RENSSELAER — North Montgomery coach Ryan Nuppnau asked his senior leader to step up, and she didn’t back down from the challenge.
Piper Ramey, who led the Chargers with 19 points and 18 rebounds, sparked a 19-point fourth quarter to propel North Montgomery past Western Boone 45-36 on Friday night in the sectional semi-final at Rensselaer Central.
“Right after that third quarter, I met Piper right there on the court, and had a little heart-to-heart with her,” North Montgomery coach Ryan Nuppnau said. “I gave her a challenge, and she rose to that challenge like every great player would do. I told her ‘this is your game.’ She picked it up not only defensively, but into another gear offensively, and the other players fed off that, and that’s a sign of a great player that’s willing to rise to the occasion in a big game when the moment is that high.”
Western Boone went ahead 31-26 on a Gabby Lewis basket in the first minute of the fourth quarter, before the Chargers scored the next nine points to go in front 35-31 with 4:25 to play.
After Isabell Grady scored to pull the Stars within a basket, Ramey scored the game’s next seven points to help seal the win for the Chargers. The senior scored 11 of her game-high 19 in the final eight minutes, and connected on 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the period.
Lewis led Western Boone with 18 points, while Olivia Reagan added 13, including three 3-pointers in the third quarter to give the Stars a 7-point lead late in period.
Lilly Graham and Macee Norman each added nine for the Chargers.
For the second time this week, North Montgomery has beaten an opponent they lost to in the regular season. The loss to the Stars came just last week 37-34.
“I’m very proud of the girls that they learned from the first two games against Delphi and WeBo in the regular season,” Nuppnau said. “They knew down in their hearts that it should have been different in the regular season, and they came out and proved it when it really mattered the most.”
Western Boone closes the season with an 8-15 record.
North Montgomery improves to 16-9, matching their most wins in a season since they were 16-7 in 2013. The Chargers play Class 2A No. 2 Rensselaer Central for the sectional title — something North Montgomery hasn’t won since 2007.
“They’re only about six of seven deep, but they’re very tall and athletic,” Nuppnau said. “They’re lengthy and strong. They’re going to throw every type of junk defense out at us and try to get us flustered, and they run the court very well.”
