Southeast District Division IV
No. 7 Logan Elm 58, No. 10 Waverly 50
CIRCLEVILLE — After spending three quarters struggling to score, Logan Elm came out in the fourth on fire and flipped the scoreboard on Waverly to win the opening round tournament game 58-50.
“A lot of it is just the mindset,” LE coach Mike Schultz said. “We changed some things up at halftime but one of the things that I kept reminding them is that you have to be the one that’s willing to risk taking that shot — but go into it with that mindset that I’m going to make this one.
“And I told them that making shots, hitting that shot, is a contagious skill. Once we hit one, then we were able to hit another and then when that all happened, that started putting a little more pressure on Waverly.”
Through three quarters, Logan Elm was 11-56 from the field (20 percent). Waverly wasn’t much better at 13-44 (30 percent) but the Tigers were able to convert 12 of 16 free throws to lead 41-30 entering the final period.
“The first half is never really our half,” LE junior Kiki Ingram said. “The second half we hit shots. We shot like we knew we could. Everyone contributed.”
Coming out in the fourth, Kimmy Petty wasted little time in hitting a three for the Braves. After LE took the ball away from Waverly, it was Kennedy Groff’s turn to hit a three just 30 seconds into the quarter.
Following a Waverly bucket, Petty hit one of two free throws and then Ingram hit a three making the Braves 3-3 from the field to start the quarter.
Another Waverly turnover led to a basket for Molly Miller with 5:23 left in the game. A minute later, Maggie Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up to give LE a 44-43 advantage – the Braves’ first lead since the score was 5-4.
Twenty seconds later, Petty caught a pass from Miller, took a step back over the three-point line and sunk a basket to make it 47-43.
The Tigers scored on a pair of free throws, but Ingram answered with a basket.
After another pair of Waverly free throws, Ingram converted a three-point play.
Waverly’s next trip to the line resulted in one of two being converted and the Braves then shut the door with baskets from Groff and Ingram and a pair of free throws from Groff.
Converting the baskets on their end of the floor helped the Braves to Keep Waverly in check down the stretch.
“It’s a very big difference because now we have time to get back,” Ingram said. “Instead of just throwing up shots and they get the rebound and push the ball down the court – now we get to set up, know who we’re guarding, talk to each other and go from there.”
Ingram finished with a game-high 25 points despite being held scoreless in the first quarter. She came through with all 11 of LE’s points in the second quarter.
“When they’re all on me, I get mad sometimes and use it against them,” she said.
Groff had nine and Petty eight for LE.
Sadie Royster led Waverly with 18 points and Caris Risner had 16.
With all the missed shots Wednesday night, Logan Elm finished the game with a 50-46 rebounding margin.
Ingram had 10 and Wilson nine as 11 Braves grabbed rebounds.
Paige O’Bryant led Waverly with 13 rebounds, Riser had 11 and Royster 10.
The win was Logan Elm’s first tournament victory since an opening round win over McClain in the 2019-20 season. In that year, MSL rival Circleville was next up in the bracket. The same situation awaits the Braves as they travel to Circleville Saturday afternoon.
The second-seeded Tigers won matchups against the Braves in the regular season by 26 and 28 points.
“Honestly, nobody can guard Addison (Edgington). We’ve got to get prepared for that,” Ingram said. “We’ve just got to be able to hit our outside shots like we did in the second half.”
Saturday’s game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip.
Logan Elm 58, Waverly 50
Waverly — Taryn Gillott 2-0-4, Sadie Royster 5-6-18, Caris Risner 5-6-16, Abby Schrader 1-0-3, Paige O’Bryant 1-7-9. Three-point goals — Royster (2), Schrader. Totals — 14-53 19-24 50.
Logan Elm — Kimmy Petty 2-2-8, Kiki Ingram 10-2-25, Molly Miller 2-0-4, Maddie Adkins 1-2-5, Kennedy Groff 3-2-9, Maleah Gardner 1-0-2, Gillian Savage 1-0-3, Maggie Wilson 1-0-2. Three-point goals — Petty (2), Ingram (3), Adkins, Groff, Savage. Totals — 21-73 8-13 58.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Waverly 11 19 11 9 50
Logan Elm 8 11 11 28 58
No. 11 Teays Valley 72, No. 18 Franklin Heights 37 (girls)
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Franklin Heights 5 12 11 9 37
Teays Valley 23 16 21 12 72
Circleville 62, Paint Valley 42
BAINBRIDGE — Circleville had a strong first half to build a lead and kept Paint Valley in check the rest of the way to grab a 63-42 win on the road Wednesday night.
“I was proud of our guys’ response tonight,” Circleville coach Evan Callihan said. “We have been looking for some consistency throughout the season and I felt this was one of our more complete games of the year. Going on the road is never easy and our guys got out to a fast start that carried over into the rest of the game.”
The Tigers got out to a 16-7 lead after the first quarter and led 31-17 at halftime.
The win moves the Tigers’ record to 12-8, securing the first winning season since 2015.
“Auri Travis played a big role for us tonight,” Callihan said. “His effort gave us a spark and he finished in double figures for us. Our scoring was balanced today which is something we have been looking for.”
Travis (10 points) was one of four players reaching double figures for the Tigers.
Riley Jenkins led Circleville with 17 points, Jack Kline had 13 and Ed Kirk added 11.
“Jack continues to grow for us this season in a lot of ways. He’s been big for us throughout the year and I am proud of how hard he has been approaching everything this season with his effort and attitude,” Callihan said. “Kole (Nungester, four points) had many assists in this game as he was pressured the majority of the game right from the tip.
“Kiser Cassidy and Glavine Bigam rotated on Paint Valley’s leading scorer and gave us great energy and fight.”
The Tigers continue their extended season-ending road trip with visits to Logan Saturday and London Monday to complete the regular season schedule.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Circleville 16 15 16 16 63
Paint Valley 7 10 14 11 42