Lady Tigers headed to the Sweet 16
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
This season, the McClain Lady Tigers have proven it is their time, becoming a part of McClain history by winning a Division III District Championship and moving onto the Sweet 16 by defeating the Wellston Lady Golden Rockets, 57-31.
The Division III District Final win saw the Lady Tigers (15-7) lead the entire way, never letting the No. 6 seeded Lady Golden Rockets (10-13) within striking distance of the lead. MHS, a No. 1 seed, led 12-5 after the first quarter.
Then came a second frame where MHS doubled the output of MHS, with McClain putting up 20 points in the second, while their defense did what they've done most of the season by playing stingy and holding WHS to 10 points in the second.
With their performance in the first two quarters, the Lady Tigers led 32-15 at the break.
This is the first district title for the Lady Tigers since the 2008-09 basketball season, a season where Haines was an assistant coach for MHS.
"I'm so proud of all 14 of these kids. We put together a total team effort," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Defensively, Taylor Polley was sensational, and her offensive production was key.
"Shania (Massie) and Tara (Karnes) stepped up, and that's what big-time leaders do in an atmosphere like this."
Massie, a junior, led all scorers with a game-high 24 points, as the Division III District 14 Coaches Player of the Year went 10-of-15 from the free-throw line en route to the win.
Massie is now just 49 points away from having 1,000 points for her career.
Polley, a freshman, followed with 11 points in the game (including three three-pointers), and Karnes, a senior, collected a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the win at Waverly High School.
Coach Haines said big shots and physical defense were huge for the Lady Tigers, as Polley, Massie, Alli Willett, Sarah Thompson and Karnes came up with big baskets for the now-district champion team.
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Also scoring points in the game for MHS were Beth Montgomery and Thompson with two points apiece, Willett with three (a 3-pointer), Lauren Rayburn with one and Katy Unger with four.
In the second half, MHS again doubled the quarter output by the Lady Golden Rockets by a 16-8 score, and in the final eight minutes MHS outscored the visiting team on the scoreboard, 9-8.
The two teams combined for 38 fouls in what was described as a very physical and emotional game. MHS will face Fairland in the regional semifinals this Wednesday at Logan High School at 8 p.m.
No. 1 seeded Fairland defeated No. 2 seeded Alexander, 62-37.
"My kids were tough, and they didn't get rattled," Haines said. "We need to be ready to go to work against a very talented Fairland team."
The Lady Tigers shot 15-of-21 from the free-throw line and committed 13 turnovers. Wellston finished 7-of-15 from the free-throw line and had 24 turnovers.
Lexi Hopkins of WHS led the Lady Golden Rockets with 12 points, followed by Lexi Humphreys with seven points. Humphreys averages 18.5 points per game, and Hopkins averages 13.7 ppg.
The Division III District Final win saw the Lady Tigers (15-7) lead the entire way, never letting the No. 6 seeded Lady Golden Rockets (10-13) within striking distance of the lead. MHS, a No. 1 seed, led 12-5 after the first quarter.
Then came a second frame where MHS doubled the output of MHS, with McClain putting up 20 points in the second, while their defense did what they've done most of the season by playing stingy and holding WHS to 10 points in the second.
With their performance in the first two quarters, the Lady Tigers led 32-15 at the break.
This is the first district title for the Lady Tigers since the 2008-09 basketball season, a season where Haines was an assistant coach for MHS.
"I'm so proud of all 14 of these kids. We put together a total team effort," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Defensively, Taylor Polley was sensational, and her offensive production was key.
"Shania (Massie) and Tara (Karnes) stepped up, and that's what big-time leaders do in an atmosphere like this."
Massie, a junior, led all scorers with a game-high 24 points, as the Division III District 14 Coaches Player of the Year went 10-of-15 from the free-throw line en route to the win.
Massie is now just 49 points away from having 1,000 points for her career.
Polley, a freshman, followed with 11 points in the game (including three three-pointers), and Karnes, a senior, collected a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the win at Waverly High School.
Coach Haines said big shots and physical defense were huge for the Lady Tigers, as Polley, Massie, Alli Willett, Sarah Thompson and Karnes came up with big baskets for the now-district champion team.
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Also scoring points in the game for MHS were Beth Montgomery and Thompson with two points apiece, Willett with three (a 3-pointer), Lauren Rayburn with one and Katy Unger with four.
In the second half, MHS again doubled the quarter output by the Lady Golden Rockets by a 16-8 score, and in the final eight minutes MHS outscored the visiting team on the scoreboard, 9-8.
The two teams combined for 38 fouls in what was described as a very physical and emotional game. MHS will face Fairland in the regional semifinals this Wednesday at Logan High School at 8 p.m.
No. 1 seeded Fairland defeated No. 2 seeded Alexander, 62-37.
"My kids were tough, and they didn't get rattled," Haines said. "We need to be ready to go to work against a very talented Fairland team."
The Lady Tigers shot 15-of-21 from the free-throw line and committed 13 turnovers. Wellston finished 7-of-15 from the free-throw line and had 24 turnovers.
Lexi Hopkins of WHS led the Lady Golden Rockets with 12 points, followed by Lexi Humphreys with seven points. Humphreys averages 18.5 points per game, and Hopkins averages 13.7 ppg.