BRADFORD – The Arcanum Lady Trojans earned a 73-29 conference win over the home-standing Bradford Lady Railroaders in Thursday night WOAC varsity basketball action.
Alexis Gibbons was a perfect 10-10 at the Arcanum free throw line to lead the Lady Trojans with 27 points, all coming in the first three-quarters of the night.
Arcanum jumped out to a 24-9 first-quarter advantage with Gibbons knocking down 15 points, including a 3-pointer and 4-4 at the line. Bradford senior Megan Wood paced the Lady Roaders with six first-quarter points.
“We were much better coming out from the start of the game,” Arcanum coach Abbey Moore said. “We have to take that confidence moving forward into a big non-conference game Saturday at Carroll. We must understand we can score points so we have to take that confidence into the next one.”
Period No. 2 proved to be Bradford’s best quarter of the night, with Arcanum taking the period 17-13 with Ryleigh Dotson draining two 3s and a basket to lead the Lady Railroaders with eight points. Gibbons went 6-6 at the line to lead Arcanu,m sending the teams to the break with the Lady Trojans up 41-22.
“We shoot the third or fourth most threes in the conference, so they want to get the shots up,” said Bradford coach Josh Siedling. “We put in the practice, shoot them in practice, and make them in practice. It’s just getting that confidence built up that when game time comes, we can make those shots, and I hope they can see their hard work is paying off.”
Bradford struggled in second-half action, scoring seven total points, 5-points in the third, and 2-points in the fourth.
“Josie Schwartz does a great job defensively,” Coach Moore said of her freshman’s defensive play. “She has quick hands and that is why she’s up on varsity – her defensive capabilities. Defensively, she can really get it going.”
Seven Lady Trojans got in the third quarter scoring column, taking the period 22-5, putting a running clock in play midway through the period with Gibbons pacing Arcanum with six points.
“We’re trying to flip the culture of the mindset of we’re not just Bradford that we get smoked every game,” said Coach Siedling. “We’re Bradford, and we can put up a fight. We’re better than what we show.”
Arcanum took the final quarter 10-2, with Avery Leeper and Matty Noe each hitting 3-pointers.
Gibbons led Arcanum and all scorers with a game-high 27 points, 21 coming in the first half.
“The second half, Alexis looked at it as being more of a distributor and getting other girls some confidence because we have some that need to feel what it’s like knocking those shots down,” said Moore. “She was able to do that, and that’s a leader. I’m thankful to have her on the floor and see that leadership out of her this year.”
Arcanum made 86.7 percent from the free throw line, going 13-15.
BOXSCORE:
ARCANUM 73, BRADFORD 29
ARCANUM – A. Gibbons 27, C. Long 9, J. Schwartz 8, M. Noe 7, C. Hein 6, G. Wooten 6, B. Anderson 5, A. Leeper 3, F. Wooten 2 – TOTALS 24 13-15 4 73
BRADFORD – M. Wood 8, R. Dotson 8 H. Evans 7, L. Canan 4, C. Shroyer 2 – TOTALS 7 3-5 4 29
3-POINTERS
Arcanum 4 (A. Gibbons 1, B. Anderson 1, A. Leeper 1, M. Noe 1)
Bradford 4 (R. Dotson 2, L. Canan 1, H. Evans 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
24-17-22-10 73 Arcanum
09-13-05-02 29 Bradford
