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Grand night for Creek at Potter Fieldhouse

EAST LIVERPOOL — Kylie Kiger’s journey to 1,000 career points this season has been anything but simple.

She stood 18 points away three games ago, but that was when opponents began pressuring and double-teaming Indian Creek’s senior point guard. Following back-to-back seven-point performances, she entered East Liverpool Monday only four points shy.

Despite a scoreless first half (again drawing double teams), Kiger finally reached the milestone and became the fourth woman in school history to score 1,000 points during the Redskins’ 59-15 victory.

“It feels really good. It was tough to get it because the other teams knew,” Kiger said. “It feels really good to get it out of the way because you don’t have that pressure any more.”

With 3:43 remaining in the third quarter, Kiger drew a foul behind the 3-point line, calmly went to the charity stripe and sank all three shots.

Needing just one more point, she drove to the free-throw line with 2:58 showing on the clock and hit a running jumper. Just for good measure, she recorded a steal and a layup five seconds later for 1,003 career points.

“I’m glad she finally got over that hump. I think it’s been on her mind the past few games,” Creek head coach Steve Eft said. “Now we can just focus on winning and playing basketball, and I think that’s where she’s most comfortable at.

“I’m really happy for her. It’s a great accomplishment, and she really worked for it. I’m very proud of her.”

Eft added that he is very grateful for East Liverpool pausing the contest so the fans could congratulate and recognize her.

In the first half, Kiger did not have her usual touch. She missed a few shots and a pair of free throws.

“I wasn’t even nervous. I had no idea what was going on (with my shot),” Kiger said laughing. “I guess I was a little bit nervous because it was 1,000 points.

“I got more in the groove after (hitting the three free throws). That’s what usually happens, like if I make a layup, that’ll get me more into the game. When you make your first shot, you just say, ‘Let’s go.'”

Not much was said to her during the break. Eft was confident she would find a groove. Her offensive struggles did not affect her defense, though, recording a few steals and locking down her opponents.

“She’s a complete player. She can control a game offensively and defensively, and she just does a lot of good things for us,” Eft said. “We knew the points were going to come. She just needed to play her game.”

As for the game, Creek (9-1) luckily did not need to rely on points from Kiger. The other five varsity players scored at least two points in the opening half.

The Redskins held a 31-13 halftime advantage, then allowed just two points the rest of the game. East Liverpool’s lone points came on a layup from Alessandra Ferrazzano with 50 seconds remaining in the third. Mikayla Reed was credited with the assist.

“That’s pretty remarkable. They’re a better team than that,” Eft said. “We fixed some things at halftime as far as our rotation, and we just try to make it as difficult as we can against every team. They weren’t making shots, and we weren’t giving them many second-chance opportunities.”

Another glaring stat was Reed, the Potters’ top scorer, compiling no points. She did collect six rebounds and three assists, but her shots were contested and mostly from long range.

“I thought our effort was decent in the first half, then for about the first two or three minutes in the second half. We only allowed about four points in those first few moments, but then we didn’t score any,” East Liverpool head coach Bryian Burson said. “I’m not sure if the effort was great, and coaching obviously was not great in the second half.

“The biggest thing we need to find is consistency for 32 minutes of basketball. We have shown flashes, but we haven’t shown that we can compete with a quality team like Indian Creek.”

Taylor Jones, who has been on a tear the last few weeks, led the Redskins once again with 18 points and 15 rebounds (14 and eight in the opening half). Kiger ended up with nine points and three assists. Hailey Clark produced 10 points, four boards and two assists. Mackenzie Taylor added nine points.

For the Potters (5-5), Gabrielle Green led with eight points. Ferrazzano had four points and four rebounds. Victoria Flores hit a 3-pointer.

TWO STRAIGHT 1,000-POINT NIGHTS

In Creek’s previous game against Minerva on Wednesday, Jones scored her 1,000th-career point, the third woman in program history to do so. Kiger said what would have made her accomplishment more special would have been to do so with her senior teammate and at home.

“It’s a pretty special thing. I’ve been coaching for a while, and I haven’t been around many 1,000-point scorers,” Eft said. “It’s really special for anybody to score 1,000, but for two teammates to do it, it’s incredibly rare. I just feel privileged to be a part of it.

“Those two work extremely hard and put in countless hours in the gym. Hard work pays off, and I’m really happy they got to do it on back-to-back nights.”

JAYVEE CONTEST

Creek also won the JV game, 41-31. Kylie Anderson led the Redskins with 22 points. East Liverpool’s Kenzie Walker scored 14.

UP NEXT

Indian Creek: Tentatively hosts Beaver Local on Thursday.

East Liverpool: Tentatively travels to Buckeye Local on Thursday.

INDIAN CREEK: 21-10-19-9 — 59

EAST LIVERPOOL: 6 -7-2-0 — 15

INDIAN CREEK (9-1): Kiger 3 3-5 9; Taylor 4 1-3 9; Copeland 1 0-0 2; Clark 3 2-2 10; Jones 5 8-8 18; Starkey 1 1-2 4; Anderson 0 0-2 0; Robertson 2 0-0 5; Ballato 0 0-0 0; Blackburn 1 0-0 2; Smith 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 20, 15-22: 59.

EAST LIVERPOOL (5-5): V. Flores 1 0-0 3; Ferrazzano 2 0-0 4; Reed 0 0-0 0; Foster 0 0-0 0; Green 4 0-4 8; Parson 0 0-0 0; Vantilburg 0 0-0 0; O. Flores 0 0-0 0 Bolton 0 0-0 0; Ward 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 7, 0-4: 15.

3-POINT GOALS: Indian Creek 4 (Clark 2, Starkey, Robertson); East Liverpool 1 (V. Flores). REBOUNDS: Indian Creek 32 (Jones 15); East Liverpool 19 (Reed 6). ASSISTS: Indian Creek 10 (Kiger 3); East Liverpool 6 (Reed 3). TURNOVERS: Indian Creek 13; East Liverpool 27.

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