Lady Tigers move to 7th win of season
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Saturday afternoon, from midway through the first quarter until the final second ticked off the clock, belonged to the McClain Lady Tigers as they gained their seventh win of the South Central Ohio League season, defeating the East Clinton Lady Astros, 46-35.
McClain's win, at home, came after breaking a 4-4 tie around the midway point of the first, followed by MHS not relinquishing the lead for the remainder of the game.
In the first quarter, the Lady Tigers held the visiting Lady Astros to just four points, leading 10-4 at the completion, followed by a halftime lead of 20-14.
Though MHS gained the win, there were still a few communication problems during the contest.
"Their (EC's) game plan was to stop Tara inside, so instead of double- and triple-teaming Shania, they did that to Tara," MHS head coach Dennis Overstake said. "It was a real physical ball game, and I told the girls after the game, we're going to see three or four more of those types of games.
"We have to be both physically and mentally ready to handle that type of pressure defense throughout the end of the season. Communication … the girls need to be talking more to each other and communicating, so we can execute better on both ends of the floor."
In the opening frame, Lauren Rayburn, Shania Massie and Tara Karnes all scored points in the first frame, with Karnes netting five of her game-high 18 points in the first.
"They (EC) were in the zone, so we kept running our zone offenses and moving the ball around, and on most situations, the back side will be open if we just reverse the ball, whether we are going to get the perimeter shot or get the ball inside … all we have to do is be patient," Overstake said.[[In-content Ad]]
"Tara had nine double-doubles before this game, and in four other games, she was one rebound short of having a double-double. She wants the ball, and earlier in the season, we didn't have many people who wanted the ball. She's starting to step up, but both she and Katy have to work on their post moves or getting a good look to get a good opportunity to score. We're getting them the opportunities to score in the post."
The points that tied the game came from Karnes at the 4:36 mark of the first frame, while she gave MHS the lead they never lost with 3:20 at a 6-4 advantage.
In the second quarter for MHS, Massie totaled four points, as did Karnes, while Katy Unger scored two points for the 20-14 lead at the half.
MHS kept a six-point lead at the conclusion of the third quarter as it was the trio of Massie, Unger (who finished the game with eight points) and Karnes all adding to the MHS lead.
In the MHS third, seven points came from free throws, as MHS and EC each scored 11 points in the eight-minute span.
As for the fourth, MHS held onto their lead by outscoring EC, 15-10. In the fourth, Massie sank a 3-pointer with 4:46 on the clock, finishing the quarter by adding seven points in the frame. Also adding points were Alli Willett, Rayburn, Massie, Unger and Karnes.
For the game, MHS was 17-of-34 from the free-throw line and 14-of-38 from the field. As for EC, they were 11-of-36 from the field and 10-of-17 from the free-throw line.
Leading EC in scoring were Jessica Larrick with nine and Beth Huffman with eight.
"This is a big win, and our next two games before the draw are big for us," Overstake said. "If we can pick up a win or two, and others don't, we might be able to move up a slot in the tournament. We'll just have to wait and see at the draw."
MHS will host Zane Trace on Tuesday and host London on Wednesday.
In JV play, the game finished in double overtime with MHS defeating EC, 34-27. Leading MHS were Sydney Barton with 10 points and Jhaela Coleman with six. Leading EC was Ashley Caplinger with 18 points.
McClain's win, at home, came after breaking a 4-4 tie around the midway point of the first, followed by MHS not relinquishing the lead for the remainder of the game.
In the first quarter, the Lady Tigers held the visiting Lady Astros to just four points, leading 10-4 at the completion, followed by a halftime lead of 20-14.
Though MHS gained the win, there were still a few communication problems during the contest.
"Their (EC's) game plan was to stop Tara inside, so instead of double- and triple-teaming Shania, they did that to Tara," MHS head coach Dennis Overstake said. "It was a real physical ball game, and I told the girls after the game, we're going to see three or four more of those types of games.
"We have to be both physically and mentally ready to handle that type of pressure defense throughout the end of the season. Communication … the girls need to be talking more to each other and communicating, so we can execute better on both ends of the floor."
In the opening frame, Lauren Rayburn, Shania Massie and Tara Karnes all scored points in the first frame, with Karnes netting five of her game-high 18 points in the first.
"They (EC) were in the zone, so we kept running our zone offenses and moving the ball around, and on most situations, the back side will be open if we just reverse the ball, whether we are going to get the perimeter shot or get the ball inside … all we have to do is be patient," Overstake said.[[In-content Ad]]
"Tara had nine double-doubles before this game, and in four other games, she was one rebound short of having a double-double. She wants the ball, and earlier in the season, we didn't have many people who wanted the ball. She's starting to step up, but both she and Katy have to work on their post moves or getting a good look to get a good opportunity to score. We're getting them the opportunities to score in the post."
The points that tied the game came from Karnes at the 4:36 mark of the first frame, while she gave MHS the lead they never lost with 3:20 at a 6-4 advantage.
In the second quarter for MHS, Massie totaled four points, as did Karnes, while Katy Unger scored two points for the 20-14 lead at the half.
MHS kept a six-point lead at the conclusion of the third quarter as it was the trio of Massie, Unger (who finished the game with eight points) and Karnes all adding to the MHS lead.
In the MHS third, seven points came from free throws, as MHS and EC each scored 11 points in the eight-minute span.
As for the fourth, MHS held onto their lead by outscoring EC, 15-10. In the fourth, Massie sank a 3-pointer with 4:46 on the clock, finishing the quarter by adding seven points in the frame. Also adding points were Alli Willett, Rayburn, Massie, Unger and Karnes.
For the game, MHS was 17-of-34 from the free-throw line and 14-of-38 from the field. As for EC, they were 11-of-36 from the field and 10-of-17 from the free-throw line.
Leading EC in scoring were Jessica Larrick with nine and Beth Huffman with eight.
"This is a big win, and our next two games before the draw are big for us," Overstake said. "If we can pick up a win or two, and others don't, we might be able to move up a slot in the tournament. We'll just have to wait and see at the draw."
MHS will host Zane Trace on Tuesday and host London on Wednesday.
In JV play, the game finished in double overtime with MHS defeating EC, 34-27. Leading MHS were Sydney Barton with 10 points and Jhaela Coleman with six. Leading EC was Ashley Caplinger with 18 points.