Wolverines ride defense to big win

GREENFIELD – Nodaway Valley’s staunch defense propelled the Class 2A No. 6-ranked group to a 65-32 win over Martensdale-St Marys (5-4) Thursday night to its fourth consecutive 30-point win of the season Thursday night.

The win marks the fourth consecutive 30-point win of the season for Nodaway Valley (6-0) and second straight win over the Blue Devils.

A patented press defense came out with energy as the group continues to evolve within itself.

“I don’t think it’s anywhere near where it could be,” Nodaway Valley head coach Brian Eisbach said. “This is my third year doing it. We’ve done some different things, a little more run-and-jump things this year. I think getting the kids to believe in their athleticism and ability.”

Learning about their ability to make plays, front-court duo of freshman Lindsey Davis and junior Maddax DeVault led the defensive effort that forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter.

The stops on defense quickly led to a 7-2 Nodaway Valley lead after Davis connected with the Wolverines’ only 3-pointer of the night. She finished the game with 10 points, going 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.

“(Davis) just sees the floor well. ... She’s got really good with girls that have a spin move or try to reverse back to the middle where she’s at, and Maddax has got better at that too,” Eisbach said. “It’s starting to come together just in time for Christmas break.”

The defense continued to create havoc for Martensdale-St Marys. Turnovers forced by Macy Kuhns, Davis and DeVault were piling against the Blue Devils as Nodaway Valley cruised its way to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter.

DeVault scored a game-high 18 points, while Kuhns scored seven points of her own.

Nodaway Valley’s press was sweltering as the group continues to work on evolving the defense.

“We’re really just trying to work on us. We try to do some different things on our press,” Eisbach said. “We didn’t do as much as we wanted to when the score was out of hand at half.”

With DeVault and Shike on the bench due to foul trouble, Corinne Bond and Kuhns stepped up offensively, combining for 12 of Nodaway Valley’s 25 second-quarter points.

Martensdale-St Marys took advantage of the Wolverines’ 17 team fouls, scoring 11 of its 32 points from the free-throw line.

As the lead continued to well, the continuous clock began rolling in the second half as Eisbach was able to bring in a bevy of underclassmen to get experience. The blowout win does, however, have a downside for Eisbach’s group.

“We need to get our starting five and the first two or three kids off the bench more minutes in games,” Eisbach said. “We talk about it every year, those big games where you haven’ played four quarters year because you’ve killed everybody, that’s not good.”

Despite preparing for future games, Eisbach was pleased with the way his group has progressed with their ability to run the press heading into a two-week break.

UP NEXT – Nodaway Valley faces Atlantic on the road Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Nodaway Valley 65, Martensdale-St Marys 32

MSM (32)—3 7 8 14

NV (65)—15 27 15 10

MARTENSDALE-ST MARYS (32) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 10 11-19 32. Anna Parrott 3 2-4 8, Jackie Kleve 1 3-3 5, Hadley Pearson 1 3-4 5, Kylie Keller 2 0-4 4, Brynnly German 0 3-4 3, Carolyn Amfahr 1 0-0 3, Angelina Furness 1 0-0 2, Campbell German 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 1 (Amfahr). Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — none.

NODAWAY VALLEY (65) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 25 12-16 65. Maddax DeVault 7 4-5 18, Lindsey Davis 2 5-5 10, Lexi Shike 5 0-0 10, Corinne Bond 4 1-2 9, Macy Kuhns 3 1-2 7, Whitney Lamb 2 0-0 4, Terrin Gettler 1 0-0 2, Bella Hogan 1 0-0 2, Jorja Holliday 1 0-0 2, Annika Nelson 0 1-2 1. 3-point goals — 1 (Davis). Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — None.