Lady Indians sink McClain on buzzer-beater
Lead Summary
By
Jim Jones-
It was a fun-filled and exciting day of basketball in Greenfield Saturday that was highlighted by a buzzer-beating three-point shot by Hillsboro junior Addyson Miles, sending the Lady Indians to a 38-35 victory over McClain.
Hillsboro jumped out to an early 8-0 advantage to start the game and led for the entire contest until the Lady Tigers battled back in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35-35 with just seconds remaining.
McClain trailed 34-22 after three periods but turned up their defensive intensity and got a couple of big threes from Kaitlyn Jett and Luca Matesic to get back in it in the fourth. The Lady Tigers had given up just one point the entire quarter until Miles hit the game-winner at the buzzer for Hillsboro.
“In the fourth quarter, I didn’t think our defense was working as well as it had earlier in the game, and we were really struggling to score,” Hillsboro head coach Heather Storer said. “So it was nice to see that shot go in there at the end. Just super proud of our girls.”
Hillsboro’s defense was just as good over the first three quarters, especially their half-court zone press that forced several McClain turnovers that resulted into points.
“We’re not a great offensive team yet, so when we can get our spark defensively and turn it into points on the other end, that’s a great day,” Storer said. “I love games like this when we can kind of control the defensive end and aggressively trap the other team, which really helps us on the offensive end.”
Turnovers and poor free-throw shooting also were key factors in the loss for the Lady Tigers.
“We didn’t handle their pressure very well early in the game, but credit to my girls, after they dug a huge hole, they really fought hard to get back in it at the end,” McClain coach Jarrod Haines said. “We had a lot of kids step up there in the fourth quarter when we were able to tie it up, but then they made a desperation shot at the end to win it.
“Another thing was we missed way too many foul shots today, and that’s not us. We haven’t shot free throws very well the last couple of games, and throughout this year that’s won us most of the games that we’ve won.
“Those two threes by Kaitlyn Jett and Luca Matesic were huge in our comeback, then Haylee Havens was able to have her way on the inside,” Haines continued.
Havens led McClain with a game-high 12 points and had a couple of blocked shots on the defensive end.
Peighton Bledsoe led Hillsboro with a team-high 10 points (all coming in the first half), followed by Blake Herdman and Kyra Boyd, who scored nine points each. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Indians were Rylie Scott with five and Addyson Miles with four, which included the game-winning three.
Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Tigers were Lily Barnes (six), Lillie Saunders (six), Kaitlyn Jett (five) and Payton Pryor and Luca Matesic with three points each.
McClain was a dismal 6-of-16 from the foul line for 38 percent, while Hillsboro converted 6 of 11 for 55 percent.
It was the final home game for three McClain seniors, Payton Pryor, Hannah Crago and Jaden McCoy.
“We’re really going to miss our three seniors because they all have brought something special to our program,” Haines said. “Hannah is such a hard worker and great kid, Jaden is usually all over the floor with so much defensive intensity, and then Payton with her leadership and she’s been big for us all year, especially from the free-throw line.
“We really wanted to send them out with a win today, but these things happen and they’ll learn from this.”
Hillsboro’s next game is at Washington on Monday, Feb. 13 for their first tournament game. McClain’s next game is at Fairfield Union on Monday, Feb. 6, then the Lady Tigers open sectional play Thursday, Feb. 16 at Marietta.
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Hillsboro jumped out to an early 8-0 advantage to start the game and led for the entire contest until the Lady Tigers battled back in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35-35 with just seconds remaining.
McClain trailed 34-22 after three periods but turned up their defensive intensity and got a couple of big threes from Kaitlyn Jett and Luca Matesic to get back in it in the fourth. The Lady Tigers had given up just one point the entire quarter until Miles hit the game-winner at the buzzer for Hillsboro.
“In the fourth quarter, I didn’t think our defense was working as well as it had earlier in the game, and we were really struggling to score,” Hillsboro head coach Heather Storer said. “So it was nice to see that shot go in there at the end. Just super proud of our girls.”
Hillsboro’s defense was just as good over the first three quarters, especially their half-court zone press that forced several McClain turnovers that resulted into points.
“We’re not a great offensive team yet, so when we can get our spark defensively and turn it into points on the other end, that’s a great day,” Storer said. “I love games like this when we can kind of control the defensive end and aggressively trap the other team, which really helps us on the offensive end.”
Turnovers and poor free-throw shooting also were key factors in the loss for the Lady Tigers.
“We didn’t handle their pressure very well early in the game, but credit to my girls, after they dug a huge hole, they really fought hard to get back in it at the end,” McClain coach Jarrod Haines said. “We had a lot of kids step up there in the fourth quarter when we were able to tie it up, but then they made a desperation shot at the end to win it.
“Another thing was we missed way too many foul shots today, and that’s not us. We haven’t shot free throws very well the last couple of games, and throughout this year that’s won us most of the games that we’ve won.
“Those two threes by Kaitlyn Jett and Luca Matesic were huge in our comeback, then Haylee Havens was able to have her way on the inside,” Haines continued.
Havens led McClain with a game-high 12 points and had a couple of blocked shots on the defensive end.
Peighton Bledsoe led Hillsboro with a team-high 10 points (all coming in the first half), followed by Blake Herdman and Kyra Boyd, who scored nine points each. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Indians were Rylie Scott with five and Addyson Miles with four, which included the game-winning three.
Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Tigers were Lily Barnes (six), Lillie Saunders (six), Kaitlyn Jett (five) and Payton Pryor and Luca Matesic with three points each.
McClain was a dismal 6-of-16 from the foul line for 38 percent, while Hillsboro converted 6 of 11 for 55 percent.
It was the final home game for three McClain seniors, Payton Pryor, Hannah Crago and Jaden McCoy.
“We’re really going to miss our three seniors because they all have brought something special to our program,” Haines said. “Hannah is such a hard worker and great kid, Jaden is usually all over the floor with so much defensive intensity, and then Payton with her leadership and she’s been big for us all year, especially from the free-throw line.
“We really wanted to send them out with a win today, but these things happen and they’ll learn from this.”
Hillsboro’s next game is at Washington on Monday, Feb. 13 for their first tournament game. McClain’s next game is at Fairfield Union on Monday, Feb. 6, then the Lady Tigers open sectional play Thursday, Feb. 16 at Marietta.
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