Marmaton Valley girls net victory

MORAN — Don’t look now, but Marmaton Valley High’s girls are on a hot streak.
After winning only one of their first 12 games, the Wildcats have capped a 4-3 mark over their last seven contest.
Friday’s may have been the most impressive of them all.
Marmaton Valley blasted its way through a 19-0 second-quarter run to seize full control over host Pleasanton High’s Blu-Jays in a 52-27 win.
The victory lifts Marmaton Valley’s record to 5-14.
“They really are playing a lot better,” Marmaton Valley head coach Kent Houk said. “We’re actually starting to look like a basketball team. We’re doing a lot of little things you need to do in order to get better, and they’re having fun out on the court.”
The key, Houk said, was Marmaton Valley’s ability to handle their opponents’ pressure defense.
And now, with freshman Kailey Boyd teaming up with senior Alysha Westhoff, the Wildcats have been able to unleash some havoc of their own.
“Kailey’s probably one of our best defenders,” Houk said. “And Alysha is doing a great job on defense.”
Several players contributed to the win, Houk noted, led by Maggie Meiwes with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Cheyanne Miller added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Westhoff had 11 points and three steals. Boyd had seven points and three steals. Jamee McEndree added five steals.
Marmaton Valley led 11-7 before their second-quarter burst pushed their lead to 30-7. The lead grew to 42-16 by the end of the third quarter.
Megan Lowe paced Pleasanton wth nine points.
Houk said much of the credit for Marmaton Valley’s recent success also goes to assistant coach Lindsay Ermel.
“Lindsay was a good high school player, and having her has allowed us to work with the girls in smaller groups,” Houk said.
Marmaton Valley wraps up the regular season Tuesday at Lyndon.
Marmaton Valley (11-19-12-10—52) (FG/3-pt): Boyd 3-0-1-2, Miller 4/1-1-1-12, McEndree 1-0-3-2, Westhoff 2/1-4-4-10, Meiwes 8-2-0-18, Henry 1-0-2-2. TOTALS: 19/2-8-12-52.
Pleasanton (7-0-9-11—27) (FG/3-pt): Saulsberry 0/1-2-4-5, Streeter 1-0-1-2, Conn 0-3-0-3, Lowe 4-1-3-9, Byington 3-2-5-8, Hansuld 0-0-3-0, Lewis 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 8/1-8-18-27.