by JACOB MEREDITH / sportingpumpkin.com
ASHVILLE — Teays Valley used a fast start to defeat Liberty Union 50-29 in this Mid-State League matchup.
The Vikings started the game off with a block from Kennedy Younkin and she also posted the first two scores for Teays Valley on the way to a 12-point night.
The Vikings collected scores from Abby Tier, Tessa Horsley and two baskets from Alyssa Horsley while holding the Lions to 1 of 8 shooting in the opening quarter to take a 13-2 lead.
Opening the second, Liberty Union would collect a Haeden Brunty teardrop, and the Vikings answered back with a Gabrielle Walkens basket, assisted by Cooper McManaway. Watkins finished the game as TV’s top scorer with 13 points.
“I was very proud of Gabrielle tonight. She got hot tonight because her teammates found her and that’s the type of chemistry I’m looking for and that chemistry is just something that we are trying to build on and take from each game and apply to the next game,” TV coach Trevor Younkin said.
Teays Valley extended its lead to 22-7 at the half.
“We shared the ball well tonight, and that is going to be really key when it comes to tighter games down the stretch,” coach Younkin said.
A jumper from Liberty Union’s Savannah Howell started the scoring after the half, and then consecutive threes from Watkins got the Vikings rolling. TV held the Lions to 2-7 shooting in the third while outscoring them 20-5 for a 42-12 lead.
Alyssa Horsley added 10 points in the game for the Vikings (8-5, 6-2) and Tier had eight.
The Vikings (8-5, 6-2) head to Amish country Saturday afternoon to take on Archbishop Hoban (10-2) in the Classic In the Country at Hiland High School.
“When you face an Akron Hoban team like this, they have so many weapons, they are athletic and they are skilled, tough and we need to see a team like this for when we play in our Central District tournament,” Younkin said. “This is a great opportunity to go up and play loose and have fun and beat a team we aren’t supposed to beat, and we are looking forward to it.”
Teays Valley 50, Liberty Union 29
Liberty Union— Payton Hochradel 1-1-3, Ella Brown 3-0-7, Haeden Brunty 2-0-5, Gabby Howell 1-0-2, Brooklyn Howell 1-0-2, Savannah Howell 1-0-2, Macey Smith 1-1-3, Lexie McCoy 2-0-5. Three-point goals — Brown, Brunty, McCoy. Total — 12-35 2-10 29.
Teays Valley — Addie Helwagen 0-1-1, Gabrielle Watkins 4-2-13, Abby Tier 3-1-8, Cami Robins 1-0-2, Kennedy Younkin 4-4-12, Alyssa Horsley 3-2-10, Tessa Horsley 1-2-4. Three-point goals — Watkins (3), Tier, A Horsley (2). Total — 16-40 12-18 50.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Liberty Union 2 5 5 17 29
Teays Valley 13 9 20 8 50
