Lady Tigers gain district win; headed back to Athens
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — The McClain Lady Tigers are returning to Athens to defend their district championship.
Shooting the ball from long distance and forcing the Sheridan Lady Generals into turnovers with big time defensive play, the Lady Tigers advanced to the Division II SE District Finals for the second straight season, with a hard fought 60-45 victory Thursday night at Southeastern High School.
Things started off slow for the Lady Tigers with Sheridan scoring 10 straight points in a span of two minutes for an eight-point lead (10-2) with 5:05 left in the opening quarter, as the Lady Tigers scored the game's first points with a jumper by senior Shelby Buck. Buck scored four total points.
After a time out called by McClain head coach Dennis Overstake at the 5:04 mark of the quarter, things quickley went from bad to good.
"We came out flat and they (SHS) took the ball inside, and we struggled a little bit," Overstake said. " But we got into transition, got the lead and we were able to maintain the lead and not let up."
The defensive execution of the Lady Tigers, a No. 4 seed, changed and so did their production on both sides of the court, with MHS holding off the No. 3 seeded Lady Generals for the remainder of the game.
MHS senior Cortney Hyer knocked down a 3-pointer to cut Sheridan's lead in half in the opening quarter at 10-5. After two quick points by the Lady Generals, MHS senior Megan Saylor nailed a jumper followed with points from sophomore Jenna Perie, who sparked the Lady Tigers off the bench, yet again, on both sides of the court with her defensive rebounding and tough inside play.
Chrissy Cobb, a junior, tied the game at 12 with a 3-pointer and the Lady Tigers took the lead with a steal by senior Kate Hammond, who found Cobb open for a jumper to give MHS a 14-12 advantage.
The second frame started off with Perie scoring inside points with the assist from Cobb to put the Lady Tigers up 16-12. Perie netted a total of eight points.
Saylor followed with McClain's fourth straight point of the quarter and 13th consecutive point combined in the fist two quarters.
The Lady Generals rallied for two points, but Hammond was there to offset points with a 3-ball for a MHS lead of 21-14.
SHS came back to cut the MHS lead to 23-20 with six straight points, but again, MHS caught fire scoring eight straight to end the first half with a 31-20 lead.
Scoring in the 8-0 run for MHS were Hyer and Hammond, as each player sank a 3-pointer in the run. Hyer also sank a jumper during the eight point stretch.
After Sheridan came out and scored first in the third, Buck and Saylor scored for the Lady Tigers to put MHS up 35-22 with just under six minutes to go.
Saylor followed with an retro three-point play for the Lady Tigers, continuing the strong start of the third by McClain.
Saylor scored again to put MHS up 40-27 with the assist from Hyer with just over 4:00 to go in the quarter.
Kristy Swinehart, who tallied a game-high 16 points, scored for the Lady Generals to stop the Lady Tigers' momentum, bringing SHS within 11 points of tying the defending district champion.
But that didn't last long as Hyer made another 3-ball from the corner with 3:43 left in the quarter. Hyer finished the game with 13 points.
Late in the third Hammond netted two points to put the Lady Tigers up 45-31, followed with Perie netting two inside points for a 14-point MHS lead.
The third ended with MHS leading 47-37.
In the fourth Swinehart helped the Lady Generals, near the 7:00 mark, with a steal and fast break points to cut the MHS lead down to eight.
Hammond, who finished with 13 points, put the Lady Tigers back up by 10, but Swinehart nailed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to come within seven points of McClain.
Saylor scored her 10th point with a converted free throw to put MHS back up by eight with under six minutes left in the game. Saylor finished with 13 points.
After a foul by the Lady Tigers, Swinehart went 1 of 2 from the line to cut the MHS lead back down to seven with 5:15 left in regulation.
Cobb, who scored nine points, gave MHS a 52-43 lead with points on the Lady Tigers' third attempt at the hoop, as MHS had steady offensive rebounding.
McClain (19-3) turned things up with put back points by Saylor, and on the ensuing possession, Cobb stole the ball and netted two inside points for a 56-43 lead by McClain, forcing Sheridan to call a time out.
Hammond put MHS up 13 points (58-45) with two late free throws.
With the Lady Generals forced to foul the Lady Tigers Hammond and Saylor made two combined free points for a 60-45 advantage.
