Claire King and Enaja Fischer stepped up in the second half to control the glass and cut off Athens’ second-chance points, allowing host Logan Elm to rally on Tuesday and secure a 40-33 non-league win.
“We knew Athens was a good rebounding team and likes to score off of second and third chance opportunities, like they did in the first half against us, so we talked about cutting those extra chances off at halftime, and Enaja and Claire did a great job of rebounding the basketball,” Logan Elm coach Jennifer Blue said.
King finished the night with 12 rebounds to go with her six points and Fischer had 10 rebounds and chipped in five points.
Athens (8-3) entered the game on a seven-game leading streak and currently leads the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division. Another key to the upset win for the Braves was holding Athens’ Ella Chapman to just six points when she entered the game averaging 11.7 points.
“Chapman is Athens’ best player and helps make them go, and Kennedy Groff stepped up and played one of her best defensive games of the season,” Blue praised. “She was outstanding.”
Athens entered the second half nursing a 20-16 lead, but the Braves were able to flip the scoreboard in the third quarter to take a 27-26 edge into the final period of play.
Kiki Ingram led the Braves in the third with five points and King chipped in a pair of baskets for four points.
The Braves added to their advantage in the final eight minutes, with Fischer scoring all five of her points and Ingram also adding five points.
Ingram led all scorers with 16 points for the Braves and Hannah Rhoads followed with eight.
“Kiki has been hot from the field for the last couple of games,” Blue said. “She came out and hit a three in the first quarter to help get us going, she came away with a few steals and turned those into points and she also did a nice job of creating some opportunities for her teammates.
“We want to see Kiki continue to drive, penetrate to the basket and creating.”
Asa Holcombe had 14 points to pace the Bulldogs.
The Braves (4-8) resume Mid-State League Buckeye Division play on Friday at Teays Valley.
Logan Elm 40,
Athens 33
ATHENS — Ella Chapman 2-2-6, Quinn Banks 1-1-3, Emily Zuber 1-0-2, Olivia Smart 2-2-6, Fern Sigman 1-0-2, Asa Holcombe 5-2-14. Three-point goals — Holcombe (2). Total — 12 7-9 33.
LOGAN ELM — Kimmy Petty 2-1-5, Hannah Rhoads 3-0-8, Enaja Fischer 1-3-5, Kiki Ingram 5-4-16, Claire King 3-0-6. Three-point goals — Ingram (2) and Rhoads (2). Total — 14 8-16 40.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Athens 9 11 6 7 33
Logan Elm 9 7 11 13 40
