Storm vs. Sanford Grace

NLC Storm 43 Grace Christian School (Sanford) Crusaders 42

Playing early on a Saturday morning in Sanford after the Friday night home win over Lighthouse, the Storm won a nail-biter by 1 point over the Crusaders of Grace Christian School. The first half of the game was perhaps the best half the Storm has played this season. The Crusaders came out with a full-court press but the Storm beat it for several fast break baskets and forced Grace to abandon it. The Storm showed patience against the Grace zone and worked the ball around for good shots and had balanced scoring. Defensively, NLC was very active and really took the Crusaders out of their offense. The first quarter ended with Hannah Grace nailing a 3-pointer just before the buzzer for a 19-6 lead. The Storm extended the lead with a strong second quarter and went into the half ahead 28-10. In the second half Grace mounted a comeback. A more aggressive defense forced some Storm turnovers and rushed shots, and they gradually chipped away at the lead, eventually tying the game at 36-36 and having the ball with a chance to take the lead. A big defensive stop by Arianna and a 3-pointer by Rebecca seemed to give the momentum back to New Life, but Grace responded with with 5 straight points to take their only lead of the game at 41-39. The Storm struck right back as Anna scored, then a steal on the inbounds play led to a Hannah Grace layup to put the Storm back in front 43-41. Grace hit a FT to cut the lead to 1 point and had the ball in the final 25 seconds. Grace star Haley Bryant, who had 21 points on the game, drove the lane but good defense by Rebecca forced her to take a tough shot which missed. Grace twice had the ball out of bounds in the last 2 seconds with a chance for length-of-the-court play, but never got off a shot. The Storm had balanced scoring, led by Anna and Shelby with 10 points each. Shelby had 8 rebounds and Rebecca 4 assists.

Congratulations to the Storm as they remain unbeaten and enter 2010 with a record of 7-0.

Storm vs. Lighthouse

NLC Storm 60 Lighthouse Eagles 44

On a snowy wintry night, the Storm pulled away from the Lighthouse Christian Homeschool Eagles in the second half to win their first conference game of the season. As has been the norm, the Storm jumped out to an early 8-1 lead. Foul trouble then forced NLC to go with a small lineup and the Eagles used their size advantage to pull even at 10-10 early in the 2nd quarter. Led by Anna, the Storm regained the ;ead but turnovers and fouls and a big rebounding edge helped Lighthouse stay close as the Storm led by 27-22 at the half. The second half began with Hannah Grace scoring on a drive, then Hannah getting a steal and passing ahead to Hannah Grace for the easy two. A little bit later, some strong moves inside by Anna, a 3-pointer by Hannah off a pass from Anna, and a 3-pointer by Rebecca gave the Storm an 18-point lead at 49-31. The Storm ran a 4-corners offense for much of the 4th quarter, and turnovers allowed the Eagles to slice the lead to 1o but they could get no closer as the Storm cashed in on free throws for the final margin. Rebecca scored 18 points to lead the Storm, while Anna had 13 and a team-leading 7 rebounds.

Storm vs. Kestrel

NLC Storm 48 Kestrel Heights Hawks 33

(Storm Blog thanks David and Shelley for the game report!)
Overall, the Storm played their best defensive game of the season against the Hawks of Kestrel Heights. In the first half, Courtney set a tenacious tone for the team with 5 steals. Following her lead, the Storm shut down the Hawks’ offense in the first period, allowing only a single basket. At the onset of the second period, the Storm’s fast break game was in high gear with numerous opportunities from Kestrel turnovers. Aggressiveness was needed in this physical game, and Anna was the beast who led the Storm. Anna forced her way to the basket over and over, putting her on the free throw line 6 different times. With 8 rebounds, she helped pump up the Storm’s desire for the ball, leaving some worn out Hawks at halftime to ponder the Storm’s 32 to 12 lead. After halftime, the Storm took the court energized and determined, with Shelby diving on the floor after loose balls, Hannah Grace playing denial defense, and Hannah pulling down 6 rebounds. Both on the wing and in the post, Arianna proved to be a threat to the Hawks’ defense by scoring 10 points and taking 6 offensive rebounds. In the fourth quarter with the game securely in hand, the Storm pulled back their defense inside the 3-point arc, allowing Kestrel a couple of 3 pointers. The Storm let up slightly on their rebounding, however, they fought well, and in the end, pulled out a solid 48 to 33 victory.

Arianna and Shelby scored 10 points each to lead the team and Shelby also led in rebounding with 12. The Storm is now 5-0 on the season.

Storm vs. Masonic Home

NLC Storm 40 Masonic Home Red Devils 20

The Storm ran their record to 4-0 with a 20-point victory over the Lady Devils at the Masonic Home in Oxford. NLC got off to a strong start, jumping on top 14-1 at the end of the first quarter with Hannah Grace and Shelby combining for 12 points. The Storm moved the ball well and played stifling defense, getting numerous steals and deflections and keeping Masonic from getting good shots. In the second period the Devils played more physical and the Storm seemed to let down a bit. They went over 6 minutes without scoring but still led 20-7 at halftime. The Storm put the game out of reach in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Devils 16-2 to take a 27-point lead. Hannah Grace scored 9 points, Daryl had 6 rebounds, and Rebecca 4 assists to lead the team.