Tippecanoe girls bounce back in zone
After recent losses, defense helps lead win over Trotwood.
With a pair of recent losses, the Tippecanoe Red Devils girls basketball team found itself in a funk. Well, as much as a 13-2 team can be.
But on Saturday against Trotwood-Madison — the No. 3 ranked team in the Division II state poll — the Red Devils were in the zone.
Tipp threw a 2-3 zone at Trotwood, one of the rare times the Red Devils have gone zone this season, and came away with a 60-45 victory in a Greater Western Ohio Conference crossover game. That the Red Devils, ranked No. 9 in D-II, won isn’t surprising. But the final score was certainly unexpected by players and fans alike.
“We knew it was going to be a hostile environment,” Tipp coach Andy Holderman said. “We knew (Trotwood) was going to get after it. They’re athletic, long and quick. This is the perfect tournament test and today we passed it.”
Tipp held Trotwood senior Shaiquel McGruder to a season-low 14 points, including two in the decisive first half. McGruder, who entered averaging 26.1, showed her ability by scoring eight points in a span of 1:51 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Red Devils held a 23-point lead prior to her outburst.
“We need her to be more consistent with that aggressiveness because she’s a game changer,” Trotwood coach Hank Benton said. “You just have games like that. We have to go back to the lab and get back to work.”
In addition to the state rankings, the game took on added meaning with the D-II sectional tournament draw looming. Tipp (13-2, 9-0 GWOC American North) and Trotwood (11-2, 8-1 GWOC American South) were likely playing for the top seed in the sectional.
The Rams led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, which turned out to be their last lead of the game. Tipp seniors Maddie Frederick, Allison Mader and Chloe Schretzman combined for an 8-0 run and 21-14 advantage. Trotwood kept the deficit within a few possessions until seniors Cali Stewart, Claire Hinkle and Mader pushed the halftime lead to 37-21 with a quarter-ending 9-0 run.
“We communicated really well and our energy on defense was incredible,” said Mader, calling the performance the Red Devils’ best team effort this season. “That’s what won us the game.
“The energy, the high fives, the team spirit. Everything was very team-oriented today, and everyone stepped up when they needed to.”
Mader scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the first half. Frederick also scored 18, knocking down three of her team’s four 3-pointers. Junior Brooke Aselage added eight points and Stewart seven. Tipp shot 20 of 43 (46 percent), working the ball inside often. The Red Devils also fared well against the Rams’ pressure defense with solid ball movement.
“Our half-court defense needs a lot of work,” Benton said. “We knew what they were going to do, and for some reason we sagged too deep and left people open. They hit their shots. You can’t do that to a good team like Tipp. You can’t give them too many opportunities or they’re going to beat you.”
Tipp led by as many as 23 points in both the third and fourth quarters. Unofficially, Tipp outrebounded Trotwood 35-27, including a 12-3 advantage in the second quarter. Trotwood settled for jumpers in the second quarter but struggled to connect. The Rams shot 16 of 55 (29 percent) overall.
“I think that’s not believing in the system and starting to do it their way,” Benton said of quick shots that led to one-and-done possessions in the second quarter. “I thought we shot the ball well, especially in the first quarter.”
Senior Myla Barnes added nine points. Senior Kellah Flucas and junior Sha’Mya Leigh both added eight. McGruder and senior Mercedes Woodward entered the game averaging 20 rebounds combined. Against Tipp, McGruder finished with eight and Woodward seven.
“She’s definitely a high-quality player,” Holderman said of McGruder. “That was key. Limiting them to only a few second shots, that’s where their strengths are.
“The girls executed. We told them we are going to make mistakes. But you can’t let them turn into two, three and four (mistakes). I thought we did a pretty good job of that … We did a great job — the second quarter in particular — of going from a good shot to making the extra pass for a great shot and knocking those down. When teammates are sharing the ball it’s contagious.”
Trotwood-Madison boys 76, Northmont 73: Myles Belyue scored 30 points and the Rams (10-3) won their third straight by dodging the Thunderbolts’ upset bid. Jabari Perkins and Jamaal Linson each had 16 points for Northmont (4-8).
Valley View boys 51, Springboro 49: Clayton Erbaugh and Ben Herman each scored 15 to lead the host Spartans (5-7). Thomas Arrington had 14 points for the Panthers (4-10).
Graham wrestling 28, Lakewood St. Edward 27: Mitch Moore (145 pounds) won a 4-2 decision in the final match to snap a streak of four straight wins by the host Eagles in a dual of the state’s top-ranked teams.
Also winning for the Falcons were Tanner Jordan (113), Joey Sanchez (152), Ryan Thomas (160), Rocky Jordan (170, pin), Andrew Shaffer (182) Gage Braun (220) and Johnny Shafer (285). Both programs also are nationally ranked and are defending state team champs.