Jennifer Blue is a firm believer that the best Christmas gift a coach can receive from her players is a win.
It’s always the perfect size and never needs to be returned.
And that’s what Blue received from her young Braves on Thursday, as they returned from the Huntington Hills with a 30-28 non-league win over the Huntsmen.
“I told the girls that this was the best Christmas present that they could give me,” Blue said. “We’ve been battling sickness and stuff all week, but the girls battened down, gave me everything they had and got a nice road win.”
The Braves had to cancel their Mid-State League Buckeye Division game on Tuesday against Amanda-Clearcreek with just three players in school that day due to illness. Blue had six of her eight players yesterday for a walkthrough and had a full roster for the road-trip to Ross County on Thursday.
Blue had the Braves utilize a 2-3 zone that kept the Huntsmen off-balance. Logan Elm held its hosts scoreless in the second quarter and yielded just two baskets in the third to take a 21-16 lead into the fourth quarter.
“Our girls stepped up, they communicated well, and we made Huntington try to work inside-out with the basketball and did not give them many good looks,” Blue said.
Huntington did heat up in the fourth quarter to rally and take a 28-27 lead.
That’s when Logan Elm freshman Kimmy Petty stepped up and drained a huge three to put the Braves ahead to stay with approximately 90 seconds remaining in the contest.
“We really struggled shooting the basketball, but I told our girls to just stay with it and keep on shooting,” Blue said. “I used the story about the Ohio State women against Florida State and how bad they started the game shooting the basketball.
“Kimmy stepped up there and knocked down a huge shot that made the difference for us.”
Petty led all scorers with 14 points, Ingram had 10 and Enaja Fischer added six for the Braves (3-6).
Emma Hinshaw had nine points and Macy Steele added seven for the Huntsmen (7-5).
Logan Elm travels to unbeaten Unioto on Wednesday to continue non-league play.
“I told the girls to enjoy the next three days off, rest up and have a great Christmas. They’ve earned it,” Blue said.
Logan Elm 30,
Huntington 28
LOGAN ELM — Kimmy Petty 5-0-14, Enaja Fischer 3-0-6, Kiki Ingram 2-5-10, Three-point goals — Petty (4) and Ingram. Total — 10 5-10 30.
HUNTINGTON — Kaci Carroll 2-0-4, Nora Moore 2-1-5, Mckenna Thompson 0-1-1, Emma Hinshaw 3-2-9, Macy Steele 3-0-7, Allie Baker 1-0-2 Three-point goals — Hinshaw and Steele. Total — 11 4-8 28.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Logan Elm 4 12 5 9 30
Huntington 8 0 4 16 28
