Fairfield
On Wednesday, the Indians opened GMC play with a 54-48 win over Middletown behind 29 points from senior Karlee Mills.
Mills is averaging 15.6 points a game and has scored in double figures in three of four and along with senior Tori Williams (10.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3 bpg) form a veteran presence atop a relatively young roster.
“There’s some kids that haven’t played in a lot of varsity experience, but we found a way to grind. Good teams find ways to win,” Fairfield coach David Loper said.
The Indians dropped their game Saturday 60-39 against a Sycamore squad that through the first two weeks of the season is making a statement to claim the top spot in the final GMC standings. The loss dropped the Indians to 2-2 on the year and 1-1 in conference play.
On tap this week: Wednesday Dec. 11 at Lakota East (3-1), 7:15pm *bchssreport.com GMC game of the week*
Saturday Dec. 14 vs. Lakota West (2-2) 1:45pm
Hamilton
The Big Blue dropped to 1-3 and 0-2 in conference play with two conference road losses at Sycamore 70-39 Wednesday and at Mason Saturday 68-40 and the early season conference gauntlet has tested the experienced but young Big Blue so far.
Senior Anna Cardwell’s 11 ppg and Junior Leah Smith’s 8.7 ppg pace the Big Blue backcourt. Sophomore Jayden Isaacs is averaging 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds a game while shooting a league leading 70% from the floor and her 3.8 blocks a game is second in conference.
On tap this week: Monday Dec. 9 vs Edgewood (2-1) 7:15pm
Wednesday Dec. 11 vs Middletown (1-3) 7:15 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 14 vs Colerain (2-2) 1:45 p.m,
Lakota East
The Thunderhawks lost their first game of the season in a 54-33 loss against visiting Mason 54-33 dropping to 3-1 and 0-1 in conference play. Behind a balanced roster that has 10 players averaging double figure minutes and five players averaging between 6.5-8.3 points per game the ‘Hawks have impressive wins against Greater Catholic League stalwarts Seton and Ursuline Academy on their resume to start the season.
Having a rotation that runs 10 deep is a blessing later in the season as the grind of two to three games a week starts affecting other teams the Thunderhawks will be better equipped to overcome that grind.
On tap this week: Mon. Dec. 9 at Princeton (1-4) 7:15pm
Wed. Dec 11 vs. Fairfield (2-2) 7:15pm *bchssreport.com GMC girls’ game of the week*
Sat. Dec. 14 @ Middletown (1-3) 1:45pm
Lakota West
The reigning GMC champs from season ago opened their season with consecutive losses in a 63-54 bout with Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, who at the time was ranked #2 in maxpreps.com xcellent25 high school basketball rankings and a 49-36 loss to Springboro who with a 4-0 is coming off an as equally impressive season as the Firebirds.
The Firebirds got back on track with a 59-55 victory over Princeton (1-3) to open GMC play. The Vikings and Firebirds are the only GMC teams with three all conference team selections returning from a year ago.
A visit to Colerain resulted in a 70-38 victory to pull the Firebirds record to 2-2 and 2-0 in conference play, Sophomore Chance Gray nearly outscored the Cardinals with 34 points and is averaging a GMC leading 23 points a game.
Junior Kailyn Dudukovich fresh off a run to the state championship with the girls soccer team is averaging 10.5 points a game and 3.8 rebounds. Senior Naveah Dean a Virginia Tech signee is averaging 8 points and 8 rebounds a game.
On tap this Week: Wed. Dec. 11 vs. Oak Hills (3-1) 7:15pm
Sat. Dec. 14 at Fairfield (2-2) 1:45pm
Middletown
The Middies sit at 1-3 on the season with an 0-2 record in the GMC but what their record doesn’t show is that of their three losses two have been by six points. The Middies have been in those games late but struggled to close out down the stretch in both.
“We’re on the right path we just have to stay on that path. It’s the little things in the end that cost us the game just the little details at the end of the fourth quarter.” Middletown coach Russ Banks said.
Leading the way for the Middies is a pair of guards that close out the final two spots top ten scoring leaders in the conference. Senior Sa’Mill Calhoun at 14.5 points a game and sophomore Keiara Gregory at 14, form a backcourt tandem that mixed with senior Olivia Wells and sophomore Aryanna Ingram in the frontcourt give the Middies a senior/sophomore duo in the both front and backcourts.
On tap this week: Mon. Dec 9 @ Franklin (3-2) 7:15pm
Wed. Dec 11 @ Hamilton (1-3) 7:15pm
Sat. Dec. 14 vs Lakota East (3-1) 1:45pm