Sports
Nelsonville-York Blitzed Meigs 56-40
By: Jerry Kirven
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After losing two of their last three, Jesse Addis and the Nelsonville-York Lady Buckeyes made a statement with a 56-40 dismantling of the Meigs Lady Marauders on Monday night.
On the back of the Lady Buckeyes (13-4) warmup uniforms, in block lettering it reads “the team above all” and that mentality could not have been on display any better Monday night. Trying to keep their place in the TVC-Ohio championship race it would take all 13 members of the Nelsonville-York squad to beat the much stronger Lady Marauders. It was truly a styles make fights kind of game.
Early in the game is was evident early that the biggest match-up of the game would be Nelsonville-York’s speed versus Meigs’ strength. On this night, Meigs found out early that speed kills. Nelsonville York picked apart the Marauders defense with long possessions involving quick passes along the perimeter. The Lady Marauders stayed in the game though, by dominating the Lady Buckeyes on the boards.
Nelsonville-York’s speed not only flustered the Lady Marauders on offense but also on the opposite side of the court on defense. Sidney Fick is going to need to get herself a good lawyer for the five times she robbed the Meigs offense of critical possessions.
The relentless Lady Buckeye defense kept the Marauders off their rhythm and Kassidy Betzing at three points at the end of the half. The Buckeyes were smooth sailing going into the locker room with a nine-point lead.
Meigs coach Jarrod Kasun must have spoken some inspiring words into his team during halftime because they came out ready to take it to Lady Buckeyes. However, Nelsonville York coach Bob Cassady also must have said something , because Nelsonville-York was having none of it.
At the start of the third quarter, Meigs tightened up in the paint forcing the girls to beat them head on. The Lady Buckeyes refused to play the Marauders’ game, and responded swiftly with the deep ball. At the end of the third the Lady Buckeyes were clicking on all cylinders and Meigs was stuck with an 11-point deficit.
By the fourth quarter it was all Buckeyes. Kassidy Betzing played her heart out and tried to help mount a comeback with 14 second half points but Nelsonville-York’s consistent ball movement and impressive depth, as shown by the fact that eight different players scored.
It was a happy night for the Lady Buckeyes who improved to (13-4, 7-2) and look to expand their two game win streak on Thursday at Athens. Meigs who will drop to (5-8, 4-5) will need to go back to the drawing board if they want to snap their four game losing streak.