Storm overcomes miscues to win 46-41

The Storm weathered bouts of sloppy play and unusually timid free throw shooting to claim a 46-41 home win over Hyannis in the season opener on Friday night.

“First game,” guard Jerry Straber said with a shrug. “We were getting the mistakes out of the way.”

By rights, Creek Valley should have stretched their lead early. But the halftime advantage of 29-24 hid a harrowing tale: visiting Hyannis chalked up more than half of their points from the line, sinking 13 of 18 free throw attempts, compared to just 3 of 12 for the home side.

“It was definitely sloppy,” head coach Bill Wilbur acknowledged. “I’m worried about our free throw shooting. But they did the job.”

Indeed, the dominance Creek Valley conceded at the line they won back from the floor. Straber and Summer Mueller showed more than a few flashes of mid-season form, as each put up double digits—Mueller scoring 16 and Straber 14. Meanwhile, the two busy veterans fed Hannah Schievelbein and long bomber Jill Behrends to balance the attack.

After clawing back from an early deficit, the Storm rushed out to 20-15 lead during a prolific first quarter of play. A flurry of points near the end of the frame tipped what had been a 14-11 battle into a 20-11 laugher, thanks to an open three by Straber and a two on one break by Straber and Mueller. But the spree lasted only until a trey by the Longhorns’ Brandy Schaack and a charity shot from Savanna Jamison closed the gap.

The Storm nudged in front by 10 points early in the second period, after Behrends drained a three and Mueller followed up with a flying put back. Hyannis responded, and for the remainder of the game, the two sides matched each other, blow for blow, unable to equal the first quarter pace.

“We need more conditioning, we’re out of shape,” Behrends explained.

Throughout the second half of play, Creek Valley maintained their 5 point advantage, sometimes relying on the physical presence of Schievelbein in the paint, other times the scrambling of Stefanie Mitchell or Shania Brown.

Coach Wilbur had entered the game unsure of his squad’s depth. But with Madison Blackwelder, Jessie Straber and others kicking in, he emerged with a newfound appreciation of the available bench strength.

“We found out we have a six, seven and eight,” he said.   

Entering the final frame, the Storm remained on top 38-33—hardly a comfortable margin.

Jerry Straber and Mueller teamed up again on a fast break to open the period, but the Longhorns’ Jamison answered with a free throw and a put back. Hyannis would respond a couple more times. The game was settled, however, by a brief flurry of activity by Creek Valley and Hyannis’ sudden chill on the line.

The visitors, so hot in the first half, converted only 1 of 5 free throws over the final minute.

Before that point, Creek Valley survived a Jamison steal and fast break unscathed. A few seconds later Mitchell picked the Longhorns’ pocket and initiated a resurgence by the Storm. Mueller banked one of the glass, making Mitchell’s steal pay off. On their next possession, Straber spotted Schievelbein alone in the paint, hit her with a laser pass and celebrated as the junior completed the layup—despite a note of correction from her coach.

“We were supposed to run a three point play,” Straber explained. “But she was open—I couldn’t not pass to her.”

With half a minute left in the game and the issue still in doubt, Mueller stepped to the line. Shrugging off the team’s struggles with the free shot all night, she sank both—ensuring the win.

“Nothing,” Mueller said when asked what went through her mind at that critical moment. “I usually overthink free throws, so I just shot them.”

Creek Valley 49

Maxwell 33

--Stephen McKay

Summer Mueller scored 23 points on Saturday to lead Creek Valley to a 49-33 win at Maxwell.

They are now 2-0 on the young season.

The Storm’s relatively easy win came despite converting just 11 of 27 from the free-throw line. From the field Mueller’s offensive output was backed up by Shania Brown’s 9 points and Jill Behrends 8.

On defense Hannah Schievelbein grabbed 13 rebounds and Brown another 11 to pace Creek Valley.

The quick hands of Jerry Straber and Mueller led to 6 and 5 steals, respectively.

The Storm will have most of the week off from competition before traveling to Potter on Friday to take on the Coyotes.

Girls Basketball

Creek Valley 46

Hyannis 41

Scoring v Hyannis

Summer Mueller 16

Jerry Straber 14

Hannah Schievelbein 8

Jill Behrends 8