Antioch keeps winning while regrouping

It was eight days ago, and the news wasn't good.

Antioch prized junior Alexis Duehr fell victim to a broken leg. Her return this year is cloudy at best.

So now what happens to Duehr's favorite team?

The Sequoits (10-2, 5-0) keep on winning - and winning big.

Friday night's victim was home-standing Grant. And the Bulldogs (5-5, 2-3) were still without the services of their tallest player, Taylor Drake (illness).

Ashley Reiser (14 points) started the fireworks with a 3-pointer and the Antioch lead reached double figures before the opening quarter expired.

Despite another standout evening from Grant guard, Jasmine Sangster, (18 points), Antioch prevailed 55-33 in an NSC Prairie Division clash.

"We were down two starters,'' said Antioch coach, Tim Borries. "But it's always the next girl up for us. And we didn't hold back tonight."

Antioch's defense forced 19 turnovers and were never threatened. Reiser and twin sister Amy combined to outscore Grant 14-7 in the first quarter. Both girls realize the loss of Duehr was costly.

"It's pretty disappointing for her,'' Amy Reiser said. "She was so excited for the season. So we will try and win for her."

The Bulldogs struggled to score until the last few minutes of the second quarter. On back-to-back baskets from junior center Madalyn Murillio, the visitors were up 30-9.

"She's a role player in practice,'' Borries said. "But she gave us good quality minutes tonight."

Sangster's lone 3-pointer of the game finally put her Bulldogs into double digits on the scoreboard. The junior had 8 of her team's 12 points in the second quarter, and all 6 points the team scored in the third quarter.

Antioch pulled away from Sangster and Grant in the third quarter. Chipping in 6 points in the quarter was sophomore Erika Gallimore. Also helping out with 7 points was Kelly Johnson.

It's clear with this potent club, the twin guards named Reiser are key ingredients.

"It starts with Ashley,'' Borries said. "And it snowballs from there."

Despite both guards being sophomores, these sisters are tested basketball players.

"We've been playing for 6 or 7 years now,'' Ashley Reiser said. "We know where each other will be."

Amy Reiser agreed with that assessment.

"It's telepathy,'' she said.

Both teams substituted freely in the final quarter. And there wasn't much scoring from either side. Murillio scored her 8th point of the game. Four minutes later senior Erin Dampf tallied for Antioch's final bucket. Grant had the first scores of the night from both McKaylie Krey and freshman Mallory Harrity.