Published: February 08, 2010 09:44 am      

Ninnekah takes two from Rush Springs

By CHUCK LARSEN

Sports Edito

NINNEKAH – With the weather problems finally behind them, Ninnekah played their re-scheduled Homecoming game Friday night and the Owls celebrated with a pair of conference wins over the visiting Rush Springs Redskins. Amber Chaney scored 21 points to lead the Lady Owls to a 47-28 win and the Owls spread it around with three players in double figures as they beat the struggling Redskins 56-48.

The girls’ game started out as if they were still in the deep freeze that iced the area over and postponed the contest. The teams combined for a mind-boggling 2-for-21 from the floor for a 3-3 first-quarter tie.

Ninnekah started hitting in the second quarter to build a 19-8 halftime lead before Rush got into some rhythm in the third. The Lady Redskins scored a dozen but Ninnekah maintained the cushion with 13 of their own then held their guests to eight points in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Chaney led with 21 points, the only Lady Owl in double figures, and turned out to be the difference-maker. Shay Goodson kicked in seven points, Paige Allen and Annesha Kirk were held to six each and the rest of the output was scattered around in twos and threes.

Rush couldn’t get anyone to heat up, though. Chelsi Williams only finished with seven points, Shelby Callihan added six, Whitney Lowe had five and the rest was, like Ninnekah, scattered around.

Callihan finished with a game-high 14 rebounds, the only player on either side with more than eight, Goodson’s team-high tally. Oddly enough, both are their team’s point guards.

Both girls also finished with a game-high five steals, but Ninnekah made them pay off with 18 points off turnovers.

Matt Creel (15 pts), Kory Pearcy (14 pts) and Brian Burdex (10 pts) led the boys to their win. A fast start got Ninnekah out to a 14-9 first quarter lead and they were up 24-20 at the break. Rush kept hanging around through the third quarter to stay within striking distance but Ninnekah won the fourth 18-15 to extend the cushion to eight for the win.

The biggest difference was in fast-break points, won by the Owls 19-7. Rush only managed 28% from the floor in the first half but got up to 44% in the second to keep things close. Alan Borski was the only Redskin player to hit double figures with 18 points. Clay Hollingsworth and Ninnekah’s Cameron Bickerstaff each kicked in eight points and the rest of the scoring was spread around.

The Owls will close out the regular season Tuesday, hosting Cement for Senior Night.