Crestview’s Cali Gregory penetrates to the basket as Columbus Grove’s Kendal Palte defends Thursday night at Crestview.
Nate Reynolds | The Lima News
CONVOY — In a clash between two of the top players in the Northwest Conference, Cali Gregory led Crestview over Lauren Auchmuty and Columbus Grove, 52-39, on Thursday night.
Auchmuty outscored Gregory 24-23, but Crestview (10-1) limited Grove (8-2) to just four points in the third quarter and 18 total in the second half.
Auchmuty’s 24 points came on 18 shots, including six threes, most of which were highly contested. She was held scoreless from the 3:42 mark of the first quarter until a third-quarter layup with three seconds left. During that stretch, Crestview outscored Grove 27-12.
“She (Auchmuty) is a nice player that plays well in their system. I’m proud of our girls for doing a nice job collectively on her,” said Crestview coach Mark Gregory. “She still got 24 points, but that’s what good players do. Together we did enough on defense to make good things happen.”
Crestview’s win over Columbus Grove and Delphos Jefferson’s 57-41 victory over Allen East leaves just two one-loss teams in the NWC. Lincolnview (2-0), Crestview (3-0), and Jefferson (3-0) all remain unbeaten in the conference standings.
Josie Kulwicki drew the assignment of face-guarding Grove’s top scorer. Time and time again, Auchmuty was forced into either a tough shot or a quick pass.
“They guarded her hard,” Columbus Grove coach Brian Schroeder said of Auchmuty. “They were physical with her off the ball and helped off on her. That’s a really good team that executed their game plan.”
Crestview led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter and 20-18 at the half.
Cali Gregory hit a first-quarter three but was limited to just two total shots from the field in the first half.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Crestview made a concerted effort to get Gregory the ball, and she responded with the first four points of the second half, sending the Knights on a 10-0 run.
“Kendal Palte did a great job of being physical on her,” Schroeder said. “In the first half, I thought we held her in check, but she’s a good player that doesn’t stay down for long.”
Gregory had 18 fourth-quarter points, including a deep triple midway through the frame, answering two-straight threes from Auchmuty at the other end.
“Cali had a nice game when we needed her to,” said Gregory. “She hit a big three in the second half when Grove started gaining momentum. We needed every one of those shots that she hit.”
Aside from Gregory and Auchmuty, no other player reached double figures in the game. Five players scored on each side.
Ellie Kline added eight for Crestview, followed by Josie Kluwicki with seven, Kaci Gregory with six, and Myia Etzler with four.
Columbus Grove got eight points from Nicole Nesby. Kendall Palte added four, Allison Tompson hit one shot from the field and Ruth Myers chipped in a free throw.
Crestview 52, Columbus Grove 39
Columbus Grove 12 6 4 17 – 39
Crestview 13 7 15 17 – 52
Columbus Grove
Lauren Auchmuty 24, Nicole Nesby 8, Kendal Palte 4, Allison Thompson 2, Ruth Myers 1, Total: 15-3-39.
Crestview
Cali Gregory 23, Ellie Kline 8, Josie Kulwicki 7, Kaci Gregory 6, Myia Etzler 4, Total: 18-14-52.
3PT: Columbus Grove: Auchmuty 6, Crestview: C. Gregory 3
Columbus Grove 8-2, 2-1 NWC Crestview 10-1, 3-0 NWC
