WINTERSVILLE — The Indian Creek girls’ basketball team continued to get the job done on the defensive end against Buckeye 8 rival Harrison Central.

The Redskins broke open a close game with a 37-5 run as they built a 37-point lead against the Huskies in the third quarter en route to a 60-33 victory Thursday night on Coach D Court.

“We had a nice run there,” Indian Creek (5-0) head coach Steve Eft said. “I thought we got off to a slow start defensively. We decided to bring the pressure. We went full court and 3/4 court, and we were able to get going at the end of the first, and that carried over into the second. We were able to get into a rhythm. We played really well in the first half.”

The running clock came into play when the hosts went up by 35 (48-13) in the third, however, the Huskies battled back and were able to get the running clock to stop in the fourth.

“Coming into the game, we were focused on giving a good effort, we wanted to hustle and we wanted to play with intensity,” Harrison Central (3-3) head coach Chase Smith said. “We started out well. It was 13-8 in the first, and then they went on a scoring barrage thanks to their length and their press. There is a reason why they are who they are.

“We’re young. I’m happy with how we did in spurts. Defensively, I thought we did a decent job. We were able to limit their athletes. They have weapons, and I thought we did a decent job against them. We knew it was a tall task.

“Overall, I think we shot the ball well. We have to have short memories. We play Catholic Central Saturday morning. We have a chance to get back over .500. They are a good team. They are a veteran team. They are well coached.”

Kaydence Walker recorded a game-high 27 points to lead the way offensively for Indian Creek, Gracie Klinesmith tallied 15 points and Gabby Taylor collected eight.

The Red-and-Gold scored a lot of points in transition in the win.

“In the first quarter, we extended our pressure, we created turnovers and we were able to get some easy baskets on the other end,” Eft said. “We want to get some easy baskets early in the game. That helps us to get rolling. We did a good job of sharing the basketball and getting out in transition early in the game.”

Kara Blackburn contributed a team-high eight points to lead the way for the Huskies, Bella Smith netted six points and Emily Cope produced five points.

“They have some young guards,” Eft said. “We tried to take advantage of that. We have seen them a couple of times on film. They are getting better. Coach Smith does a good job with them. They are get better every time we see them. That is what you want.”

The Redskins led 20-8 at the end of the first quarter, and they extended their advantage out to 38-10 at halftime.

“They are long, quick and athletic,” Smith said about the Redskins. “They have been playing together for a while. They have five girls who have won a district championship and an OVAC championship. They feed off of that. They are well coached. They are a well-oiled machine. They are a veteran team. They have a lot of length and speed. Coach Eft does a good job with them.”

Indian Creek led 55-21 entering the fourth.

The girls from Harrison County hit five 3-pointers in the second half, while finishing with six in the game.

“We’re 3-3 now, but we are a decent-shooting team,” Smith said. “We just ran into a buzzsaw tonight with their pressure. We still shot the ball well. We have made over five 3s in every game. The girls finished, and that is what we wanted to do. We faced a tall task tonight. We wanted to work hard, play with intensity and give a good effort. I think we did that.”

The 33 points is the most the girls from Jefferson County have allowed this season. The girls in white have allowed 101 points through five games this season for an average of 20.2 points per game.

“We do a good job when we play hard, and when we give a good effort,” Eft said about his team’s defensive performance so far this season. “When we give a good effort on defense, we do a good job. We did a good job, and then I thought we began to stand around. We did not match up on defense. We didn’t get out on their shooters. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do, and they executed. They are getting better. Chase made some adjustments in the second half. That was good by him, and it was good for his team.”

Weather permitting, the Redskins and the Huskies are both scheduled to play Saturday afternoon. Indian Creek is slated to play Weir on the road on Ron “Fritz” Williams Court inside the Carl Hamill Gymnasium. The JV game will start at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile Harrison Central is set to play Catholic Central at home. The JV game is set to start at noon with the varsity game to follow.

“We have a chance to get back over .500,” Smith said. “They are a veteran team. They are a good team. Rocky does a good job with them.”

Indian Creek 60, Harrison Central 33

Harrison Central 8 2 11 12 – 33

Indian Creek 20 18 17 5 – 60

HARRISON CENTRAL (3-3): Powers 0 0-0 0, E. Smith 0 0-0 0, Stull 0 0-0 0, Whipkey 1 0-0 3, Cope 2 0-0 5, Pelegreen 1 1-1 3, B. Smith 2 0-0 6, Conley 2 0-0 4, Nameth 1 0-0 2, Blackburn 3 0-2 8, Visser 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13 1-3 33.

INDIAN CREEK (5-0): Walker 11 4-4 27, Taylor 3 0-0 8, Wiley 0 0-0 0, Sadler 3 1-2 7, Klinesmith 6 1-2 15, Cozart 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, Flesher 0 0-0 0, Leach 1 0-0 3, Crouch 0 0-0 0, Florczak 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 23 6-8 60.

3-POINTERS: Harrison Central 6 (Blackburn 2, Smith 2, Whipkey, Cope); Indian Creek 5 (Taylor 2, Klinesmith 2, Leach)