Lady Buckeyes outlast Tornadoes after impressive game from the line

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BUCHTEL, Ohio (WOUB) — The Nelsonville-York Lady Buckeyes (4-9, 3-4 TVC-Ohio) hosted the Southern Tornadoes (8-7, 1-5 TVC-Hocking). These cross-conference rivals have not seen each other on the hardwood since 2011, and there has been no love lost. The Lady Buckeyes were victorious, winning 47-37.  

In their first game since their OT loss to Trimble on Saturday, Nelsonville-York came out quick, with sophomore Madi Pidcock recovering the tip-off and taking it straight to the basket for two. These would be the only two points that the Lady Buckeyes saw from the field in the first quarter. A flurry of free throw attempts would consume the entirety of the first quarter and Southern was up 6-5. 

Nelsonville-York opened up the second quarter with a change of pace. Senior Alayna Okulich put the pressure on the Tornadoes interior defense and drew a lot of fouls. Okulich went 7/9 from the free throw line in just the first half.  

Both Pidcock and senior Megan Booth added three pointers in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes and comfortable 21-14 lead going into halftime. 

Nelsonville-York Head Coach Mark Truax and the girls were happy with the lead, but they knew there was plenty of ball left to play. “They knew they played well or good enough to have that lead and to be worthy of it,” Truax said. “But at the same time, they knew the job wasn’t done yet.” 

The Tornadoes came out of halftime with a gameplan, and they executed, opening the quarter on a 10-3 run. Nelsonville-York responded with a 10-0 run of their own to extend the lead. The Lady Buckeyes finished the quarter up 34-27. A solid defensive showing and a big three-point shot from Booth sealed the deal in the fourth quarter. 

 The Lady Buckeyes finished the night with three players scoring in double digits. Okulich had a 16-point double-double, while Pidcock had 17 points and Booth had 12. Nelsonville-York shot 25 shots from the free throw line on the night, with Okulich shooting 10/13 from the stripe. Having played Southern in a scrimmage before the season, Okulich knew tonight’s matchup would be physical. “I knew it was going to be a pretty physical game because we scrimmaged them and that was pretty rough,” Okulich said. “I knew I was going to get fouled a lot.” 

Nelsonville-York will be back in action on Wednesday at Alexander High School against the Lady Spartans.