Lady Tigers use variety en route to win over MP
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Lady Tigers used a high-shooting offense. The Lady Tigers played a stingy defense. The combo of the two, along with every Lady Tiger playing minutes, led to a 57-24 South Central Ohio League win Saturday night against the Madison-Plains Lady Golden Eagles.
If one thing was certain during the win … it was everyone got used to the call by PA announcer John Wend in the first quarter … "Saaammy Rooooks!"
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McClain senior Sammy Rooks took complete control of the game offensively in the first quarter, scoring 11 of her game-high 15 points in the opening eight minutes, which led to a first-quarter lead of 18-6, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
In all, three Lady Tigers finished with at least 10 points as Tara Karnes scored all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter and Jenna Perie scored a little in each quarter, adding up to 11 points in the league win.
"Coming out at the very start of the ballgame, Sammy was shooting hot, and we were trying to get the ball to her. That made a big difference in the ballgame, and it was what we did the other night against Unioto," MHS head coach Dennis Overstake, who gained his 482nd career coaching win. "We got to continue to come out and score early in the ballgame."
It was the first quarter that put the Lady Tigers on top for the entire game.
MHS opened the first by scoring six straight points from Rooks and Perie. After two points by MP, Rooks nailed a long jumper, followed by a 3-pointer from the corner for an MHS lead of 11-2 with 4:11 left in the opening quarter.
Shania Massie followed with a 3-pointer from nearly the same spot as Rooks, putting the Lady Tigers ahead 14-2. MHS added two points from Taylor Faulconer, and Rooks made it a 12-point lead with points in the paint to end the first.
The second frame was the Lady Tigers' lowest output of the game, finishing with seven points, being outscored in the frame at 9-7, but MHS finished with a halftime lead of 25-15.
Rooks opened the second with two points, followed after an MP bucket by a free throw by Perie. With 2:53 left, Rooks sank another jumper and Perie added two final MHS points, ending the first-half scoring for MHS.
Then came the second half, a half the Lady Tigers dominated by outscoring MP 32-9 in 16 minutes, including an 11-2 third and 21-7 final frame.
"There were several times Jenna was getting rebounds, and getting the outlet pass and we were getting some fast breaks, creating some scoring opportunities," Overstake said. "When Jenna is rebounding like that, it gives others opportunities to score.
Perie finished with four rebounds, and Massie totaled a team-high seven boards. Taylor Faulconer and Rooks each had four rebounds.
In the third for MHS, Massie sank her second 3-pointer, along with another basket for a five-point third. Also scoring in the quarter were Faulconer and Jenna Perie.
In the 21-point fourth, Kate Crabtree, Katy Unger, Kaitlyn Faulconer, Brittany Mullikin, Perie and Karnes all added to the MHS lead.
"Our bench came in and played well," Overstake said. "We distributed the ball well, especially in the last quarter. People were making cuts and creating situations to get themselves into open spots to get those shots."
MHS was 10-of-13 from the free-throw line in the game.
"We haven't practiced foul shooting for a few weeks now, when we were shooting below 50 percent," Overstake said. "I told the girls we weren't going to shoot the foul shots, and the credit goes to them because when they get the chance during individual or partner shooting, that's their responsibility to get to the foul line and work on their foul shots."
Leading MP in scoring was Abby Finney with seven points. Abby Ames followed with five, and Kelsey Woodward and Casey Knisley each scored four points for the Lady Golden Eagles.
The win sends MHS to 3-2 in the SCOL and 7-3 overall. MP drops to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in the SCOL.
McClain will play again on Thursday, Jan. 12 when they travel to take on the Miami Trace Lady Panthers. MP will play again on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they host the Washington Lady Blue Lions.
"We told the girls after the game to reflect on their past two big wins this week, but when they come in on Monday for practice they have to be focused on Miami Trace," Overstake said.
In JV play, MHS defeated MP 36-30. Leading the Lady Tigers were Sarah Thompson and Katy Unger with nine points each.
GAME NOTES: MHS totaled 25 rebounds, two blocked shots (K.Faulconer, Karnes), 10 steals and eight assists … MP totaled 10 rebounds and seven steals … MHS had 12 turnovers … MP finished with seven turnovers … MP had 12 fouls … MHS had eight fouls.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
MP 06 07 02 07 — 24
MHS 18 07 11 21 – 57
INDIVIDUAL STATS
MHS (57)
S.Rooks 6 (1) 0-0 15
T.Faulconer 2 (0) 0-0 4
S.Massie 1 (2) 0-0 8
K.Crabtree 0 (0) 1-2 1
K.Unger 1 (0) 0-0 2
K.Faulconer 1 (0) 0-0 2
B.Mullikin 1 (0) 0-0 2
J.Perie 4 (0) 3-5 11
T.Karnes 3 (0) 6-6 12
TOTALS: 19 (3) 10-13 57
MP (24)
K.Woodyard 2 (0) 0-0 4
A.Finney 0 (2) 1-2 7
A.Ames 2 (0) 1-3 5
C.Knisley 2 (0) 0-0 4
L.Haddox 1 (0) 0-0 2
H.Faulconer 1 (0) 0-0 2
TOTALS: 8 (2) 2-5 24
If one thing was certain during the win … it was everyone got used to the call by PA announcer John Wend in the first quarter … "Saaammy Rooooks!"
