​Bollinger, Rust guide offense in 75-25 drubbing of Bears

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
 
With last year’s leading scorer, Addy Seyfert, still recovering from a left ankle injury, the Grain Valley girls basketball team has needed others on the team to step up.
 
That’s exactly what’s happened to start the 2025-26 season for the Eagles as they have looked good on offense.
 
In Monday’s Suburban White Conference opener against William Chrisman, the Grain Valley offense was humming thanks to well-executed set plays and juniors Bella Bollinger and Madison Rust combining for 37 points in a 75-25 blowout victory on the road.
 
“It really accelerates the scoreboard when you share the basketball,” Grain Valley veteran head coach Randy Draper said. “This group is doing a good job of that.”
 
Bollinger has stepped up in a big way for her team on offense. She just came off a 25-point performance against Lee’s Summit last Friday and stayed hot against the Bears. Seven of those points came in a first quarter in which the Eagles led 23-13.
 
“I played all over the country this summer,” Bollinger said. “I play competitively and that helps me prepare for games like this.”
 
She was a part of an offense that utilized off-ball movement on cuts to the basket that resulted in wide-open layups. Rust, who had 17 points, received a quick pass from senior Aspen Reed on a cut for an open layup in the second period. Senior Chloe Hernandez scored on a similar play later in the period on a pass from junior McKenna Heidrich.
 
“We have really been spreading the floor and moving without the ball well,” Bollinger said. “We want to constantly move and not stay in one spot. It benefits everyone when we do that.”
 
Draper emptied the bench in the second period as his team took a 43-16 halftime advantage. Sophomore guard Malaina Green was the beneficiary of the extended minutes that the reserves received as she was the third Eagle in double figures with 10. Four of those points came in the third period, one of her steals and a fast-break layup as she helped extend Grain Valley’s advantage to 69-22 going into the final period.
 
“Getting turnovers and playing fast really helps us get ahead early in the game,” Rust said. “We broke their press and they started sitting back. Then we can start working on (halfcourt offense).”
 
From there, the mercy clock ran for the remainder of the contest as every available reserve on the roster received playing time.
 
Chrisman (3-1) struggled with turnovers as the Eagles converted many of those into baskets in transition. Many of those turnovers came on passes that went out of bounds as Grain Valley’s zone defense threw coach Reid Titus’ offense off.
 
“Our four freshmen who started probably haven’t seen a team (at Grain Valley’s) level before,” Titus said. “There are going to be errors. We played really well in the first quarter, but you would tell the floodgates opened after that.”
 
Bears junior Camila Woodruff led the Bears with 13 points.
 

Grain Valley juniors Madison Rust, left, and Bella Bollinger combined for 37 points in a 75-25 rout if William Chrisman Monday on the road. Photo credit: Michael Smith