The Melcher-Dallas Girls Basketball Squad got a huge win and claimed sole possession of 1st place in the Bluegrass Conference with a 44-34 win over Ankeny Christian on Tuesday, while the boys were unable to keep up with the Eagles in a 95-29 loss. Both girls teams had a hard time finding the basket as the Saints led 15-to-11 at halftime, but better shooting and continued defensive play by Melcher-Dallas never allowed ACA to get to six in the 2nd half. Coach Kelsey Goff told KNIA Sports knew the defense would win the game.

Goff: “I said it’s going to come down to our defense, because we know what they will do to us defensively. We just have to keep rolling and get a good seed for the tournament.”

Addi Wadle and Kesley Reed shared high points with 15 each, Reed also grabbed ten rebounds. Goff credited Maddie DeJong’s defense frustrating ACA all night grabbing seven rebounds and three steals. The boys never really got on track and fell behind early. It was an eight point game late in the 1st quarter, but the Eagles went on a 20-3 run to erase any doubt. Reece Chiabotta led Melcher-Dallas with six points. Both Saints squads will travel to Seymour on Friday.