The win improves the Lady Tigers to 19-3 overall as they will play in the district finals on Saturday, March 6 at the Ohio University Convocation Center in Athens.[[In-content Ad]]
Shooting the ball from long distance and forcing the Sheridan Lady Generals into turnovers with big time defensive play, the Lady Tigers advanced to the Division II SE District Finals for the second straight season, with a hard fought 60-45 victory Thursday night at Southeastern High School.
Things started off slow for the Lady Tigers with Sheridan scoring 10 straight points in a span of two minutes for an eight-point lead (10-2) with 5:05 left in the opening quarter, as the Lady Tigers scored the game's first points with a jumper by senior Shelby Buck. Buck scored four total points.
After a time out called by McClain head coach Dennis Overstake at the 5:04 mark of the quarter, things quickley went from bad to good.
"We came out flat and they (SHS) took the ball inside, and we struggled a little bit," Overstake said. " But we got into transition, got the lead and we were able to maintain the lead and not let up."
The defensive execution of the Lady Tigers, a No. 4 seed, changed and so did their production on both sides of the court, with MHS holding off the No. 3 seeded Lady Generals for the remainder of the game.
MHS senior Cortney Hyer knocked down a 3-pointer to cut Sheridan's lead in half in the opening quarter at 10-5. After two quick points by the Lady Generals, MHS senior Megan Saylor nailed a jumper followed with points from sophomore Jenna Perie, who sparked the Lady Tigers off the bench, yet again, on both sides of the court with her defensive rebounding and tough inside play.
Chrissy Cobb, a junior, tied the game at 12 with a 3-pointer and the Lady Tigers took the lead with a steal by senior Kate Hammond, who found Cobb open for a jumper to give MHS a 14-12 advantage.
The second frame started off with Perie scoring inside points with the assist from Cobb to put the Lady Tigers up 16-12. Perie netted a total of eight points.
Saylor followed with McClain's fourth straight point of the quarter and 13th consecutive point combined in the fist two quarters.
The Lady Generals rallied for two points, but Hammond was there to offset points with a 3-ball for a MHS lead of 21-14.
SHS came back to cut the MHS lead to 23-20 with six straight points, but again, MHS caught fire scoring eight straight to end the first half with a 31-20 lead.
Scoring in the 8-0 run for MHS were Hyer and Hammond, as each player sank a 3-pointer in the run. Hyer also sank a jumper during the eight point stretch.
After Sheridan came out and scored first in the third, Buck and Saylor scored for the Lady Tigers to put MHS up 35-22 with just under six minutes to go.
Saylor followed with an retro three-point play for the Lady Tigers, continuing the strong start of the third by McClain.
Saylor scored again to put MHS up 40-27 with the assist from Hyer with just over 4:00 to go in the quarter.
Kristy Swinehart, who tallied a game-high 16 points, scored for the Lady Generals to stop the Lady Tigers' momentum, bringing SHS within 11 points of tying the defending district champion.
But that didn't last long as Hyer made another 3-ball from the corner with 3:43 left in the quarter. Hyer finished the game with 13 points.
Late in the third Hammond netted two points to put the Lady Tigers up 45-31, followed with Perie netting two inside points for a 14-point MHS lead.
The third ended with MHS leading 47-37.
In the fourth Swinehart helped the Lady Generals, near the 7:00 mark, with a steal and fast break points to cut the MHS lead down to eight.
Hammond, who finished with 13 points, put the Lady Tigers back up by 10, but Swinehart nailed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to come within seven points of McClain.
Saylor scored her 10th point with a converted free throw to put MHS back up by eight with under six minutes left in the game. Saylor finished with 13 points.
After a foul by the Lady Tigers, Swinehart went 1 of 2 from the line to cut the MHS lead back down to seven with 5:15 left in regulation.
Cobb, who scored nine points, gave MHS a 52-43 lead with points on the Lady Tigers' third attempt at the hoop, as MHS had steady offensive rebounding.
McClain (19-3) turned things up with put back points by Saylor, and on the ensuing possession, Cobb stole the ball and netted two inside points for a 56-43 lead by McClain, forcing Sheridan to call a time out.
Hammond put MHS up 13 points (58-45) with two late free throws.
With the Lady Generals forced to foul the Lady Tigers Hammond and Saylor made two combined free points for a 60-45 advantage.
The win improves the Lady Tigers to 19-3 overall as they will play in the district finals on Saturday, March 6 at the Ohio University Convocation Center in Athens.[[In-content Ad]]