It’s not a secret that it has been an up and down season for the Bridgeport High School girls basketball team.

 

One would need not look past the Indians’ most recent three-game stretch for that notion to be crystal clear.

 

It started with an overtime loss to Fairmont Senior, where Bridgeport had the Class AA defending state champions on the ropes through the first three and a half quarters.

 

Next was the team’s best defensive effort of the year in a 24-point victory against Grafton.

 

That was followed by a 47-point setback to the top-ranked team in Class AA, North Marion.

 

Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives according to head coach Herman Pierson said.

 

“There are some things we still need to be more consistent with but there are things we are getting better at,” Pierson said. “We have everything there to be a very good team by the end of the year when get to sectional play. And I think we will get there. Every game is a learning experience and there isn’t a night or game you can take off when you are playing in the Big 10 Conference.”

 

The Indians are back in action with two straight Big 10 games starting on Tuesday with a road contest against Lewis County. They then on Philip Barbour at home on Thursday. Saturday’s opponent is against a regional foe as Nicholas County comes to Bridgeport for an afternoon game. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

 

In the 61-57 loss to Fairmont Senior, BHS led by 10 at 54-44 with 3:53 left in regulation. The Indians then fell victim to some costly turnovers and some misses on easy shot attempts to allow the Polar Bears to rally and force overtime. In the extra session, Senior outscored BHS 7-3.

 

“If we take care of the ball a little better and make at least one of those shots, we get a win in that game,” Pierson said. “But I loved our effort in that game and I think the girls realized they can play with a team as good as what Fairmont Senior is.”

 

Paige Humble led the Tribe with 25 points against Senior, while Gabby Reep added nine points.

 

Against Grafton, Bridgeport’s defense went to work, paving the way for a 47-23 win — a season low in terms of points allowed.

With Humble battling foul trouble against the Bearcats, Reep stepped up to lead the Indians with 13 points. Maddie Wilson added 11 and showed off her comfort level at a new position.

 

Wilson has moved from guard to forward in the Bridgeport lineup and it’s a move that Pierson said he is seeing immediate benefits from.

 

“Maddie is a great shooter and a great ball handler but we are so guard heavy,” the coach said. “We felt like she could help us out at forward with her length and toughness and she definitely is.

 

"Our defensive intensity was great against Grafton. Grafton has a couple of post players that are the type of players that can give us fits. I kept awaiting for them to assert themselves but we never really let them to do that."

 

The Indians fell to 5-7 on the year following a 92-45 loss to North Marion last Thursday.

 

Humble once again led the Indians in scoring with 14 points to go along with a team-best six rebounds. Annamarie Pinti added 13 points, while Hannah Bartlett had seven points. Reep finished with five points and a team-best three assists.

 

“They are No. 1 for a reason,” Pierson said. “It’s your typical Mike Parrish team and they are really good. From what I’ve seen, they are definitely the best team in Class AA. I don’t know if they are 47 points better than us, but they are very good at what they do.”

 

The Huskies built a 30-12 lead after the first 8 minutes and then put the game completely out of reach with a 25-5 third quarter advantage. North Marion also dominated the turnover battle, 25-9.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Paige Humble, while the second one features Gabby Reep and the third how shows Maddie Wilson.

All photos by Joey Signorelli for www.benqueenphotography.com