MONTGOMERY — MONTGOMERY - North Daviess didn't burn the nets in the opening game of the Class A Barr-Reeve Sectional Tuesday, but the Lady Cougar defense proved to be spot on.

Six North Daviess players scored in a balanced attack and the defense held Washington Catholic at bay, as the Cougars defeated the Cardinals, 28-19, in the sectional's opening game.

Washington Catholic failed to score a field goal until Elizabeth Perkins connected with 4:45 remaining in the half as North Daviess built a 10-4 lead.

The Cougars didn't score from the field until Abby Hollis connected with 7:02 remaining in the opening 16.

North Daviess held a 2-0 lead after the first period, as Meghan Knepp made two free throws at the 4:33 mark of the opening quarter.

“When your offense is not clicking, you've got to be able to play defense,” North Daviess coach Ron Knepp said. “We thought we got a hand up on their shots. They were wanting to get to (Emily) Perkins, and we were trying to take her away. We felt pretty good about our defense.”

Perkins, Washington Catholic's 5-10 sophomore center who averages 14 points per game, found the going rather tough in the opening two quarters despite finishing with 12.

Counter counterpart Sabra Smith, also a 5-10 sophomore, had a tough night finding room in the center of the court.

“They (Washington Catholic) did a good job with that,” Knepp said. “They limited her looks. We knew they would focus on her. We were wanting to get her early looks, but we simply couldn't get the ball down the court fast enough to give her some early offense.”

Perkins scored nine points in the second half after getting three of Washington Catholic's four in the first half, but the Cardinals'lack of offense allowed a sectional-opening opportunity slide away,

Washington Catholic hit 1-18 shots in the opening half. North Daviess made 3-13, but that was enough to establish the six-point edge.

“We came out exactly the way we wanted to,” Washington Catholic coach Jim Mackey said. “Defensively we did a really good job inside. We got good looks, we just couldn't hit a shot. The first four or five times down the floor, I guess it's nerves. But we rushed our shots. I donÕt how you fix that.”

North Daviess sealed the game with an 8-3 third quarter, providing an 18-7 lead.

The Cougars held their largest lead at 23-9 with 4:42 to play before Washington Catholic tried to rally late. The Cardinals cut the gap to 26-19, but the points were too little and much too late.

“Everything we talked about wanting to do in the first six or seven minutes happened,Ó Mackey said. ÒWe shut down the inside game, we got the ball inside for good looks. It just wouldn't go in.”

Knepp led North Daviess with nine points. Abby Hollis and Smith each scored six.

The Cougars played without inside players Gracie Meyer and Janae Wagler. While the inside presence, Meyer is 5-9 and Wagler 5-10, has been a point of strength, North Daviess will now have to face Loogootee in Friday's 6 p.m. opener without either player.

“Abby Hollis and Larynda Keith and Darrah Holder will have to step up for us,” Knepp said. “We know Sabra and Meghan will get some points for us. Thirty points will not win the Loogootee game. The good thing about sectional is that it is survive and advance, and that's what we did.”

While Perkins did get 12 for the Cardinals, no other player scored more than the three points from Sara Wild. Mackey was not certain if his players understood the opportunity they missed.

“It's frustrating,” Mackey said. “I don't know if these kids realize, really realize, how easily they could have won this basketball game. If they do anything in the first quarter and we have a six or seven point lead like we should have, it's an entirely different ballgame. Give North Daviess credit. What they do, they do well. Ron does a nice job. They deserve to win. I thought we could have won.”

Knepp knows his Cougars will be underdogs against the Lions Friday, but told his team, following the game, that the law of averages was on their side.

“I told the kids averages always work themselves out,” Knepp said. “We definitely are on the good side of the averages. We did not play well, did not shoot well. The average would say we will come back Friday and have a better game. That's what we are looking for.”

Rivet 67, Shoals 41

MONTGOMERY - Vincennes Rivet set up a highly anticipated rematch with 20-0 Barr-Reeve in Friday night's second game with a 67-41 victory over Shoals at Kavanaugh Kourt on Tuesday night.

Shoals was competitive early in the first quarter as they forged a tie at eight all.  Rivet countered with a quick 10-0 burst to take a lead they would never relinquish.  The Lady Patriots led 18-13 after one, 34-15 at half, and 48-28 after three quarters.

Micheala Brockman closed her career at Shoals with a game-high 26 points, including five three-point baskets. 

Rivet featured a balanced attack with Elizabeth Keller getting 18, Allyson Werheim with 13, Lauren Herman with 12 and Ellie Herman finishing with 10.

Action begins on Friday night in Montgomery at 6 p.m.