Indians Defeat Fairfield For Third Place

Poplar’s girls’ basketball team withstood every comeback threat that Fairfield made and downed the Eagles, 52-39, in the third-place game of the Northern B divisional tournament on Saturday.

The Indians gained a 2315 half-time advantage and held a seven-point advantage in the third quarter until Fairfield’s Reese McGurran canned a three-pointer with 1:55 left in the period. A steal and drive by Aubrey Schubarth pulled the Eagles to 31-29.

After Poplar’s Frankie Gourneau scored for the Indians, Fairfield’s Rylie Schenk hit a three-pointer to close the margin to 33-32.

Poplar’s Cammie Martell responded with a three-pointer to give Poplar a 36-32 advantage at the end of the period.

The Eagles opened the fourth period with a short jumper by McGurran, but Martell came through with another three-pointer to put the lead at 39-34. Braelyn Nordwick followed with a three-pointer from way out for a 42-34 advantage.

A three-pointer by Saydee Archambault provided Poplar with a 45-35 lead with 3:20 remaining. After Fairfield’s Natalie Harrell drove for a hoop, Martell fired in a three-pointer to give the Indians a comfortable 48-37 lead with 1:48 remaining.

Nordwick led the Indians with 21 points including 15 points in the first half.

F. Gourneau scored 12 and Martell finished with 11.

Rounding out the scoring were Jenaeya Moran with three, Archambault with three and Emma Belton with two.

Harrell led Fairfield with 16 points.

Nordwick accounted for the last eight points of the first quarter to give Poplar a 12-9 advantage.

The Indians struck for seven straight points in the second period on five points by Nordwick and a basket by F. Gourneau for a 21-13 lead. Poplar led by a 23-15 half-time margin.