Lady Tigers defeat Zane Trace on senior night

The McClain girls varsity basketball team celebrated senior night Wednesday with an impressive 60-23 shellacking of Zane Trace and wrap up the regular season with a 12-10 overall record and 8-3 in the Frontier Athletic Conference.

It was the icing on the cake for first-year head coach Shania Massie and her four seniors Lily Barnes, Haylee Havens, Kaitlyn Jett and Luca Matesic, who played their final game on the McClain hardwood.

“I was really excited, and all of our girls were excited about this game, and everyone came ready to play,” Massie said. “Our intensity was good for most of the game except for a little stretch there in the third quarter, but overall I thought everyone played pretty well tonight.

“All four seniors scored, and I’m extremely happy about that, and I thought they all played their hearts out tonight.”

Junior Anna Eikenberry played a superb all-around game and was the leading scorer in the contest with 13 points, followed by senior Lily Barnes, who was close behind with 12.

“It was good to see that two of our post players Anna (Eikenberry) and Lily Barnes led us in scoring, and it was one of our goals tonight to crash the boards hard and get the ball inside to our post players,” Massie said. “I thought Anna (Eikenberry) played a nice all-around game and really stepped out of her comfort zone, especially by finishing shots and boxing out.

“It took her most of the season to get where she’s at right now and understand what we as coaches expect from her, and hopefully it will all carry over to the tournament and next season.”

McClain jumped out to a 10-5 lead after one period of play with freshman Paisely Pryor scoring five points in the frame.

Things continued to go well for the Tigers in the second quarter when they started to put the game away by outscoring the Lady Pioneers 17-5 and took a double-digit advantage 27-10 into the halftime. Barnes and Eikenberry led McClain in scoring in the period with six points each.

The Lady Tigers doubled up the score on Zane Trace in the third quarter after winning the frame 15-11 and extending their lead to 42-21.

Senior Luca Matesic scored five points in the third for the Lady Tigers, and fellow seniors Haylee Havens and Kaitlyn Jett also contributed a basket each.

Both coaches played everyone in the fourth period, and McClain still had their best offensive production when they scored 18 points while holding the Lady Pioneers to just two. Eleven players scored for McClain in the game and got some valuable varsity minutes heading into the tournament.

Coach Massie spoke about what her four talented seniors meant to her and the program in her first season as the Lady Tigers’ head coach.

“These four seniors have been great leaders and role models for our team and school this year, and I couldn’t have asked for any better group of seniors in my first year as head coach,” Massie said. “They’ve all contributed in a lot of different ways, and I’ve developed a good relationship with every one of them despite a few ups and downs along the way.

“Overall, I think they all know it was worth it at the end, and I think they’ve really enjoyed playing this season and I want to wish them all the best in their journeys after high school.”

Eikenberry and Barnes were the only players in the game to reach double figures with 13 and 12, respectively. Rounding out the scoring for McClain was Havens 8, Matesic 7, Pryor 5, Brie Cummins 3, Leah Lovett 3, Kaitlyn Jett 3, Brenna Wright 2, Larah Henson 2 and Lillie Saunders 2.

Zane Trace was led by Aubree Thomas, who had nine points, followed by Carlie Clark, who added eight.

McClain, finishing 12-10 and 8-3 FAC, which was good for sole possession of second place, will now turn their sights to the tournament where they will play Unioto at Zane Trace H.S. on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m.