Delphos Jefferson’s Lyv Lindeman shoots against Miller City’s Isabel Reyna during Monday’s game at Delphos Jefferson High School.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
DELPHOS – All season long, opposing teams have swarmed around Delphos Jefferson senior standout Lyv Lindeman.
And all season long, Lindeman has found ways to battle through all the defensive pressure that she has faced.
In Monday’s non-league girls basketball matchup against visiting Miller City, Lindeman saw her normal dose of double-teams and traps.
However, the Tiffin University-bound Lindeman led Delphos Jefferson with a game-high 26 points, including 14 of 16 shooting from the free-throw line as Jefferson held off Miller City for a hard-fought 54-44 victory.
With the win, Jefferson improved to 16-3 overall. Miller City slipped to 12-7.
Along with Lindeman’s 26 points, teammate Lauren French (6-foot-3, senior) scored 10 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
“Lyv had to work for her points,” Jefferson coach Denise Lindeman said. “Tonight, she put in a ton of time at the foul line. Foul shots win big games, especially when it comes to tournament time. She does put in a ton of time on the foul line. She had to earn every single point tonight.”
French missed a good portion of playing time this season, due to an injury. Lindeman is pleased at the progress her senior post player has made since getting back into the lineup.
“Every day at practice, Lauren is getting better and better. She rebounded very well tonight. Just (having) that presence inside has helped our entire team,” Lindeman said.
Jordan Schnipke paced Miller City on Monday with 13 points and four rebounds. Maddie Erford had nine points and three steals. Andrea Pfau added six points, six rebounds and four steals for Miller City.
Jefferson led 17-9 by the end of the first quarter. At the halftime break, Jefferson led 27-19.
In the third quarter, Miller City made a run.
With 3:15 left in the third, an inside basket by Lou Michel (six points) cut the deficit to two, at 33-31.
However, Jefferson extended its lead to six points by the end of the third stanza, 37-31.
“We had a fast start, and we finished,” Lindeman said. “But overall, I wasn’t happy with our defense today; and I thought we had way too many turnovers.
“On the positive side – it’s a win. They found a way. It (Miller City) is a nice, solid program. I was proud of the girls for that (getting the win). But we have to get better.”
Jefferson connected on 45.9 percent of its field-goal attempts, while Miller City shot 33.3 percent from the floor.
Miller City committed eight turnovers, while Jefferson turned it over 15 times on the night.
Jefferson held a 29-20 edge in rebounding.
Jefferson has an opportunity to secure a share of the Northwest Conference title. The Wildcats must win their final two NWC games. Heading into this week, Crestview, Columbus Grove and Jefferson each have one conference loss.
Jefferson will host Lincolnview this coming Thursday in a key Northwest Conference matchup. Next Thursday, Columbus Grove will invade Delphos Jefferson for another huge NWC contest.
“We have two big games,” Lindeman said. “The girls are ready for this. They’ll keep working. They give me great effort and great attitude every single day at practice, so I can’t complain.
“They come in every day, and they’re just even-keeled. Our girls don’t get too high, and they don’t get too low. I think that’s a testament to them.”
Delphos Jefferson 54, Miller City 44
Score by Quarters
Miller City 9 10 12 13 – 44
Delphos Jefferson 17 10 10 17 – 54
Miller City
Chelsea Erford 5, Ava Ruck 5, Jordan Schnipke 13, Lou Michel 6, Andrea Pfau 6, Maddie Erford 9. Totals: 16-8-44.
Delphos Jefferson
Madison Burris 6, Lyv Lindeman 26, Kyrstin Moore 3, Claire Brinkman 4, Carolyn Mueller 5, Lauren French 10. Totals: 17-17-54.
3-pointers made: Miller City – Ava Ruck 1, Andrea Pfau 1, Maddie Erford 1, Chelsea Erford 1; Delphos Jefferson – Madison Burris 2, Kyrstin Moore 1
Records: Miller City 12-7; Delphos Jefferson 16-3
