LINDEN — North Montgomery’s short-handed girls basketball team lost 43-33 to Attica at home Tuesday.
The game was rescheduled at the last minute when both teams lost opponents to COVID issues, and the Red Ramblers picked up their first win of the season to move to 1-2 and give head coach Matt Harmeson a nice birthday present.
The Chargers fall to 2-3 as they lose their third straight.
It was all the varsity players for North who couldn’t play that was part of the story.
“We had four varsity players who missed the game,” coach Ryan Nuppnau said. “Three with starting experience.”
Missing were Katie Rice (back), McKenzie Schroeder (hand), Nina Gable and Grace McClaskey (quarantined). The foursome are averaging 18 points, and with Gable and McClaskey missing, there was a shortage of experienced guards.
The biggest line of the game, as it was in two losses in the Sugar Creek Classic last weekend, was turnovers.
The Chargers had 24, which turned into 16 Attica points.
The Red Ramblers hit their first five shots and jumped out to a 10-4 lead and never looked back, although North did have a turnover-free stretch of the second quarter and got back to within one point.
Both teams shot just under 50% from the field, and the rebounding was nearly even, but the visitors hit one more three-pointer than North and were plus-six from the line.
The Chargers were led in scoring by Makinze Rominger with 13 points, following her 10-point effort last Saturday against Western Boone.
Lydia Dugard had eight points on a 4-of-5 shooting night and led her squad with six rebounds, including three offensive put-back baskets. The junior added four assists and a steal.
“We are going to have to count on her and others. It was good to see her hit the boards like that,” Nuppnau said.
Madi Welch also had eight points, and had three steals and two assists.
Attica had three players with five field goals each.
Adyson Goodwin had 14 points, followed by Tatum Nunnally with 13 and Sadie Swift with 12.
After the Thanksgiving break, North is back in action next Tuesday at Faith Christian and at home next Thursday for Senior Night against Covington.
