Lady Tigers pace Lady Blue Lions
GREENFIELD — The McClain Lady Tigers played a complete team game, doing more than needed to stay tied for first place in the South Central Ohio League standings with three league games left in the season.
For the Lady Tigers, who are seeking their first SCOL title since 1991 and conference title since '03, they paced the visiting Washington Lady Blue Lions by a 54-29 score Wednesday.
"This was a great team win, maybe the best team win we've had all season," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Team defense, team offense … especially against the zone, I thought we were patient. We got the shots we wanted."
The Lady Tigers' win at McClain Gym, added with the Chillicothe Lady Cavaliers defeating the Clinton-Massie Lady Falcons, 45-37 Wednesday, keeps those two teams tied for the SCOL championship.
Both teams are 9-2 in the league, with MHS being 15-3 overall and CHS at 12-5 overall on the season.
McClain still has SCOL games remaining at East Clinton (Jan. 31), at Miami Trace (Feb. 4) and vs. Hillsboro (Feb. 7). The Lady Cavaliers will play at Miami Trace (Jan. 31), vs. East Clinton (Feb. 4) and at Wilmington (Feb. 7) for their final three SCOL games.
"Before the game, we told the girls we are 0-0," Haines said. "We have five overall games left (three in the SCOL), and we sat in the locker room after this win, and now we are 1-0. Now the next most important game is Saturday.
"The girls are focused, and they understand. They are competitors, and I don't have to tell them what they are playing for … they are ready to go, and we just have to stay focused."
Against Washington on Wednesday, the Lady Tigers never trailed after the 5:17 mark of the first quarter when Malea Montavon put MHS ahead 6-5 with a put-back basket.
After that, the game was mostly in the control of MHS, with a 3-pointer by Taylor Polley increasing the lead of the hosts, along with Beth Montgomery scoring seven points in the first. With 1:39 left in the opening quarter, Montgomery converted a three-point play to give MHS a 14-9 lead.
Montgomery led the Lady Tigers with 15 points.
MHS took their first-quarter lead and doubled it up after the competition of the second frame with a 24-14 halftime advantage.
The second saw MHS use their defensive pressure and prowess in the post, as the team scored the first five points of the quarter for a 19-9 lead with 6:23 still left on the clock.
Points by Montgomery, Shania Massie and Polley gave MHS a 10-point lead, but Washington answered with points of their own to get back to within seven points of McClain. Massie totaled 14 points and Polley finished with 13 points.
Montgomery answered those points with five of her own, including a big 3-pointer with 59 seconds left in the opening half for the 24-14 advantage.
"Beth was huge for us in the first half," Haines said. "Taylor got us some fast break looks, and Taylor and Shania both took off for us in the second half, especially in the third quarter."
With Montgomery leading the Lady Tigers in the first half, Polley, Massie and Montavon (four total points) mostly contributed the second-half scoring, with Massie and Polley scoring the first 11 MHS points of the third for a 33-18 advantage, including Massie sinking a 3-pointer from the corner.
Teammate Sarah Thompson banked a 3-pointer off the glass and through the hoop for a 20-point MHS lead at 38-18 with 2:43 left on the clock. Thompson completed the game with eight points.
"Defensively, Malea and Sarah played some nice defense and especially at half court," Haines said. "Sarah knocked down some shots, and we just relaxed, had fun and got the win."
In the fourth, it was more of the same by the Lady Tigers, outscoring Washington, 11-7. In all four quarters played, the defense of MHS kept Washington in single-digit quarter scoring.
Bailey Jenkins led the Lady Blue Lions with nine points. Emma Anderson followed with six points, and JC McRoberts scored four points.
In JV play, Washington defeated McClain, 31-19. MHS was led by Riley Williams with 19 points, and WSHS saw Alexis Gray lead with 10 points.