Logan Elm 78, Amanda-Clearcreek 43
AMANDA — Logan Elm took control in the second quarter on the way to a 78-43 win at Amanda-Clearcreek Saturday night.
The Braves had built a little bit of a cushion as the first quarter was winding down to lead 16-8.
LE then opened the second with a three from Kiki Ingram and used six AC turnovers over the next 90 seconds to put eight more points on the board for a 27-8 lead. By halftime, the Braves were up 41-16.
“We were trying trying to do everything to speed them up. Once we were able to start extending from that pressure zone, I really think that took them out of their element, and that sort of ignited us,” LE coach Mike Schultz said. “The type of team that we have, it just takes a couple of moments, and then, again, shooting is contagious. Once it starts going in, then good things are going to start happening.”
“They thrive off of turning you over and they sped us up,” AC coach Tim Leist said. “They get those runouts, and then they started hitting some shots, and then it was tough sledding from there.”
“We’re not a very tall team. You know, we’re 5-8, and under, but I think that we’re able to start creating that pressure that we create and trying to get the other team to just speed up just a little bit beyond their comfort zone,” Schultz said.
In getting them out of their comfort zone, the Braves forced 11 AC turnovers in the second.
A 14-point third quarter from Kiki Ingram pushed LE’s lead to 35 points (65-30) through three quarters. After getting fouled at the buzzer, Ingram sank three free throws for a 27-point night and then sat out the fourth quarter.
The Braves saw some good things from a few of their younger players in the final period.
“In that fourth quarter, we were able to get some of our young pups together. Haley Timmons (eight fourth-quarter points), just a little freshman for us, but she’s electrifying. Once she started getting into her groove, and she made that bucket, you could just see the excitement and that intensity and that positive mentality that she’s going to be able to have,” Schultz said. “We typically have what we call our varsity seven, and we have those plus-three with Maddie Evans and Tinley Maxson and Haley Timmons. The kids are really gelling right now.”
The Aces had a strong start to the fourth quarter, scoring the first 11 with eight from Kaylie Wison and a three from Hayden Plank.
Plank ended the night as AC’s leading scorer with 13 and Wilson had 11.
Along with the 27 from Ingram, LE got 11 from Paylynn Wray and 10 from Gillian Savage.
It’s been a rough start to the season for the Aces as they fall to 0-7.
“We saw some positives. We saw some kids making some shots, and we’ve just got to continue to grind,” Leist said. “We’re not happy being 0 and 7. I didn’t think we’d be here, but this is where we are, and we’ve got to dig ourselves out.”
Already playing the first part of the season without last year’s leading scorer in Taylor Evans, who is expected back the first of the year, the Aces were without another starter due to illness.
“We’re not making excuses, but it’s another hill to climb,” Leist said.
And he said they’ve challenged the girls to keep fighting through the adversity.
“I’ve challenged them to keep battling. This is what we’ve built our program on for six years of, you know, just keep battling, keep battling and that’s what they did. Even when things are as bad as they are right now,” Leist said. “And that’s what I love about this group. And those are the kinds of things that are going to help us down the road, as we get healthy, stay healthy and turn the corner.”
The Aces will get a little time off over the holidays before hosting Bishop Rosecrans on the 29th.
LE (6-1) will get Sunday as a day of rest but then play Monday and Tuesday as part of the Second Annual Brad Morris Holiday Classic. The Braves take on Westfall at 4:30 Monday (at Teays Valley) and will play Teays Valley at 3 Tuesday (at Circleville).
“We go Westfall on Monday and we’re already talking about that. We didn’t perform well (last year),” Schultz said referring to a 54-51 loss to the Mustangs in which LE was 17-60 from the field while the Mustangs were a much more efficient 18-34. “So the kids are already eager to go ahead and play them and then to play Teays Valley on Tuesday.”
Logan Elm 78, Amanda-Clearcreek 43
Logan Elm — Paylynn Wray 5-0-11, Kimmy Petty 3-0-8, Molly Miller 2-1-5, Kiki Ingram 7-9-27, Kennedy Groff 3-0-8, Tinley Maxson 0-1-1, Halee Timmons 4-0-8, Gillian Savage 4-1-10. Three-point goals — Wray, Petty (2), Ingram (4), Groff (2), Savage. Totals — 28-12-78.
Amanda-Clearcreek — Hayden Plank 4-2-13, Cate Buckley 1-0-2, Ariana Norris 1-0-2, Kirra Wiseman 0-3-3, Kaylie Wilson 3-2-11, Abbie Leist 6-0-12. Three-point goals — Plank (3), Wilson (3). Totals — 15-12-43.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Logan Elm 16 25 24 13 78
Am-Clearcreek 8 8 14 13 43
Doan Ford Invitational
BARNESVILLE — Teays Valley took third and Westfall was sixth at the two-day Doan Ford Invitational hosted by Barnesville.
Claymont was the tournament winner with 232.5 points while Barnesville was second at 210.5. The Vikings scored 189 point and the Mustangs scored 116.5.
Andrew Liddell won the 175-pound title for the Vikings and Trevor Bridges was second at 113 pounds.
Westfall’s Brady Speakman was second at 126.
Team scores: Claymont 232.5; 2. Barnesville 210.5; 3. Teays Valley 189.0; 4. Westland 163.0; 5. Maysville 139.0; 6. Westfall 116.5; 7. Washington 110.5; 8. New Philadelphia 95.0; 9. Canton McKinley 79.0; 10. Indian Creek 75.5; 11. Adena 63.0; 12. Lakewood 53.0; 13. Harrison Central 45.0; Williamsburg 45.0; 15. St. Clairsville 33.5; 16. Ambridge 20.5; 17. Troy Christian 20.0.