Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
SEAMAN — 14 up and 14 down.
North Adams understands its going to get every team’s best shot. The problem is that the Green Devils have the bigger knockout blow ready to deliver.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
After a white-hot first half, they wore down Fairfield in the second two quarters, using defensive pressure and creating turnovers to score a 54-32 victory in SHAC action on Thursday.
“Chemistry is the biggest reason we are where we are up to this point,” North Adams coach Rob Davis said. “We knew we were going to be a good team, though I don’t think we thought we’d start the season off 14-0. Starting with Fairfield, Eastern Brown, Lynchburg-Clay and Peebles on the road to open the season and knocking them off really gave this team confidence.”
North Adams managed to force 18 Lion turnovers on the evening and it marked the 10th time this season they’ve held an opponent to under 40 points.
“In the second half, I think they started to smell blood in the water and realized that Fairfield was tired,” Davis said. “I didn’t call for any traps or anything. They just knew what to do to get those turnovers and started to create some distance. These girls are incredibly smart players and have a great feel for what to do and at what point.”
In the past, North Adams (14-0, 8-0 SHAC has never been known for being the best shooting team from beyond the 3-point arc. But the Devils couldn’t miss to open the game.
PHOTOS: Images from North Adams’ win over Fairfield
Laney Ruckel started with a triple before Kenlie Jones and Keetyn followed with back-to-back 3’s to make it an 11-3 ballgame. Hupp connected again from distance at the buzzer, pushing the lead to 16-8 after one.
Fairfield (10-3, 8-2 SHAC) managed to weather the early storm, answering with Peyton Magee and Faith Donley to cut the lead to 20-16.
However, that was the closest the Lions managed to get throughout the rest of the night.
The Green Devils ended the first half on a 7-1 run with Jones connecting again from deep to extend the lead to 27-17.
“Our heads were starting to hang a little bit once the game was cut to four, so that was a huge way to end the half,” Davis said. “Kenlie hitting that 3 was a big momentum changer. Making five 3’s in the half gives you confidence and it was a welcome sight considering we didn’t shoot it very well in our last game. Once you hit that first one, everything just seems to open up.”
The Lions continued to give themselves a chance as they opened the third on a 5-0 run, including a triple from Magee, to trim the lead to 27-22.
However, the Green Devils proved to have too much firepower as Hupp and Ruckel began attacking inside to slowly wear down the Lions. The duo each scored a pair of buckets as they ended the quarter on a 10-4 spree to control a 37-26 lead.
Then, turnovers began to pile up for the Lions as the Green Devils applied the pressure, forcing three and turning each one into points on the other end for a 43-28 advantage before closing out for the win.
Hupp finished the night with 21 points while Jones had 12 points and four rebounds. Ruckel added 11 points to the mix.
For Fairfield, Donley finished with 12 points while Magee added 10 of her own.
North Adams returns to action on Saturday at home against Georgetown as part of the Dave Young Classic while Fairfield rebounds Monday at home against East Clinton.
“I thought this was the best complete game we’ve played this season,” Davis said. “Moving forward, we have to do a better job of rebounding and finishing at the rim. But the girls competed so hard and every player who took the floor did such a great job of providing energy and doing their job. I couldn’t be more pleased with them.”
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