EBER — After trailing for the better part of the game, Miami Trace parlayed a 20-11 fourth quarter surge into a 53-52 win over Wilmington Saturday night in South Central Ohio League girls basketball action at the Panther Pit.
With the victory, Miami Trace improves to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the SCOL. Wilmington falls to 1-4 on the season and 0-3.
It was a painful defeat for the Lady Hurricane and head coach Mark Short. WHS held a 25-20 halftime lead, which they extended to 41-33 at the third quarter break.
The fourth quarter, however, was a different story as his squad could not protect the basketball, missed key opportunities to score and the Panthers seized control of the game in the closing minutes.
“We made some bad choices in the fourth quarter and when we turned it over or could not get away a good shot, they capitalized,” said Short. “We started fouling and it was a physical game, and putting them at the line gave them the chances they needed. They converted on 9 of 12 (in the fourth quarter) and we just could not get our shots to fall. It was just a frustrating result at the very end.”
The teams combined for 39 fouls, including 22 against the Lady ’Cane. Miami Trace made the most of its free throw chances, converting 18 of 27 chances.
Wilmington struggled at the charity stripe, making just 10 of 20 attempts.
Tanner Bryant led Miami Trace with 22 points while Sam Ritenour added 16.
Wilmington had two scorers reach double figures, Mya Jackson with 16 and Leah Frisco with 14.
Both teams will be on the road for their next SCOL action, as Miami Trace goes to Hillsboro facing the Lady Indians while Wilmington faces county rival East Clinton Wednesday night in Lees Creek.
SUMMARY
Dec 5, 2015
@Miami Trace High School
Miami Trace 53 Wilmington 52
WL 12.13.16.11…..52
MT 06.14.13.20…..53
(52) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Edingfield 1-0-1-3, Frisco 6-0-2-14, Jackson 5-1-5-16, S. Johns 2-2-1-7, Sanderson 4-0-1-9, Stewart 1-1-0-3. TOTALS 19-4-10-52.
(53) MIAMI TRACE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Johnston 0-0-1-1, Lovett 0-0-2-2, Reisinger 3-1-0-7, Bryant 6-2-8-22, Campbell 0-0-2-2, Swartz 1-0-1-3, Ritenour 6-0-4-16. TOTALS 13-3-18-53.
