MORRISTOWN
For a half, Indian Creek High School’s girls basketball team was getting pushed hard by Morristown.
The Braves trailed by one after the first quarter and led by just one (24-23) at halftime. Then junior Candace Danz found her shooting rhythm.
“The bottom line is Candace decided she wasn’t going to lose that game, and she took over the game in the third quarter,” Indian Creek coach Dan Burkman said.
Danz scored 15 of her team-high 28 points in the third quarter en route to the Braves’ 55-44 victory against the Yellow Jackets in the Mid-Hoosier Conference action Tuesday night. The Braves improved to 5-1 and 3-0 in the conference.
The Braves outscored the Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1) 20-9 in the third quarter.
“We stepped up our defense in the third quarter,” Burkman said. “I think our defense got Candace going. There are not a whole lot of people that can stop her once she gets going like that.”
Danz said the entire team got in synch in the second half.
“They got me the ball, and that’s all I can ask,” Danz said. “It was a good team effort.”
Danz sank three of her four 3-pointers in the third quarter. She also hit a layup and was intentionally fouled. She converted the three-point play and hit the technical foul shot. Danz was 8-of-17 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
The Braves led 24-23 at halftime. Burkman said Morristown deserves some of the credit for his team’s struggles.
“That’s a good basketball team,” Burkman said. “They made us struggle in what we were trying to do offensively. We weren’t shooting the ball like we’ve been accustomed to (in the first half) and that makes a difference, too.”
Morristown led 13-12 after the first quarter. Indian Creek was also hurt by turnovers early. The Braves finished with 15, one less than Morristown.
“The first quarter was definitely a struggle,” Danz said. “As coach said we just had to get our heads in the game, and I think that’s what we did. We started playing our game.”
Senior Alexis McGregor added 13 points for the Braves. Freshman Celina McElroy contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Seniors Michaela Kikendall and Lauren Etter each scored 11 for the Yellow Jackets.
Indian Creek has now beaten Morristown 14 times in a row. The last time Morristown’s victory was on Nov. 28, 2000.
“It’s a good win, especially in the conference,” Burkman said. “I had them marked down as a team that we need to beat if we want to win the conference along with Hauser and Eastern Hancock. We’ve already beaten Eastern Hancock.”
Indian Creek will host Covenant Christian (2-1) in a nonconference game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
