McClain’s championship season comes to a close in district semifinals

CHILLICOTHE — For 22 games this season the McClain Lady Tigers left the court with the win, and in the process had a historic season of high school basketball. Wednesday night that season came to a close, but not without the McClain squad leaving all they had on the court, as they fell in their Division IV SE District Semifinal game against Circleville 46-25 at Southeastern High School. 

No. 3 seeded McClain (22-2) played as close as possible in the first half with the No. 2 seeded Circleville Lady Tigers (20-4), including a first quarter where the two teams were tied at 6-6, and at halftime MHS trailed by just two points at 16-14. 

The first half was full of close, highly competitive basketball between two of the top teams in the SE District, starting with McClain leading by a 5-0 score following a basket by Paisley Pryor, then a 3-pointer from Larah Henson. 

The sophomore duo were the leading scorers for McClain with 10 points apiece, as Henson finished with three 3-pointers and was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Pryor had three two-point baskets and was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. 

The five-point lead eventually turned into a one-point deficit for McClain as Circleville scored six consecutive points off a layup from Maddux Bigam, and baskets by Addison Edgington and Maddie Blakeman for a 6-5 advantage. With 15.2 left in the quarter, MHS tied the score at six with a free throw made by Katie Cook. 

The tied score turned into a two-point deficit to start the second with a Circleville basket by Kaylee West with 5:20 left in the second frame. McClain regained the lead with a 3-pointer by Henson with 3:39 on the clock, but Circleville tied the score when Mallory McConnell sank a basket to make the score 12-12 with 3:19 left in the first half. 

McClain, again, was back in front as Pryor scored two points in the paint, only to see Circleville take the halftime lead with four points to end the second quarter for a 16-14 lead. 

The second half went to Circleville as they outscored McClain 13-7 in the third for a 29-21 lead, and in the fourth quarter CHS won the frame at 17-4 for the 21-point win over McClain. 

“We stll played hard, but we really didn’t get an open look in the second half,” MHS head coach Shania Massie said. “Our intensity stayed up, especially when we started pressing, but fouls just weren’t going our way tonight.”

CHS began the third quarter with four consecutive baskets for an 8-0 run, holding a 24-14 lead with 4:53 left in the third. Henson made a free throw for the MHS Lady Tigers, but CHS took an 11-point lead with 3:36 left in the third. The teams exchanged baskets to end the frame, as MHS had points in the third from Pryor and Brenna Wright.

In the fourth quarter  MHS made four free throws with two by Pryor and two from Wright. 

Other final scoring totals for MHS included Cook (1) and Wright (4). Final team totals for McClain included four two-point baskets, three 3-pointers, and they went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. 

Edgington led Circleville with 23 points, scoring 17 in the second half. CHS also had the following final scoring totals: Blakeman (7), West (10) and McConnell (6). Circleville’s final team totals were 18 two-point baskets, and they went 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. 

As for MHS, this season they had a 21-game winning streak, they went 10-0 in the Frontier Athletic Conference to win the conference championship, and they were 1-1 in tournament play. MHS defeated South Point in the district quarterfinals, 32-31. 

“I’m very proud of them, and I was just telling them in the locker room that we were 12-11 last year, just over .500. No one would have ever thought that we would come out here to be 22-2 this year, and that's a great accomplishment,” Massie said. “We got that gold ball, undefeated in the FAC. It's huge, and that's one thing the girls can't hang their heads over tonight, because they've started with us from day one. They are always going to be remembered for everything that they've done for us. 

“I told them they're going to be great women one day, they're going to be great mothers, are going to pursue success in their jobs, and they're going to do everything they want to do because just their personalities, their drive to have everything.They played with grit all season long, and that's all I can ask of them. They've done everything that I wanted them to do.”

McClain says goodbye to four seniors, and they are: Lindsey Hutchinson, Katie Cook, Brenna Wright and Anna Eikenberry. 

“They were a big part of us the past couple seasons, and a lot of people didn’t think they would able to achieve what they’ve achieved,” Massie said. “My four seniors gave it their all, and they’ve pushed themselves. They know I have their back, and they have mine as well. They have that drive, that grit in them to succeed in anything that they do. 

“They are great athletes, and they are going to be great women one day, and I can’t stress that enough. A lot of people look up to them  whether it be kindergarten girls to my junior girls. They have a lot to be proud of, whether it be basketball, FFA, their achievements, their academics, everything they’ve done, I’ve been proud of. 

“I’m just super proud of the team and the relationships we’ve built with the entire team, and the seniors as well. I just want to let my girls know I’ll always have their back, and if they need anything, all of us coaches will be there for them.”

Circleville will face undefeated and No. 1 seeded Fairfield Union on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Southeastern High School in the district finals at 5 p.m. 

BOX SCORE
MHS    06 08 07 04 — 25
CHS    06 10 13 17 — 46

CIRCLEVILLE (46) — M.Blakeman 2 (0) 3-4 7, A.Thornsley 0 (0) 0-2 0, K.West 2 (0) 6-6 10, A.Edgington 11 (0) 1-2 23, M.McConnell 3 (0) 0-0 6. TOTALS: 18 (0) 10-14 46. 

MCCLAIN (25) — L.Henson 0 (3) 1-2 10, K.Cook 0 (0) 1-2 1, P.Pryor 3 (0) 4-4 10, B.Wright 1 (0) 2-2 4. TOTALS: 4 (3) 8-10 25. 

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