Notre Dame High School senior guard Maliyah Maples’ hustle plays — along with the excitement and energy she brought to the game — helped push the Lady Fighting Irish to the Division II-A East District 2 regular season championship Tuesday night with a 50-46 home win over Silverdale Baptist Academy.
After fighting back from a devastating knee injury just two games into her junior season, Maples proved she is all the way back with several big plays in the second half.
After assisting on a field goal by Callie McCormick to break a tie late in the third quarter, Maples found herself in perfect position for an offensive rebound on the left underside of the hoop, where she made a putback while being fouled. Her high-arching left-handed free throw then found nothing but net to help build a 32-27 lead Notre Dame would never relinquish.
Maples also helped the Lady Fighting Irish improve to 19-7 overall and a perfect 8-0 mark in District 2 play as she weaved through the paint to force a key jump ball late to set up the fourth 3-point make of the night from sophomore guard Erin Spurgeon. Fittingly, Maples came away with the game’s last stop with a steal with under 10 seconds to play before sinking both of her free throws for the final margin.
“This big brace on my leg is a constant reminder to play every game like it could be my last,” said Maples, who finished the win with eight points, 11 rebounds and three steals. “I am savoring every moment I can with my team and doing whatever I can to be that driving force as a senior leader. We all have rallied around each other and go out there every game ready to hustle and fight.”
Notre Dame showcased its stellar depth as all five starters scored at least eight points, with Spurgeon and McCormick finishing in double figures. Senior forward Violet Wright came up big defensively with 10 rebounds.
Maples’ defensive awareness and tenacity proved to be the ultimate difference maker on the court as the Lady Fighting Irish closed the regular season on a five-game winning streak.
“Maliyah was our single most valuable player tonight by her ability to keep plays alive,” Notre Dame head coach Jason Hill said. “A lot of times she was outsized by Silverdale, but her heart and commitment to going all out was the biggest factor in helping us secure this win tonight. She made a constant effort to crash the boards on both ends.
“Her teammates seeing her work that hard is contagious. When you see a senior who has been through what she has and continues to battle back and take initiative and plays with so much energy and excitement, that is game-changing. The girls really fed off of her tonight.”
Silverdale Baptist (15-11, 5-2) was led by sophomore point guard Kinsley Owen, who scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter on a night she also recorded 11 rebounds and five assists.
Ella Canter made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for the Lady Seahawks, who received three blocked shots from Baylee Raby.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.