Nielsen carries Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE - When Odessa shut down the Lady Eagles' inside game in the second half, Soap Lake head coach Tony Blankenship called on someone from the perimeter to score. Kali Nielsen answered that call.

"What was really key for us was Kali Nielsen," Blankenship said. "She stepped up."

The junior guard scored 15 points, including a key free throw to seal the 46-42 Soap Lake win over Odessa Tuesday night.

Odessa jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and appeared ready for a blowout. But Lady Eagles' freshman Michelle Marthini showed dominance inside, scoring 10 of her team's 12 first quarter points to keep them close.

Soap Lake hung around in the second quarter, despite consistent long-range jumpers from Lady Tigers' guard Andrea Kuch, who finished with 18 points. Odessa took a 29-25 lead into halftime.

When Odessa moved to a zone to put pressure on Marthini, Blankenship put the onus on his guards to get to the hoop.

"I told them, 'They're doubling and tripling Michelle. When we reverse the ball we need to attack the seams of their zone,'" Blankenship said.

The Lady Eagles, led by Nielsen did that often, making the Lady Tigers pay.

"Once (Nielsen) busted them for three or four layups, Michelle got back open again," Blankenship said.

Soap Lake also ratcheted up the defense, allowing only two points in the third quarter.

"What we really concentrated on was the shooters outside," Blankenship said. "That's where they were hitting shots in the first half."

In the second half, Odessa's well ran dry. With 40 seconds left in the quarter, Nielsen slashed to the basket for a layup, giving Soap Lake its first lead of the game at 33-31.

The final period went back and forth, until the 1:40 mark when Marthini hit from the low post to give the Lady Eagles the 44-42 lead.

Once again, Nielsen stepped up. Her two steals in the final minute kept the Lady Tigers from putting points up. Ahead by three with 20 seconds left, Nielsen blocked a three-point shot that would have tied the score. She was immediately hacked and made a free throw that put the game on ice.

"She is a special player on defense," Blankenship said. "Her defensive play sealed that game for us down the stretch. She showed the leadership we needed."

The win is the fourth straight for Soap Lake, its first four-game winning streak in more than 10 years, Blankenship said. The win improves their record to 4-6, good enough for second place in the North Central B South division.

"I told them, 'If we can hold them in the 40s, we can win ballgames. 'And that's what happened," Blankenship said.