DARLINGTON – A 16-0 run to start the second half busted open a tight game as the Darlington Redbirds girls’ basketball team kicked off the 2016-17 season with a 62-32 victory over the Belmont Braves at DHS on Tueday, Nov. 15.

Sophomore Kathleen Mathias netted six points and junior Kennedy Rankin tallied five points during the Redbirds’ run to turn their 23-18 halftime lead into a 39-18 cushion.

Belmont senior Paige Nolan sank a pair of free throws with 11:20 remaining to end the Braves’ scoring drought, but the host Redbirds reeled off 10 of the next 13 points to build up a 49-23 advantage and then cruised in from their to take the season opener.

Sophomore guard Kaylee Meyers buried three of Darlington’s five 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 13 points. K. Rankin finished with nine points, while Mathias and senior Sadie Fitzsimons chipped in with eight points apiece.

Sophomore Bethany McDonald scored seven points and senior Taryn Rankin added six for the ‘Birds, who knocked down 25 field goals in the game on offense while holding the Braves to just seven total field goals.

Junior Briana Ernst led the Braves with seven points. Kassandra Palzkill and Caitlyn Gilbertson scored six apiece for the Braves, who accounted for more than half of their points from the foul line after converting 17-of-31 free throw attempts.
Darlington improved to 2-0 on the season with a 66-12 victory over host Pecatonica on Friday, Nov. 18.

The Redbirds poured in a staggering 51 points in the first half to open up a 51-10 halftime lead, and coasted in from there. Taryn Rankin outscored the Vikings all by herself with a game-high 19 points. Kathleen Mathias added 11 points for the ‘Birds, who had 12 different players score on the night.

The Lady Redbirds have a non-conference game at Dodgeville on Tuesday, Nov. 29, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Belmont evened its record to 1-1 on Friday evening with a hard-fought 37-34 win over Southwestern in their home opener.
Kassandra Palzkill scored 10 of her game-high 14 points in the second half to lead the Braves to the victory. Briana Ernst chipped in with 11 points for Belmont, who led 18-17 at the half.

The Lady Braves have non-conference games at Pecatonica (Blanchardville) on Tuesday, Nov. 29, and at Black Hawk on Thursday, Dec. 1, both beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
Belmont…… 18   14 – 32
Darlington… 23   39 – 62
Belmont –Briana Ernst 7, Kassandra Palzkill 6, Caitlyn Gilbertson 6, Abby Althaus 5, Paige Nolan 4, Taylor Foecking 3, Callie Wiegel 2. Totals – 7  17-31  32.
Darlington – Kaylee Meyers 13, Kennedy Rankin 9, Sadie Fitzsimons 8, Kathleen Mathias 8, Bethany McDonald 7, Taryn Rankin 6, Emma Crist 5, Meghan Douglas 4, Reagan Roelli 2. Totals – 25  7-16  62.
3-point goals– B 1 (Althaus 1), D 5 (Meyers 3, McDonald 1, K. Rankin 1). Total fouls– B NA, D NA. Fouled out– none.
 
Darlington…. 51   15 – 66
Pecatonica… 10     2 – 12
Darlington –Taryn Rankin 19, Kathleen Mathias 11, Gabrielle Steiner 6, Kennedy Rankin 5, Hannah Kelly 5, Bethany McDonald 4, Kaylee Meyers 4, Emma Crist 3, Meghan Douglas 3, Sadie Fitzsimons 2, Callie Norton 2, Chelsie Golackson 2. Totals – 66.
Pecatonica – Brohus 5, Knutson 3, Erickson 2, Johnson 2. Totals – 12.
3-point goals– D 2 (K. Rankin 1, Kelly 1), P 1 (Brohus 1). Total fouls– D 9, P 8. Fouled out– none.
 
Southwestern… 17   17 – 34
Belmont……….. 18   19 – 37
Southwestern – Hinman 4, Myers 1, Kruser 8, Kaiser 6, Riniker 7, Budden 8. Totals – 14  5-9  34.
Belmont – Kassandra Palzkill 14, Briana Ernst 11, Caitlyn Gilbertson 4, Trinity Rucker 2, Nicole Knebel 2, Maddie Rand 2, Paige Nolan 2. Totals – 16  5-8  37.
3-point goals– S 1 (Riniker 1), B 0. Total fouls– S 16, B 15. Fouled out– none.