Girls Best of the Week: Close swim meets highlight the pool, and bowlers find their groove
River Valley and Marion Harding endured a tight one Saturday morning at the Marion Family YMCA's pool. The Vikings got by Harding 419-414 with Pleasant and Elgin also competing in the girls swim meet.
Karis Beineke was a double winner for River Valley, taking first in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:07.09 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:24.95. Teammate Abigail Coyan won the 100 backstroke in 1:33.17.
Getting wins for Harding were Miana Taylor (50 free, 30.46), Callie Beary (100 butterfly, 1:07.25) and Shannon Malone (500 free, 7:10.39). Earning an individual win for Pleasant was Addison Gierhart (200 free, 2:19.96).
Check it out: Fast start propels River Valley in rivalry girls basketball game with Marion Harding
Swimming primer: River Valley, Mount Gilead open season with encouraging results
During a Wednesday meet at the Marion Y, River Valley beat Harding in another tight one, 144-139, with Mount Gilead and Elgin also participating.
Winning individually for RV were Beineke (50 free, 30.33; 100 breaststroke 1:26.15) and Coyan (100 free, 1:10.5). Winning for Harding were Malone (200 free, 2:39.21; 500 free, 7:16.58) and Beary (100 fly, 1:06.84), while winning for MG was Abigail Griffith (100 back, 1:16.89).
Bowling
● Pleasant and Northmor hooked up for a close one in bowling as the Spartans prevailed 1,663-1,661. Breahna Howard shot twin 172s for a 344 series, and Ashlyn Peters added a 322 series for the Spartans, while Northmor got a 179 game and 354 series from Emma Rinehart and a 324 series from Emily Ball. The Knights outscored Pleasant by 102 pins in the Baker games to nearly pull off the comeback.
● Marion Harding's Hannah Mullennix fired a 180 game and a 339 series to lead her team to a 1,668-1,447 win over Galion. In a 1,972-1,647 loss to Lexington, Abbey Knight paced the Presidents with a 273 series.
● North Union got a 351 from Ryleigh Rasey, a 350 from Lexi Bahan, a 343 from Montana Donohue and a 319 from Olyvia Frisco, but fell to Jonathan Alder 2,235-2,115.
● River Valley rolled to a 1,777-1,310 win over Shelby with Laurie Ann Cox posting a 220 game and 339 series for the Vikings. In a 1,869-1,374 win over Galion, Alexis Manning shot a 258 game and 458 series for RV.
● Jacey Snelling carded a 198 game and Shay Irwin a 352 series in a 1,374-1,161 Mount Gilead win over Centerburg.
Basketball
● Mount Gilead edged Danville 53-50 with Greer Simpson putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds, Faith White ending with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals, Danielle Pohlkotte scoring 17 points, Aubrey Thomas adding six assists and six rebounds, and Ava Baker hauling in six rebounds.
The Indians also beat Northmor 50-40 with White getting 10 points, five assists and four steals, and Pohlkotte and Baker combining for 25 points. Thomas contributed nine boards and three steals. Shelby Cooper led Northmor with 11 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
● In a 46-25 loss to Centerburg, Cooper finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals and Alexis See had nine boards for the Golden Knights.
● Cardington handled Highland 42-31. Abigail Hardwick had 10 and Lydia Hess eight points for the Pirates. Makaylee Merckling had 14 and Bryleigh Young eight points for the Scots. The Pirates also beat Fredericktown 47-34 as nine players scored. Kinstin Henthorn scored 13 and Hess eight for Cardington.
● Ridgedale's Lauren Leslie ended with 14 points, Hannah Cook with 11 and Brenda Scott and Lilly Ruth with eight each on a 56-38 win over Calvary Christian.
● In a 56-21 loss to Shelby, Young scored 11 points for Highland.
● North Union took care of Benjamin Logan 39-28 with Audrey Benedict getting 13 points and six steals and Brenna Martino getting 10 rebounds. The Wildcats lost to Urbana 57-48 with Zoe Wedding ending with 13 points and three assists, Addison Wedding and Benedict finishing with 11 points each, and Martino grabbing six rebounds.
Coaches and statisticians are encouraged to send results to the Marion Star's Rob McCurdy at rmccurdy@gannett.com, 419-610-0998, X formerly Twitter @McMotorsport and Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star.
Marion Star Girls Best of the Week Performer Poll, vote:
Voting in this week's boys and girls best of the week polls will continue through early Sunday morning at MarionStar.com and its app.
In last week's poll, Mount Gilead basketball player Ava Baker, who nailed six 3-pointers for 18 points in a win over Utica, earned 300 of 619 votes (48 percent) to win it. Other nominees were Pleasant basketball's Avah Steele, Ridgedale basketball's Lauren Leslie, RV bowler Alexis Manning, Highland bowler Elyssa Reigles and Elgin bowler Bethany Strong.
Girls nominees
Mount Gilead basketball's Greer Simpson put up 11 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Danville.
North Union basketball's Audrey Benedict posted 13 points and six steals in a win over Benjamin Logan.
River Valley swimmer Karis Beineke won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke in a meet with Marion Harding, Mount Gilead and Elgin, plus won the 100 free and 100 breaststroke in a meet with Harding and Pleasant.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Girls Best: Swimming, bowling, basketball in full swing in area
