ADAMS TOWNSHIP — A year ago, Clinton-Massie looked up at South Central Ohio League co-champs Greenfield McClain and Chillicothe. So far this year, it’s vice versa.
With Massie’s 49-40 win over Chillicothe (3-3, 2-2) Wednesday, the Falcons (8-0, 4-0) now have vanquished the second-, third-, and fourth-place teams in the league to solidify their perch atop the SCOL.
“A lot of it is we’re showing we have a little bit of poise. We’re a year older. That helps. We just have to do it for the whole game, instead of a half,” CM head coach Carlos Roberts said. “Last year, we kind of lived off what we did the year before that. Last year, these girls grew up a little bit. I think it’s showing now.”
Miquela Santoro led Massie with 20 points. Teammate Madison Purkey joined her in double-figures with 15, nine of them in the first quarter.
Shawnee Smith led Chillicothe with 16 points.
CM made quick work of the Cavaliers Wednesday, scoring the game’s first 13 points and holding them to 1-of-15 shooting in the opening period.
Massie’s lead, aided by an 8-0 run to close the first half, grew to 38-17 midway through the third quarter.
“We knew defensively we could do some things to them,” Roberts said. “Those things worked in the second half, but we got careless with the ball and that almost caught up with us.”
Chillicothe got back to within single digits with a 15-3 run that set the score at 41-32 with 5:00 left in the game.
“Chillicothe doesn’t stop working,” Roberts said. “They make you make mistakes.”
The Cavs would get no closer than 9 points the rest of the way.
“What a difference a year makes,” Roberts said. “I think last year we would’ve succumbed to that pressure and maybe faltered. But give the girls credit, they hung in there.”
In the JV game, Massie rolled 37-8. Madilyn Newton led CM with 16 points. Rebecca Corbin had 3 for the Cavaliers.
SUMMARY
Dec 9, 2015
@Lebanon Road Gym
Clinton-Massie 49 Chillicothe 40
CH 05.08.13.14…..40
CM 17.14.10.08…..49
(40) CHILLICOTHE (fg-ft-tp) Cousins 0-0-0, Shawnee Smith 6-3-16, Devlin 1-1-4, Brown 2-0-4, Jordan 3-2-8, Shawna Smith 0-0-0, Shawntel Smith 2-2-8, May 0-0-0, Total 14-8-40. 3-point goals: 4 (Shawntel Smith 2, Devlin, Shawnee Smith). FTM-FTA 8-16.
(49) CLINTON-MASSIE (fg-ft-tp) Santoro 7-6-20, Theetge 3-1-7, Rose 1-1-3, Purkey 5-3-15, Myers 1-0-2, Fisher 0-0-0, Newton 1-0-2, Total 18-11-49. 3-point goals: 2 (Purkey 2). FTM-FTA 11-18, 62 percent.
