Indians coming together

Just when it appears everything is coming together for the Marysville High girls basketball team, the holiday break comes along.

The Indians (5-10) jumped out to a big 30-10 lead at the half Thursday en route to a 58-31 win over host River Valley.

"We've won three of our last four," said Marysville point guard Lindy Lundin, who led all scorers with 16 points. "That should really give us a boost."

The only problem is it will be two weeks before the Indians play again.

"We're peaking right now, and now we have to wait," said Marysville coach Ryan Heasty. "I wish we were playing again tomorrow or the next day."

As it is, the Indians have to wait until Jan. 2 to return to the court, and when they do, it will be their Golden Empire League opener against Capital Christian, which tied for the GEL title last season with Highlands.

"That's a tough one to come back against," Heasty added.

Heasty said what impressed the Marysville coaching staff Thursday was the fact the Indians really stepped up their defensive intensity. While running away to the big first-half lead, Marysville forced the Falcons (3-11) to turn the ball over 14 times.

The Indians had 10 steals in the half. Jocelyn Harvey had three, and Julia Findley and Danielle Lewis each had two.

With the big lead, the Indians were able to relax a bit in the second half, but had to avoid a collapse like the one that occurred earlier this season.

Facing the same Falcons, Marysville built a big lead only to have River Valley outscore the Indians, 19-2, in the fourth quarter. The Indians still won that game, 46-30.

River Valley hung tough in the second half the second time around.

"We always seem to have one good half and one bad half," said River Valley coach Michelle Quist, adding most of the time that good half has come in the second half.

Marysville used a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter to open a 40-13 lead. Camille Crane hit back-to-back buckets from within the lane off passes from Sarah Feddersen.

Feddersen then swished a 3-pointer off a pass from Lundin, and Lundin capped the run with a three-point play, grabbing a defensive rebound, dribbling the entire length of the court for a lay-up, and sinking the free throw after being fouled.

The Indians kept up the pressure at the start of the fourth quarter, going up by as many as 32, 53-21, less than two minutes into the period. The gap was too much for River Valley to overcome.

Feddersen had 11 points. Chelsea Lance barely missed a double-double, as she finished with 11 rebounds and eight points. Five of those boards came at the defensive end in the fourth quarter to help prevent the Falcons from mounting a serious comeback.

Lewis grabbed eight rebounds for the Indians. Lundin had five assists. Harvey finished he game with four steals.

Hayley Thompson had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Yesenia Medina hauled down 14 rebounds. The Falcons owned a 43-32 rebounding edge.

"We have a lot of heart and we have talent," Quist said. "We're just inexperienced."

There are only two seniors on the River Valley squad along with five sophomores and three juniors.

"It will catch up with us eventually," Quist added.

Marysville, meanwhile, is enjoying its recent success.

"The whole team is playing better," Lundin said.

Heasty added Lundin is a big reason why.

"The last game she did a great job as our field general running the team," Heasty said. "And tonight she added scoring."