Post players Alyssa Robinette and Faith Parker combined for 10 points during that decisive run by New Miami, which extended its winning streak to six.
“We kind of wear you down,” Vikings coach Kevin Lakes said. “That’s the way we have to play. We’re not very fast, so we can’t go up-tempo, and we don’t shoot the ball from the perimeter very well. But we can keep throwing it inside and try to grind you down, and that’s kind of what happened tonight.”
Robinette piled up 24 points, 16 rebounds and three steals for New Miami, and Allison Rapier had 10 points and four assists. Fellow seniors Avery Lawrence (five points, eight boards) and Parker (six points, five rebounds) also played well.
“It was rough at times, but we started playing more as a team,” Robinette said. “When we play as a team, we can’t be stopped.”
The Vikings have surprised themselves a bit with their 8-3 record, but they thought this could be a successful year.
“We’re just a group of girls that’s been playing since we were all little, and we’re all put together,” Rapier said. “We’re a good team. We’re a good fit.”
A big part of New Miami’s success against MCS (6-3) was its defensive performance against Aubriana Bellard, who was averaging 29.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game before Monday.
The Vikings used a 2-3 zone, but played it with a box-and-one mentality, and Bellard managed seven points and nine boards.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team execute a game plan as well as they did tonight,” Lakes said. “To hold that kid to seven points is a testament to the way they executed the game plan we put in front of them. We can put it out there, but it’s up to them to execute.”
Rapier and Samantha Jones were on top of the hosts’ zone.
“Whenever (Bellard) touched the ball, somebody was going to be in front of her, and when they reversed the ball, we never left her,” Lakes said. “I don’t think she ever really got more than maybe one clean look. And when you do get to the basket against us, you run into two pretty good-size girls.”
Middletown Christian coach Ken Yablonsky noted that Bellard got in early foul trouble. He also praised New Miami.
“That’s the best I’ve seen her defended all year,” Yablonsky said. “They kept two players in their zone up high near her, and when she got rid of it, she had a hard time getting it back.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Aubriana open when she’s being guarded like that. But I was proud of some of the individual efforts today. As little as some of our kids came off the bench, they each did something that we were looking for them to do.”
Jada Long scored eight points and Ellie Veal added seven for MCS, which will be at home against Metro Buckeye Conference rival Dayton Christian on Tuesday. Anna Crawford added five rebounds.
“We ran out of gas tonight, but we feel OK,” Yablonsky said. “A nonleague opponent like this prepares us for our league.”
Robinette was getting 18.8 points and 15.4 boards per contest heading into Monday, and she tallied at least four points in every quarter against the Eagles.
“We just have to get the ball in there,” said Rapier, the Vikings’ point guard. “Once we get that going to Alyssa, it’s lights out.”
The Robinette vs. Bellard angle was inevitable because of the huge numbers the Division IV standouts are putting up, but Robinette said it wasn’t something she contemplated.
“I don’t really worry about who we play or if somebody’s better than me,” she said. “I still work harder.”
“I was very impressed with Robinette,” Yablonsky said. “She does things well. She’s in the right spots. She does a good job of following her shot and her teammates’ shots and getting the rebound and putting it back up and finishing.”
“Alyssa’s relentless,” Lakes said. “She gets hit a lot, but she knows how to use her body. She’s not only tough and athletic … she’s smart. She was probably on the floor tonight seven, eight times, just throwing her body around. And when your best player’s throwing herself around on the floor, your other girls will follow suit.”
He said Parker has been the most pleasant surprise for New Miami, a 15-7 squad last season. She drew fouls down low against MCS and was 6 of 6 from the charity stripe in the second half.
“I’d be lying if I told you I thought we were going to be 8-3 right now,” Lakes said. “We lost a kid (Casey Burr) that scored 1,000 points and did all the ballhandling. We lost another three-year starter. But we’ve done the best we can collectively. Everybody’s just kind of elevating their game a little bit.
“I love coaching these kids. We’re not very pretty out there. We’re not all that skilled besides Alyssa. But we’re mentally tough. We play the way we can. We stick to what works for us, and we don’t deviate.
“I’d like these girls to be able to put back-to-back winning seasons together. We have modest goals, but I think they’re realistic, and for here, they’re good goals. If you can put together back-to-back winning seasons at a place that hasn’t done that in 30 years, that’s pretty good.”
The Vikings will return to Miami Valley Conference play Wednesday at home against Gray Division leader Clark Montessori.
“We weren’t expecting to win as much as we have, but now that we’re on a roll, we’re not ready to stop,” Rapier said. “We’re going to keep going.”
Middletown Christian 11-9-8-5—33
New Miami 12-10-13-11—46
MIDDLETOWN CHRISTIAN (6-3): Anna Crawford 1 0 2, Tiffany Kim 1 2 4, Xyann Fisher 0 2 2, Jordan Wolfenbarger 1 0 3, Ellie Veal 3 0 7, Aubriana Bellard 2 3 7, Jada Long 3 2 8. Totals: 11-9-33
NEW MIAMI (8-3): Alyssa Robinette 10 4 24, Allison Rapier 4 2 10, Avery Lawrence 2 1 5, Destiny Buell 0 1 1, Faith Parker 0 6 6. Totals: 16-14-46
3-pointers: M 2 (Wolfenbarger, Veal)
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