With the regular season past the midway point, Bridgeport Coach Dennis Hutson is hoping to see his girls’ basketball team finish the season strong. After two games, the results are mixed.

 

The Indians went 1-1 in their last two outings. The Tribe is now 7-5 on the year.

 

“We’re still treading water and not where we want to be. We’re wasting opportunities against the better competition we’ve faced this year. We need to be able to put it together from start to finish,” said Hutson.

 

Bridgeport started last week in good shape. The Indians went on the road and managed to beat Grafton by a 65-32 score in a contest that wasn’t close from the outset to the close of the contest.

 

The Tribe led 23-6 after one quarter and were up 41-13 at the break to put the game out of reach. Emily Riggs, who didn’t play all four quarters, outscored the Bearcats by herself with 33 points. She was joined in double figures by Rory Marple with 10.

 

“I thought we played really well; it was our third win in a row and anytime you win it’s a good thing,” said Hutson.

 

The 33 by Riggs put her within just a few points of going past the 1,000-point mark for her career. Hutson, in fact, took Riggs out early in the game as she had 26 points at halftime and he was wanting his senior standout to have a chance to hit the mark at home this past Friday.

 

“She was crazy dominant in that first half,” said Hutson. “Watching her at times I know I’m watching as good a scorer as anyone I’ve had in a long time and I’ve had a few. It was important, if possible, to let her have a chance at getting to 1,000 during a home game.”

 

Riggs would do just that as she got the job done against North Marion last Friday.

 

Riggs, who managed just eight points, reached the plateau in the first half. In fact, she scored at the 5:42 mark of the second quarter and helped put Bridgeport up 20-10.

 

“If a kid gets 1,000 points that’s always a great accolade. You have to have skill, durability and the ability to put the ball in the hole and Riggs meets all the criteria,” said Hutson.

 

After that, things began to go south for the Indians in what turned into a 57-41 setback at home against North Marion. After the big basket that saw play halted to honor the milestone, Bridgeport was outscored 15-6 to close the first half and led just 26-25 at the intermission.

 

“We missed, at least, six uncontested layups in the first half where we broke their press. Conservatively, we should have had 38 or 40 points,” said Hutson. “We’re talking kids missing with no one on them. Why it happened is difficult to understand because these were skilled kids missing. When that happens, it makes you wonder if it’s a mental thing.”

 

What no one had to wonder was North Marion took advantage of Bridgeport’s inability to convert. The momentum the Huskies gained in late in the first half carried over into the third period. In fact, the Huskies took control by holding the Tribe to just two points and scoring 16 in the decisive eight minute quarter. By the time the fourth frame rolled around, NMHS was in control by a 40-28 score and never looked back.

 

“We actually had them in a position, if we make layups, to be able to be comfortably up at halftime. Instead, we give up eight straight points at the end of the half and then next thing you know you’re in a tough position against a good basketball team,” said Hutson.

 

Marple led the Indians with 18 points. Riggs and Lauren Riffle both finished with eight.

 

“Rory had a big game, but she passed up too many shots. She was that good that night, but we want her to understand when others, like Emily, aren’t having a big game that she can take over,” said Hutson.

 

Bridgeport will face Lewis County tonight at home at 7:30 p.m. and visit Philip Barbour Friday at the same time. The Tribe will hit the road Saturday for a varsity only battle against Nicholas County at 3 p.m. and then return to the court Monday to face Frankfort at the East Fairmont Classic at 10 a.m. on Martin Luther King Day.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dennis Hutson presenting a game ball to Emily Riggs after she scored her 1,000th point Friday. Rory Marple is shown driving to the hoop in the second photo, while Lauren Riffle goes up strong in the bottom photo. Photos by Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com.