[[In-content Ad]]
McClain senior Sammy Rooks took complete control of the game offensively in the first quarter, scoring 11 of her game-high 15 points in the opening eight minutes, which led to a first-quarter lead of 18-6, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
In all, three Lady Tigers finished with at least 10 points as Tara Karnes scored all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter and Jenna Perie scored a little in each quarter, adding up to 11 points in the league win.
"Coming out at the very start of the ballgame, Sammy was shooting hot, and we were trying to get the ball to her. That made a big difference in the ballgame, and it was what we did the other night against Unioto," MHS head coach Dennis Overstake, who gained his 482nd career coaching win. "We got to continue to come out and score early in the ballgame."
It was the first quarter that put the Lady Tigers on top for the entire game.
MHS opened the first by scoring six straight points from Rooks and Perie. After two points by MP, Rooks nailed a long jumper, followed by a 3-pointer from the corner for an MHS lead of 11-2 with 4:11 left in the opening quarter.
Shania Massie followed with a 3-pointer from nearly the same spot as Rooks, putting the Lady Tigers ahead 14-2. MHS added two points from Taylor Faulconer, and Rooks made it a 12-point lead with points in the paint to end the first.
The second frame was the Lady Tigers' lowest output of the game, finishing with seven points, being outscored in the frame at 9-7, but MHS finished with a halftime lead of 25-15.
Rooks opened the second with two points, followed after an MP bucket by a free throw by Perie. With 2:53 left, Rooks sank another jumper and Perie added two final MHS points, ending the first-half scoring for MHS.
Then came the second half, a half the Lady Tigers dominated by outscoring MP 32-9 in 16 minutes, including an 11-2 third and 21-7 final frame.
"There were several times Jenna was getting rebounds, and getting the outlet pass and we were getting some fast breaks, creating some scoring opportunities," Overstake said. "When Jenna is rebounding like that, it gives others opportunities to score.
Perie finished with four rebounds, and Massie totaled a team-high seven boards. Taylor Faulconer and Rooks each had four rebounds.
In the third for MHS, Massie sank her second 3-pointer, along with another basket for a five-point third. Also scoring in the quarter were Faulconer and Jenna Perie.
In the 21-point fourth, Kate Crabtree, Katy Unger, Kaitlyn Faulconer, Brittany Mullikin, Perie and Karnes all added to the MHS lead.
"Our bench came in and played well," Overstake said. "We distributed the ball well, especially in the last quarter. People were making cuts and creating situations to get themselves into open spots to get those shots."
MHS was 10-of-13 from the free-throw line in the game.
"We haven't practiced foul shooting for a few weeks now, when we were shooting below 50 percent," Overstake said. "I told the girls we weren't going to shoot the foul shots, and the credit goes to them because when they get the chance during individual or partner shooting, that's their responsibility to get to the foul line and work on their foul shots."
Leading MP in scoring was Abby Finney with seven points. Abby Ames followed with five, and Kelsey Woodward and Casey Knisley each scored four points for the Lady Golden Eagles.
The win sends MHS to 3-2 in the SCOL and 7-3 overall. MP drops to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in the SCOL.
McClain will play again on Thursday, Jan. 12 when they travel to take on the Miami Trace Lady Panthers. MP will play again on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they host the Washington Lady Blue Lions.
"We told the girls after the game to reflect on their past two big wins this week, but when they come in on Monday for practice they have to be focused on Miami Trace," Overstake said.
In JV play, MHS defeated MP 36-30. Leading the Lady Tigers were Sarah Thompson and Katy Unger with nine points each.
GAME NOTES: MHS totaled 25 rebounds, two blocked shots (K.Faulconer, Karnes), 10 steals and eight assists … MP totaled 10 rebounds and seven steals … MHS had 12 turnovers … MP finished with seven turnovers … MP had 12 fouls … MHS had eight fouls.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
MP 06 07 02 07 — 24
MHS 18 07 11 21 – 57
INDIVIDUAL STATS
MHS (57)
S.Rooks 6 (1) 0-0 15
T.Faulconer 2 (0) 0-0 4
S.Massie 1 (2) 0-0 8
K.Crabtree 0 (0) 1-2 1
K.Unger 1 (0) 0-0 2
K.Faulconer 1 (0) 0-0 2
B.Mullikin 1 (0) 0-0 2
J.Perie 4 (0) 3-5 11
T.Karnes 3 (0) 6-6 12
TOTALS: 19 (3) 10-13 57
MP (24)
K.Woodyard 2 (0) 0-0 4
A.Finney 0 (2) 1-2 7
A.Ames 2 (0) 1-3 5
C.Knisley 2 (0) 0-0 4
L.Haddox 1 (0) 0-0 2
H.Faulconer 1 (0) 0-0 2
TOTALS: 8 (2) 2-5 24