Audrey Benedict of North Union cuts down a portion of the net after the Lady Cats beat Northwestern. NU secured its third consecutive Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division championship. The Lady Cats have also won 31 straight conference contests.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
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The North Union girls basketball team achieved another one of its season goals on Wednesday.
After clinching a third straight Central Buckeye Conference Mad River title on Saturday, the Lady Cats completed a third consecutive undefeated league schedule with a 64-17 rout over the Warriors.
“It feels good to be undefeated again,” senior Audrey Benedict said. “It will be something we can look back on and brag about.”
Zoe Wedding, also a senior, thinks this year’s accomplishment may be a little more special.
“It feels good, especially because it is my senior year,” she said.
North Union (10-0 CBC, 14-7 overall) took control early against Northwestern, scoring the first 15 points of the game.
The Lady Cats finished the opening quarter leading 26-7 and increased their margin with each period.
North Union extended its streak of CBC wins to 31.
“We have had success in the CBC and we are able to find ways to keep it rolling,” head coach Bre Jackson said. “Things clicked for us tonight against Northwestern.”
Jackson added the goal each year is to win a league title and be undefeated in league play.
“It is expected, but we do not take it for granted,” Jackson said. “I commend this year’s team for their commitment, getting through the good and bad times. It is hard to win a title once, let alone three times.”
Benedict led the opening-quarter charge with nine points, while Wedding added five points and Addison Wedding and Kennedy Harrah each had four.
Seven players scored during the second stanzafor the Lady Cats as offense continued to be effective on the way to a 45-11 halftime cushion.
The scoring was not as abundant in the second half because of a running clock.
North Union, though, finished with a 19-6 advantage during the final two sets.
One of the things Jackson was pleased to see was how effective the inside game was during the contest.
“It is something we’ve been trying to do this season and we had a good post presence against Northwestern,” she said.
That presence led to a 31-12 edge in rebounds, including 15 at the offensive end.
North Union got 18 rebounds combined from Addison Wedding and Brenna Martino.
Benedict finished with a game-high 20 points and helped in other ways with six rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Addison Wedding netted 11 points and Harrah totaled 10.
North Union will conclude the regular season with a home game against Elgin on Saturday.
The sixth-seeded Lady Cats will begin their Division II tournament season on Saturday, Feb. 24.
They will play the winner of a first-round game between Columbus Centennial (No. 3) and 15th-seeded Highland.
North Union won the junior varsity game 41-4.
Emma McElroy swished four three-point goals on her way to 16 points.
Kailin McElroy counted 13 points and Caralyn Hinkle scored 10.
Northwestern
Spencer 1-0-2, Errett 2-0-5, Byrd 1-1-3, Risner 2-3-7, MacGillivary 0-0-0. Three-point goal: Errett.
North Union
Benedict 8-2-20, K. McElroy 1-0-2, Z. Wedding 3-0-7, Martino 2-2-6, Colegrove 3-0-6, A. Wedding 5-0-11, Lindsey 1-0-2, E. McElroy 0-0-0, Harrah 5-0-10, Hinkle 0-0-0. Three-point goals: Benedict 2, Z. Wedding, A. Wedding.