The Melcher-Dallas Girls Basketball Squad successfully navigated its first round game in the class 1A regional over Southeast Warren 55-43. The Saints gained some distance with the Warhawks at halftime when Addi Wadle sank a three at the buzzer to give Melcher-Dallas an eight point lead at the break. A 6-0 run coming out of halftime moved the game into double figures and the Warhawks got no closer than nine the rest of the way. Coach Kelsey Goff told KNIA Sports switching defenses in the first half allowed her team to play faster on both sides of the court.

Goff: “In the middle of the 1st quarter we switched to man defense and that got the energy going and we were able to box out better and get that lead going into the half.”

Wadle led all scorers with 27 points and 9/10 from the free throw line. Kesley Reed with another double double 13 points and ten rebounds, while Gabby Overgaard ripped down ten boards and had six blocked shots. The Saints advance to Tuesday’s 2nd round against Murray. Meanwhile tonight the boys will travel to Colfax-Mingo to open up class 1A District play. The Saints drew the ninth seed and will play the eighth seeded Tiger Hawks with the winner on class 1A #2 Madrid on Monday.

Photo from Ryan Northcote