Sports
N-Y Girls Move One Step Closer To District Title
By: Michael Somrak, Patrick Klinger
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The Nelsonville-York Lady Buckeyes will advance to the district championship after a comfortable, double-digit victory over the Lucasville-Valley Lady Indians, 59-45.
The Lady Bucks seemed as if they were just tossing the ball into the ocean right from the tip. In the first quarter, they shot 88 percent from the field, scoring with ease from in the paint and on the perimeter.
Coach Amanda Dalton attributed their hot start to the senior leadership from players like Angela Meade and Jennah Addis. “Their leadership starts on the bus,” Dalton said. “I felt like our five captains led us in this game.”
Meade led N-Y in scoring with 18 points, hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers, but she was not the only one who stepped up. Sophomore Kaitlyn Hurd pitched in with 17 points, and Madison Davis contributed with her usual double-double, this time with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Throughout the postseason, the Lady Buckeyes have turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball. In their first round matchup against Meigs, they forced 29 turnovers. They coaxed the Lady Indians into 18 in this one, 16 of which came off of steals. Davis led the scrappy defense with six steals.
Dalton explained that defense was something she has emphasized during practice and said that her team needed to bring that same energy level if they were to be successful.
The Lady Indians struggled to put all the pieces together, but showed some positive flashes. At times, they were able to move the ball against N-Y’s zone defense and create some open looks. Darby High had a solid game, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. Valley also managed to outscore the Lady Buckeyes 17-12 in the third quarter.
Moving on to the district championship game, a place that these lady Bucks’ seniors have never been before, N-Y awaits No. 3 seed South Point. They will have a nine-day break before that Mar. 1 showdown but will try to keep their momentum going forward.
“We’re going to try to create as many game situations as we can in practice,” Dalton said.
The Lady Bucks will get a few days off for rest before getting back to work in hopes of garnering a district title.