McClain clinches back-to-back FAC championships; no less than co-champions 

For the second season in a row, the McClain Lady Tigers will have a Frontier Athletic Conference girls basketball championship trophy with their name on it, as Monday (Feb. 2) evening saw them clinch no less than a co-FAC championship by defeating the Miami Trace Lady Panthers, 42-24. 

The dominant win by McClain — who are coached by Shania Massie — gives them a final FAC record of 9-1 for the 2025-26 season, and with that, they can’t be passed in the conference standings, but the Hillsboro Lady Indians can tie them as a co-champion as they have one conference game remaining with an 8-1 record. 

McClain and Hillsboro split their season series, with each team winning against their Highland County rival at their home court. Hillsboro’s one FAC game remaining is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12 at Jackson. If HHS wins, they will share the FAC top spot with McClain. A loss by HHS will put McClain as the outright conference champion. 

McClain has now won three FAC girls basketball championships and 13 conference championships in program history. 

The Lady Tigers on Monday at Miami Trace High School built an early 13-4 lead when the first quarter ended, then it was Miami Trace having their best quarter in the second, taking the frame 13-11. 

MHS led the Lady Panthers 24-17 at halftime. 

McClain outscored Miami Trace 18-7 in the second half, including an 8-2 third quarter, then it was a 10-5 fourth frame as the Lady Tigers won that frame for the 18-point victory. 

Junior Paisley Pryor — who earned her 1,000th career point earlier this season — led McClain with 17 points. She finished with 10 made free throws, one 3-pointer and two two-point baskets. 

Allie Burgess finished the game with eight points as she made four two-point buckets, and next was Leah Lovett with a seven-point game by making three two-point buckets and a free throw. 

Brie Cummins totaled five points for MHS in the win by making a 3-pointer and a two-point basket. Larah Henson totaled four points off two baskets, and Becca Bergstrom ended the game with one point from a free-throw conversion. 

For the game, the Lady Tigers totaled two 3-pointers (Pryor, Cummins), along with 12 two-point field goals and they went 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. 

Miami Trace ended the game with team totals of 11 two-point baskets, and they were 2-of-6 from the free-throw line. 

The Lady Panthers were led in the scoring column by Gracie Lovett with 11 points, as she made five two-pointers and one free throw. 

MTHS also had scoring from Myah Dato (4), Zoey Grooms (3), Alison Reeves (2), Karleigh Cooper (2) and Ryleigh Vincent (2). 

Looking at McClain’s FAC 10-game season, they defeated Miami Trace, Washington, Chillicothe and Jackson twice each, and HHS once, for their 9-1 mark in the standings. In those games, McClain has averaged 45.7 points per game, and they have allowed 29.8 ppg. 

Last season in their 10-0 FAC championship season, the Lady Tigers averaged 48.6 ppg and allowed 30.2 ppg in the conference season. 

MHS is 19-1 in their two championship seasons, and in those FAC games they are 10-0 at home and 9-1 on the road. As for their overall record this season, McClain improves to 16-2. 

The Lady Tigers are scheduled for a non-conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at home (McClain Gym) against their Highland County counterpart, the Fairfield Lady Lions (9-8) with a two-quarter JV start of 5:30 p.m. 

The 2025-26 FAC results for McClain include: 
Dec. 3: vs. Chillicothe (W, 51-18)
Dec. 6: vs. Washington (W, 46-23)
Dec. 10: vs. Jackson (W, 44-20)
Dec. 17: vs. Miami Trace (W, 43-32)
Dec. 20: vs. Hillsboro (W, 44-39)
Jan. 10: at Chillicothe (W, 62-21)
Jan. 14: at Washington (W, 34-31)
Jan. 22: at Jackson (W, 43-37)
Jan. 31: at Hillsboro (L, 53-48)
Feb. 2: at Miami Trace (W, 42-24).

Current FAC standings (Feb. 2, 2026)
McClain: 9-1
Hillsboro: 8-1
Washington: 4-5
Miami Trace: 4-5
Jackson: 3-6
Chillicothe: 0-10

BOX SCORE
MHS      13 11 08 10 — 42
MTHS    04 13 02 05 — 24