Tuscarora’s dominant sister duo of senior guard Isabellah Middleton and freshman guard Grace Middleton combined for 40 points in their 49-10 victory over Riverside.
Isabellah Middleton, who committed to Slippery Rock University before the season, led the Huskies with 28 points, seven steals, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Grace Middleton was not far behind her with 12 points, two steals, and five rebounds.
Junior center Ashtyn Walsh led the way for the Rams (5-2) with four points, four blocks and four rebounds.
“Sometimes the (Middleton) duo is just unbeatable,” Tuscarora Varsity girls’ basketball Head Coach Alexis Campbell said. “They work really well together, their chemistry is that of sisters.”
From the start of the game the Lady Huskies overwhelmed Riverside. Isabellah Middleton opened scoring with a three-pointer, assisted by Grace Middleton, which essentially set the precedent for the night. Tuscarora (3-2) held the Rams to just two points in the first quarter, as they jumped to a 19-2 lead. The Lady Huskies’ final three baskets of the quarter all came from fast break lay-ups that began with a steal.
“We raise the bar as far as defensive intensity,” Coach Campbell said. “I have an amazing coaching staff – a lot of us play with them sometimes to make sure we’re raising that bar. Defense is a key part of what we do.”
Grace Middleton continued the scoring for the Huskies as she opened the second quarter with a three-pointer. The Middleton sisters controlled the game, as they accounted for all of Tuscarora’s points in the second quarter. The Lady Huskies’ relentless defense helped them produce a 28-4 lead at half, as they refused to give the Rams any easy opportunities.
Isabellah Middleton, who was selected to the 2018-2019 All-Nova Junior Girls Team, continued to be a problem for the Rams defense, as she accounted for 13 of the Huskies’ 21 second half points. Tuscarora only conceded a single in the third quarter, and would go on to the impressive victory.
Campbell explained after the game that she is starting to notice the team develop a rhythm on the court together.
“For us I think team chemistry [is working well],” she said. “I harped on (chemistry) at the beginning of the season. I feel like that’s a huge base for us. We’re starting to get a couple of leaders on the floor and able to get the game flowing the way they want it to flow.”
Coach Campbell also pointed out that the team plays their best when they’re relaxed and having fun.
“For the first time in my sixth year of coaching I’m starting to see more of the girls enjoy what’s going on, and that’s solely coming from them,” Coach Campbell said with a smile. “I think it’s huge to have a team that’s enjoying what they’re doing. They see their hard work in practice and now it’s paying off and they’re seeing the results on the court. It’s early in the season, but I can enjoy that.”
–TJ Davis