Lady Tigers control 2nd half for win over Lady Lions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG – McClain junior Shania Massie couldn't be stopped Saturday afternoon and the results showed, as the McClain Lady Tigers defeated the Fairfield Lady Lions, 64-32 at Grandle Gymnasium at FHS.
Massie scored as many points as the host Lady Lions in the Highland County matchup, finishing with 32 points of her own, as she scored all her points in the first three quarters.
The MHS junior had at least one 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters, with her best quarter being the third frame, as she scored 16 points in the eight-minute span. She had 11 points in the second quarter and five points in the first.
Massie was also 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, finishing the game with a total of four 3-pointers, and not to forget she collected a double-double with 10 rebounds, while adding six steals and four assists.
"Shania is a special player," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "She really helped our offense out. The team played well, and our play improved in the second half."
MHS (7-4) struggled with the defense of the Lady Lions in the first half as the Lady Tigers led by a 10-5 score following the first quarter and 25-15 at halftime.
For MHS in the opening quarter, they began the game with a 3-pointer by Massie, as the Lady Tigers never trailed in the game.
Her points were answered with a two-point bucket from Lydia Sowders. MHS responded with a three-point play off a steal, layup and free throw from Taylor Polley with 6:10 left in the first.
Tara Karnes made it a six-point advantage with points in the paint, but the Lady Lions responded with free throws from Sowders (five total points) and Shelby Smithson, who totaled seven points.
Massie ended the first quarter with two free throws for the five-point lead.
In the second quarter, MHS outscored FHS (3-5) 15-10, with MHS building a 14-7 lead following a steal and layup by Massie.
The Lady Lions followed with four straight points from Heather Cox, making it a 14-11 score near the 4:00 mark of the second frame. Cox finished the game with 14 points, with eight of her points coming in the second quarter.
"In the first half, we handled their pressure better than we did in the second half," FHS head coach Chad Hamilton said. "We knew we had to keep it close, but we have to play better than we did in the second half.
"It is just hard for us to put four solid quarters together. In the second half, McClain turned up the offense, and we couldn't keep up."
MHS gained a 10-point lead with 1:11 left in the second off a 3-pointer by Massie, scoring nine consecutive points from the 3:01 mark to the 1:11 mark in the frame. Polley put MHS ahead by 12 points with two free throws.
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Haines spoke about the defense of Katy Unger in the first half.
"Katy did an excellent job in the post," he said. "She did a great job against their best player, and she was everywhere. I'm proud of the way she played on defense.
"Our guards pressed well defensively, and I'm happy with the win."
Polley finished the game with nine points, going 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, as she was the second-leading scorer for the Lady Tigers.
In the final two quarters, MHS outscored the Lady Lions, 39-17, with quarter scoring of 24 and 15 for MHS.
The Lady Tigers finished 17-of-19 from the free-throw line. FHS finished 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Haines also spoke about the play of his bench.
"It was nice to get the subs in, and they played well, which is something I like to see," Haines said. "They did a good job and got some good work in during the fourth quarter."
In the fourth, Beth Montgomery, Allison Willett, Lauren Rayburn, Caitlyn Lovett and Lexie Barton all scored points. In the third, Sydney Barton contributed to the scoring from the bench.
MHS will play again on Jan. 8 at Chillicothe. FHS plays again on Dec. 30 vs. Wheelersburg.
Massie scored as many points as the host Lady Lions in the Highland County matchup, finishing with 32 points of her own, as she scored all her points in the first three quarters.
The MHS junior had at least one 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters, with her best quarter being the third frame, as she scored 16 points in the eight-minute span. She had 11 points in the second quarter and five points in the first.
Massie was also 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, finishing the game with a total of four 3-pointers, and not to forget she collected a double-double with 10 rebounds, while adding six steals and four assists.
"Shania is a special player," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "She really helped our offense out. The team played well, and our play improved in the second half."
MHS (7-4) struggled with the defense of the Lady Lions in the first half as the Lady Tigers led by a 10-5 score following the first quarter and 25-15 at halftime.
For MHS in the opening quarter, they began the game with a 3-pointer by Massie, as the Lady Tigers never trailed in the game.
Her points were answered with a two-point bucket from Lydia Sowders. MHS responded with a three-point play off a steal, layup and free throw from Taylor Polley with 6:10 left in the first.
Tara Karnes made it a six-point advantage with points in the paint, but the Lady Lions responded with free throws from Sowders (five total points) and Shelby Smithson, who totaled seven points.
Massie ended the first quarter with two free throws for the five-point lead.
In the second quarter, MHS outscored FHS (3-5) 15-10, with MHS building a 14-7 lead following a steal and layup by Massie.
The Lady Lions followed with four straight points from Heather Cox, making it a 14-11 score near the 4:00 mark of the second frame. Cox finished the game with 14 points, with eight of her points coming in the second quarter.
"In the first half, we handled their pressure better than we did in the second half," FHS head coach Chad Hamilton said. "We knew we had to keep it close, but we have to play better than we did in the second half.
"It is just hard for us to put four solid quarters together. In the second half, McClain turned up the offense, and we couldn't keep up."
MHS gained a 10-point lead with 1:11 left in the second off a 3-pointer by Massie, scoring nine consecutive points from the 3:01 mark to the 1:11 mark in the frame. Polley put MHS ahead by 12 points with two free throws.
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Haines spoke about the defense of Katy Unger in the first half.
"Katy did an excellent job in the post," he said. "She did a great job against their best player, and she was everywhere. I'm proud of the way she played on defense.
"Our guards pressed well defensively, and I'm happy with the win."
Polley finished the game with nine points, going 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, as she was the second-leading scorer for the Lady Tigers.
In the final two quarters, MHS outscored the Lady Lions, 39-17, with quarter scoring of 24 and 15 for MHS.
The Lady Tigers finished 17-of-19 from the free-throw line. FHS finished 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Haines also spoke about the play of his bench.
"It was nice to get the subs in, and they played well, which is something I like to see," Haines said. "They did a good job and got some good work in during the fourth quarter."
In the fourth, Beth Montgomery, Allison Willett, Lauren Rayburn, Caitlyn Lovett and Lexie Barton all scored points. In the third, Sydney Barton contributed to the scoring from the bench.
MHS will play again on Jan. 8 at Chillicothe. FHS plays again on Dec. 30 vs. Wheelersburg.