Columbus North was hitting on all-cylinders to start Thursday night’s girls basketball matchup with Jennings County.
The Panthers didn’t go away so easily and eventually got it to within striking distance at halftime, but the Bull Dogs used a great start to the second half gave them the push necessary to post a comfortable 55-37 victory.
“I think it started on the defensive end. We knew who we had to stop (Addyson Kent) in the beginning,” North junior Alexa McKinley said of the Bull Dogs’ fast start. “I think that our press helped get momentum going forward for offense. We also shot very well, which really helped us out.”
Kent, the Panthers’ top offensive weapon, was held to nine points for the game. North (11-6) sank 10 3-point baskets as a team for the game.
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The Bull Dogs got off to a fast start shooting from the perimeter, knocking down five 3-pointers that included three of them during a 13-0 run to close out the first quarter and lead 23-11.
When it looked like North would cruise to an easy win, Jennings (5-10) came right back. Following a steal and a layup from McKinley and another basket from McKinley, the Panthers answered with a 10-0 run to cut it to 27-21.
Tessa Lomax stopped the momentum with a basket inside with just over two minutes to play in the first half. Megan Schuler added a bucket in the final two minutes for Jennings to make it a 29-23 Bull Dog lead at the half.
North then outscored the Panthers 19-10 to start the second half to put the game away.
“We just kind of replicated what we did in the first quarter because that was really good defensively and offensively,” McKinley said. “We did that again, and we took great shots.”
McKinley led the Bull Dogs with a game-high 17 points. Sierra Norman scored 13, and Annie Anderson added 11.
Lily Ernstes led Jennings with 11 points.
North hosts Bloomington South in a game that will likely decide the Conference Indiana title at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
