Rustlers game moved to Ipswich after blast

Ipswich was defeated by a Region 2B girls' varsity basketball opponent Miller Area by a 46-19 verdict on February 3 in the Tiger Den. This game was indeed hosted by Ipswich instead of Miller due to that Miller School fire.

The Tigers were at least able to hang around vs. Miller throughout the first half of the game. That's because there was a lot of defense by both teams that evening, especially during that first half. The Rustlers would spot Ipswich an early 4-0 lead before they would finally get on the board with a 10-0 run the rest of that quarter. That put the visitors ahead 10-4. And Miller would outscore Ipswich 7-6 in the second quarter to go ahead 17-10 at the halftime break. (Ipswich had closed to within five points earlier in that stanza courtesy of a Katie Bierman basket.)

Miller would then gradually extend its lead throughout the second half, after limiting Ipswich to a two-point basket from Bierman during the entire third quarter. So the Rustlers indeed forged ahead 32-12 with a quarter to play.

Bierman would eventually lead Ipswich with her eight points, followed by Quincy Olivier with four points, Rylee Kleffman with a trey for three points and Ashlyn Weig with two points. Baylee Kulesa and Karlie Gohl would each add a free throw.

The Rustlers countered with seven different scorers paced by Tyra Gates with 13 points that were also game high. Their next highest scorer would become Abigail Blake with her nine points.

The Rustlers came up with 18 accurate floor-shot efforts that included a trio of treys. They were a warm 7-10 in free throw outcomes. Ipswich responded with eight baskets including that lone trey and were 2-6 in their own free throw opportunities.

The Tigers hauled down 25 rebounds led by Olivier with five. The Rustlers, meanwhile claimed 24 rebounds. Miller protected the basketball quite well with only seven turnovers. Ipswich would finish with 21 miscues that evening, but did directly help to create five of the Rustlers' turnovers with steals. Meanwhile the Rustlers converted some decent transition opportunities with 16 steals of their own.

Ipswich was 5-10 in its won-loss column after that particular game and the Rustlers improved to 9-4.

The Tiger girls (and boys) were scheduled to host a LRC opponent Aberdeen Christian on February 8 in the Tiger Den. The girls will also play in Wilmot on February 10. They'll also play in the Warner Classic on February 12 at 3:30 p.m. vs. the Flandreau Indian Lady Indians. The IHS girls will play Highmore-Harrold on the road on Feb. 15.