By Jacob Merideth
Contributor
OBETZ — Hosting a fundraiser for autism on Tuesday, Hamilton Township was able to get out to a spirited start, knocking down seven field goals in the first quarter and taking an 18-13 lead.
Teays Valley stepped up to check its hosts to just two field goals and six total points over the final three quarters to pull away for a 58-24 Mid-State League Buckeye Division win.
“I knew they would come out excited,” Teays Valley coach Trevor Younkin said about Hamilton Township. “We are 0-2 in our last two games, losing to Fairfield Union and a heartbreaker against Worthington Christian, and I told our girls tonight that we could not overlook Hamilton Township.”
With the win and Amanda-Clearcreek upsetting Bloom-Carroll (12-7, 9-3) 46-37 last night, the Vikings (14-5, 10-2) regained sole possession of first in the league. Teays Valley can secure at least a share of its first league championship since 2019 with a win on Saturday at Circleville (14-4, 8-4).
Kennedy Younkin led all scorers with 18 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds and made a pair of blocks for the Vikings, Alyssa Horsley contributed 14 points, Gabrielle Watkins tallied 12 points, and Abby Tier and Kayla Cline tossed in seven points apiece.
“Kennedy was challenged to control what she can control with the defenses she has seen, and she really showed up tonight,” Coach Younkin said.
Ziann Payne paced the Rangers with seven points in the first quarter, including capping the period with a half-court three that beat the buzzer. Morgan Fannin contributed all five of her points during the run.
The Vikings clamped down on the Rangers starting in the second quarter, holding them to just a free throw by Alexis Wooten and 0 of 9 shooting in the quarter.
Teays Valley finished the first half on a 17-1 run to take a 30-19 lead into halftime.
Five players scored during the run, led by Watkins contributing six points, Horsley chipping in four and Tier connecting on a three-ball.
The Vikings put away their 14th win of the season with a 16-2 third quarter, where the Rangers were limited to just a field goal from Myke-kila Dean.
Younkin scored nine points during the period.
Payne finished the night with 10 points to lead the Rangers (8-10, 4-8).
The Vikings shot 21 of 40 (52.5 percent) compared to the Rangers connecting on 9 of 36 (25 percent) shots.
Teays Valley 58,
Hamilton Township 24
TEAYS VALLEY — Abby Tier 2-2-7, Kayla Cline 3-0-7, Kennedy Younkin 6-6-18, Alyssa Horsley 6-0-14, Gabrielle Watkins 4-3-12. Three-point goals — Horsley (2), Watkins, Cline and Tier. Total — 21-40 11-18 58.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — Alexis Wooten 1-1-4, Morgan Fannin 2-0-5, Jersey Baker 1-0-3, Ziann Payne 4-1-10, Myke-kila Dean 1-0-2. Three-point goals — Payne and Wooten. Total — 9-36 2-6 24.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Teays Valley 13 17 16 12 58
Hamilton Twp. 18 1 2 3 24
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