Sports
Lady Marauders Stay on Winning Streak
By: Steven Hernandez
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After a close second half, Meigs pulled away from River Valley, defeating its conference rivals by a confident 56-40. The win is a massive improvement from the Lady Marauder’s last match up against the Lady Raiders, which ended in a 57-28 loss.
Ten different Lady Marauders contributed to the final score of the game, including back-to-back three-point plays in the third quarter, which marked a major momentum shift in Meigs’ favor.
On the defensive front, Meigs lived true to its “minions” moniker. The Lady Marauders swarmed the Lady Rebels, constantly putting pressure on both the ball and the wings. Steals across the court, such as a Lady Marauder double-steal with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, disrupted River Valley’s chemistry, preventing any shift in momentum in the closing sessions of the game.
Perhaps the most definitive moment in the game, however, came after a River Valley foul-technical with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. The play gave the Lady Marauders four free throws, allowing the Lady Marauders’ 20-point lead to sink in.
Kassidy Betzing was Meigs’ standout, with 17 points and 5 steals. Meanwhile, Leia Moore led the Lady Rebels on the boared with 17 points, 9 rebounds and two assists.
Monday’s win is part of the Lady Marauders’ recent mid-December surge, shifting from a 1-6 start into 7-1 run and a comfortable position in the middle of the TVC-OHIO standings.
Lady Marauders’ Head Coach Scott Cleland is proud of the team’s “game-and-a-half turnaround” from the defeat about a month ago. When asked about when the shift in the team’s confidence started, Cleland looks back at the Lady Marauders’ four-point loss to Vinton County. He admits that “that [loss] was when the team knew it could compete against anyone.”
The Lady Rebels, on the other hand, are currently on a five-game losing streak, dating back to the New Years season, bringing them down to 5th in the TVC-OHIO standings.
The Lady Marauders will continue their winning streak on the road against Alexander on Thursday. Meanwhile, River Valley will be looking to bounce back from its loss against Wellston on Thursday, as well.