Lady Tigers shatter Ceramics en route to district finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
WAVERLY — The difference between the second and third quarters for the McClain Lady Tigers was evident, as they took a tied score and shaped it into a double-figure lead against the Lady Ceramics of Crooksville and eventually a 51-36 win in the Division III SE District Semifinals.
The win at Waverly High School moves the No. 1 seeded Lady Tigers (14-7) to the district finals on Saturday, where they will face Wellston, a No. 6 seed, at Waverly on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Wellston defeated Chesapeake, 51-36 on Monday.
Getting to the game on Saturday saw the Lady Tigers break Lady Ceramics' hopes of winning in the third frame by outscoring them 20-7 in the eight-minute span.
"In the first half, we were in foul trouble, but after the half, we kept them out of the paint and Shania (Massie) took over," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Our defense was sound, and Taylor (Polley) helped out front."
From there, the Lady Tigers controlled the fourth frame, eventually taking home their second postseason win by 15 points.
In the third, it was the Lady Tigers scoring the first five points with senior Tara Karnes netting two points and junior Shania Massie knocking down a 3-pointer with 6:31 left in the quarter for a 26-21 score.
Massie led all scorers with a game-high 30 points, with 15 points in each half. The junior sank a total of four 3-pointers and was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Following two free throws by CHS, freshman Taylor Polley sank a 3-pointer for MHS, followed by a free throw by Massie for a seven-point advantage (30-23) with 5:43 left in the clock. Polley finished with seven points.
Later in the third, senior Katy Unger added two points from the paint, and Massie connected with two points on a layup. Unger made it six straight Lady Tiger points with more points from the paint, increasing the MHS advantage to 35-25 with 2:35 left in the third.
The Lady Ceramics came back with a three-point play by Shelbi Van Meter, who led CHS with 15 points. The Van Meter points were answered with five more points by MHS, all by Massie, giving MHS an 11-3 run in the final 3:49 of the third and a 41-28 advantage before the start of the fourth frame.
[[In-content Ad]]
"I liked seeing at the end of the game our team keeping their composure after our second quarter," Haines said. "We had a good start in the first quarter, but after our second quarter, the girls fought through and got the win."
In the fourth, MHS outscored Crooksville, 10-5 with Karnes, Massie and Sarah Thompson combining for the 10 points. Karnes finished with six points.
The first half for the Lady Tigers saw them lead 16-7 at the conclusion of the first quarter with Polley and Massie combining for the 16 points. Massie sank two threes in the first frame.
MHS was held to the five points in the second frame by Massie and Lauren Rayburn, with Massie sinking a 3-pointer.
Haines spoke again on the MHS defense.
"Our team defense was exceptional," he said. "Our defense allowed us to live to play another day. A win like this is good for the kids. The girls have another shot at cutting down the nets, and we are going to continue to work the next couple days in practice.
"We just want to carry on with the tradition at McClain."
The win at Waverly High School moves the No. 1 seeded Lady Tigers (14-7) to the district finals on Saturday, where they will face Wellston, a No. 6 seed, at Waverly on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Wellston defeated Chesapeake, 51-36 on Monday.
Getting to the game on Saturday saw the Lady Tigers break Lady Ceramics' hopes of winning in the third frame by outscoring them 20-7 in the eight-minute span.
"In the first half, we were in foul trouble, but after the half, we kept them out of the paint and Shania (Massie) took over," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Our defense was sound, and Taylor (Polley) helped out front."
From there, the Lady Tigers controlled the fourth frame, eventually taking home their second postseason win by 15 points.
In the third, it was the Lady Tigers scoring the first five points with senior Tara Karnes netting two points and junior Shania Massie knocking down a 3-pointer with 6:31 left in the quarter for a 26-21 score.
Massie led all scorers with a game-high 30 points, with 15 points in each half. The junior sank a total of four 3-pointers and was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Following two free throws by CHS, freshman Taylor Polley sank a 3-pointer for MHS, followed by a free throw by Massie for a seven-point advantage (30-23) with 5:43 left in the clock. Polley finished with seven points.
Later in the third, senior Katy Unger added two points from the paint, and Massie connected with two points on a layup. Unger made it six straight Lady Tiger points with more points from the paint, increasing the MHS advantage to 35-25 with 2:35 left in the third.
The Lady Ceramics came back with a three-point play by Shelbi Van Meter, who led CHS with 15 points. The Van Meter points were answered with five more points by MHS, all by Massie, giving MHS an 11-3 run in the final 3:49 of the third and a 41-28 advantage before the start of the fourth frame.
[[In-content Ad]]
"I liked seeing at the end of the game our team keeping their composure after our second quarter," Haines said. "We had a good start in the first quarter, but after our second quarter, the girls fought through and got the win."
In the fourth, MHS outscored Crooksville, 10-5 with Karnes, Massie and Sarah Thompson combining for the 10 points. Karnes finished with six points.
The first half for the Lady Tigers saw them lead 16-7 at the conclusion of the first quarter with Polley and Massie combining for the 16 points. Massie sank two threes in the first frame.
MHS was held to the five points in the second frame by Massie and Lauren Rayburn, with Massie sinking a 3-pointer.
Haines spoke again on the MHS defense.
"Our team defense was exceptional," he said. "Our defense allowed us to live to play another day. A win like this is good for the kids. The girls have another shot at cutting down the nets, and we are going to continue to work the next couple days in practice.
"We just want to carry on with the tradition at McClain."