Free throws lead to McClain loss to Miami Trace
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By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — Free-throw shooting, defense and the inability to make shots near the hoop pretty much sums up the South Central Ohio League contest between rivals McClain and Miami Trace.
The matchup at McClain Gym didn't have much scoring, with the Lady Panthers defeating the host Lady Tigers, 24-18 Wednesday.
The biggest difference came from the free-throw line with MT finishing 13-for-17, while the Lady Tigers were 2-for-4.
Though both teams played physical defense, the game came down to free-throw shooting and the opportunities each team was given.
"The difference of the game was they got to the free-throw line … and we'll leave it at that," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said.
McClain (5-4, 10-6), who hadn't played in 11 days, had just two shots from the free-throw line in the second half.
If the defense of the two teams was the best they each played all season, it was evident in the first quarter with the two teams combining for just eight points as the visiting Panthers led by a 5-3 score after eight minutes.
In that opening frame, MHS junior Shania Massie sank a 3-pointer with 6:55 on the clock for the first points of the game and a 3-0 Lady Tiger lead. MT answered with a 3-pointer from Josie Cobb with 4:26 left in the quarter and a 3-3 score.
Neither team scored again until the scoreboard read 1.1 with Cobb knocking down two free throws for the two-point lead.
MT (8-2, 14-3) led the second frame, 5-2 in eight minutes of play for a halftime lead of 10-5.
"A positive was we played really good defense," Haines said. "Offensively, we struggled. Credit (MT), that 1-3-1 was a little tough for a while, but our kids got to where they didn't want to move with any intensity.
"If we knock down open shots, it is a different story, but we didn't. I wish we could have given them a better game than that, because I know we are better than that."
In the second, MT's Brooklyne Baldwin was first to add points in the quarter, but was answered with a layup by Taylor Polley to bring the Lady Tigers to within two points of tying the score at 7-5 with 5:26 left in the quarter.
Polley and Massie led MHS with eight points each.
"Taylor played a great game," Haines said. "She made a lot happen for us defensively and offensively. This was probably her best all-around game this season."
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The final points of the second came with a three-point play by Cobb with 1:20 left in the quarter and the aforementioned 10-5 halftime score.
Cobb and Baldwin led the Lady Panthers with 11 points apiece.
For the third frame, where the Lady Tigers were called for eight fouls compared to one for MT, each team scored seven points for an MT lead of 17-12 following the first three quarters.
The third saw Baldwin put MT ahead 12-5 with the first points of the quarter but were answered by a layup from Tara Karnes.
Following multiple turnovers on both sides, Massie brought MHS to within two points of MT with a 3-pointer at the 4:26 mark. MT came back with four consecutive points, for a 16-12 advantage with 3:44 left in the quarter.
Polley sank two free throws for MHS with 3:09 on the clock, and the quarter ended with MT's Arianna Mabra sinking a free throw for the five-point lead.
MT ended the final eight minutes by outscoring MHS, 7-6 as the Lady Panthers went 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.
The six MHS points were by Polley and Massie.
"The kids played hard defensively," Haines said. "I'm proud of them, but offensively, we have to get going. It might be a nice wakeup call for us come tournament time, but Miami Trace is a good team.
"Credit their coaching staff in coming out in the 1-3-1 … it comes down to intensity, but we'll get it back on track."
In JV play, McClain defeated Miami Trace, 32-28. Leading MHS was Lexie Barton with 10 points.
The matchup at McClain Gym didn't have much scoring, with the Lady Panthers defeating the host Lady Tigers, 24-18 Wednesday.
The biggest difference came from the free-throw line with MT finishing 13-for-17, while the Lady Tigers were 2-for-4.
Though both teams played physical defense, the game came down to free-throw shooting and the opportunities each team was given.
"The difference of the game was they got to the free-throw line … and we'll leave it at that," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said.
McClain (5-4, 10-6), who hadn't played in 11 days, had just two shots from the free-throw line in the second half.
If the defense of the two teams was the best they each played all season, it was evident in the first quarter with the two teams combining for just eight points as the visiting Panthers led by a 5-3 score after eight minutes.
In that opening frame, MHS junior Shania Massie sank a 3-pointer with 6:55 on the clock for the first points of the game and a 3-0 Lady Tiger lead. MT answered with a 3-pointer from Josie Cobb with 4:26 left in the quarter and a 3-3 score.
Neither team scored again until the scoreboard read 1.1 with Cobb knocking down two free throws for the two-point lead.
MT (8-2, 14-3) led the second frame, 5-2 in eight minutes of play for a halftime lead of 10-5.
"A positive was we played really good defense," Haines said. "Offensively, we struggled. Credit (MT), that 1-3-1 was a little tough for a while, but our kids got to where they didn't want to move with any intensity.
"If we knock down open shots, it is a different story, but we didn't. I wish we could have given them a better game than that, because I know we are better than that."
In the second, MT's Brooklyne Baldwin was first to add points in the quarter, but was answered with a layup by Taylor Polley to bring the Lady Tigers to within two points of tying the score at 7-5 with 5:26 left in the quarter.
Polley and Massie led MHS with eight points each.
"Taylor played a great game," Haines said. "She made a lot happen for us defensively and offensively. This was probably her best all-around game this season."
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The final points of the second came with a three-point play by Cobb with 1:20 left in the quarter and the aforementioned 10-5 halftime score.
Cobb and Baldwin led the Lady Panthers with 11 points apiece.
For the third frame, where the Lady Tigers were called for eight fouls compared to one for MT, each team scored seven points for an MT lead of 17-12 following the first three quarters.
The third saw Baldwin put MT ahead 12-5 with the first points of the quarter but were answered by a layup from Tara Karnes.
Following multiple turnovers on both sides, Massie brought MHS to within two points of MT with a 3-pointer at the 4:26 mark. MT came back with four consecutive points, for a 16-12 advantage with 3:44 left in the quarter.
Polley sank two free throws for MHS with 3:09 on the clock, and the quarter ended with MT's Arianna Mabra sinking a free throw for the five-point lead.
MT ended the final eight minutes by outscoring MHS, 7-6 as the Lady Panthers went 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.
The six MHS points were by Polley and Massie.
"The kids played hard defensively," Haines said. "I'm proud of them, but offensively, we have to get going. It might be a nice wakeup call for us come tournament time, but Miami Trace is a good team.
"Credit their coaching staff in coming out in the 1-3-1 … it comes down to intensity, but we'll get it back on track."
In JV play, McClain defeated Miami Trace, 32-28. Leading MHS was Lexie Barton with 10 points.