at home, 56-50. It was their first victory against a team with a winning record this season.
Coach Matt Aschoff's lineup led 1-0 on Leah Chance's free throw, but not again until the third period. Sophia Wrich first tied the game at 32-all with an and-1 free throw on her birthday. The guard later drew a charge and watched as Addie Sullivan hit a 3-pointer for a 39-36 advantage.
Hayden Frink-Mathis pushed Blair's lead to five points when she caught a Sullivan bounce pass near the bucket and scored it. A Johnson 3-pointer added to the advantage further as the Bears closed out a 22-point third period.
“We knew their third-quarter was always their strongest,” said the game's leading scorer, Johnson. “So, we just knew we wanted to come out bigger and make sure they didn't get that run they usually do.”
Bennington pulled within 49-47 during the fourth period, but BHS held the Badgers off from the foul line. Johnson was 6-for-6 from the stripe in the final quarter and 10-for-10 for the game.
Sullivan added 15 total points for Blair in victory, while Joslyn Policky scored six.
Former Bear Kailey O'Grady, meanwhile, led Bennington with 17 points in her return to BHS. The senior starter made five 3s.
“It was a fun matchup for sure,” Johnson said. “We knew she was a shooter. She was going to do well.”
BHS did better overall on the scoreboard and next competes today against Wahoo. The home game tips off at 5:30 p.m.

BHS BASKETBALL LINE SCORE
Saturday
No. 9 Blair 56, Bennington 50
BEN (6-4) 13 14 14 9 — 50
BHS (9-2) 7 15 22 12 — 56
Scoring: BHS — Kaitlyn Johnson 25, Addie Sullivan 15, Joslyn Policky 6, Sophia Wrich 5, Allison Hernandez 2, Hayden Frink-Mathis 2, Leah Chance 1.
BEN — Kailey O'Grady 17, Ella Reinoehl 13, Reese Almquist 4, Addison Reinoehl 4, Presley Baca 4, Elizabeth Robinson 3, Olivia Ross 2.

Blair Girls Basketball