District Final Preview: Lady Mustangs set to challenge Minford 
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — The Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs have been on a mission this postseason. After ending the regular season with a convincing win, they now have won two straight tournament games this postseason. The challenge ahead of them on Saturday could possibly be their toughest yet of the Division III SE District tournament.
The 19-win Minford Lady Falcons await the Lady Mustangs on Saturday, March 5 at the Convocation Center in Athens on the campus of Ohio University, with a district championship on the line, something LC hasn't won since 2003.
LC enters the game with a 15-7 overall record, defeating Wheelersburg Monday night at Waverly High School in the district semifinals, 45-36. To win their sectional round, LC defeated Adena 53-47 in overtime, as LC entered the tournament with a No. 6 seed.
"I am so proud of the girls for what they have accomplished in the last part of their season. There was a point where they could have probably given up, and let some losses that shouldn't have happened ruin the rest of their season, but they made a choice not to do that," LC head coach Tiffany Barnett said. "We have been working hard in preparation for another big game. We know that we are the underdog again, but that is all right... I think we have all grown to like that."
The No. 1 seed Lady Falcons (19-3) have defeated Southeastern 54-25 (sectional) and North Adams (55-40) in their two tournament appearances this postseason. Currently, MHS is on an 11-game winning streak, with their last loss coming in Jan. 10 on the road against Oak Hill, 68-50. Oak Hill finished the regular season as the Associated Press Div. III No. 1 ranked team in the state.
Minford's 11-game winning streak has seen them defeat Valley-Lucasville, Northwest-McDermott (twice), Waverly, Ironton, South Webster, Paint Valley, Wheelersburg, Portsmouth West, Southeastern and North Adams.
The Lady Falcons' three losses came to Oak Hill (twice) and Jackson.
"Minford is short, fast, and very guard-oriented. They have a great point guard (Kendra Justice), who we will have to slow down in order to play the style of game that we want," Barnett said. "We need to play this game very similar to how we played Wheelersburg … slow the tempo, get into a half court set, limit our turnovers, box out better than we have been doing, and play solid defense.
"They have five girls who all contribute, and we are all going to have to play a great defensive game."
In their 22 games, MHS averages 53.5 points per game, along with 23 rebounds per game. They have scored 1,177 points.
Minford has four players who average 10 or more points per game.
"They play very aggressive defense, and we have to be able to handle the pressure. We have a height advantage again," Barnett said. "They only have one big girl on the inside, so one of ours (Laney or Brooke, who are both 5-10) is going to have a mismatch. We have to attack that."
One of the standout players for MHS is 5-10 senior Laiken Gambill (No. 32). Gambill averages 11.9 ppg, along with 5.1 rpg. She's scored 262 points this season, with three games of 22 or more points, as she scored 32 against Wheelersburg for her season-high on Dec. 16. Her biggest rebounding game was 10 boards on Jan. 27 against Northwest.
In their most recent game, a 55-40 win over North Adams, Courtney Spriggs led MHS with 17 points, followed by Kendra Justice with 13. Justice had a double-double vs. NA with 10 rebounds.
For the season, Justice, a 5-6 senior guard, averages 11.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg. She's scored 256 points this season. Spriggs averages 10 ppg. Abby Donahoe (No. 15), a 5-5 senior, averages 10 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
Then there are the Lady Mustangs.
Lynchburg-Clay has won their last three games and eight of their last nine contests headed into this district final game.
LC junior Brooke Hertlein has had a breakout season, including this postseason. This postseason, she is averaging 19.5 ppg, scoring 19 against Adena and 20 against Wheelersburg. In her last three games, the junior is averaging 18.7 ppg as she scored 17 against the Washington Lady Blue Lions in the regular season finale.
Hertlein also produces defensively, as she has grabbed no less than eight rebounds per game in her last nine games. In that span, she has totaled 100 rebounds (11.1 rpg), with 19 against Adena and 15 vs. North Adams in their next-to-last regular season game. In the span of the last nine games, the junior post player has tallied five games of 10 or more rebounds.
The Lady Mustangs' last loss came on Feb. 10 against North Adams by a 39-37 score at LCHS. On that night, LC shot just 25 percent from the field, but things have changed since then, as they have scored no less than 43 points a game. In their last three games, LC is averaging 47 ppg (141 points).
In this postseason, LC has had three players have a total of four 10-plus points per game. Against Adena, Hannah Blankenship scored 15, and in that same game, Meredith Fittro tallied 11 points. Hertlein has the other two double-figure games.
Laney Lewis, a member of the All-Southern Hills League team, has scored 11 points in the two tournament games, but her defense was a big reason for the Lady Mustangs' win against Wheelersburg, as she held their highest scorer in check for the game. Another LC player who has stood out defensively is Lillian Blankenship, All-SHL, with Barnett saying after the Wheelersburg game that Blankenship's leadership on the court, along with her game management abilities, kept them in the game.
"We know that no matter what anyone else thought about us (this season), that we were capable of playing some really good basketball," Barnett said. "It seems that our girls are peaking at the right time. They are finally starting to overcome mistakes and find a way to win.
"Their will is tremendous."
LC and Minford will tip-off Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens. They will be the third game of the day, with Division III girls games at the Convo starting at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The 19-win Minford Lady Falcons await the Lady Mustangs on Saturday, March 5 at the Convocation Center in Athens on the campus of Ohio University, with a district championship on the line, something LC hasn't won since 2003.
LC enters the game with a 15-7 overall record, defeating Wheelersburg Monday night at Waverly High School in the district semifinals, 45-36. To win their sectional round, LC defeated Adena 53-47 in overtime, as LC entered the tournament with a No. 6 seed.
"I am so proud of the girls for what they have accomplished in the last part of their season. There was a point where they could have probably given up, and let some losses that shouldn't have happened ruin the rest of their season, but they made a choice not to do that," LC head coach Tiffany Barnett said. "We have been working hard in preparation for another big game. We know that we are the underdog again, but that is all right... I think we have all grown to like that."
The No. 1 seed Lady Falcons (19-3) have defeated Southeastern 54-25 (sectional) and North Adams (55-40) in their two tournament appearances this postseason. Currently, MHS is on an 11-game winning streak, with their last loss coming in Jan. 10 on the road against Oak Hill, 68-50. Oak Hill finished the regular season as the Associated Press Div. III No. 1 ranked team in the state.
Minford's 11-game winning streak has seen them defeat Valley-Lucasville, Northwest-McDermott (twice), Waverly, Ironton, South Webster, Paint Valley, Wheelersburg, Portsmouth West, Southeastern and North Adams.
The Lady Falcons' three losses came to Oak Hill (twice) and Jackson.
"Minford is short, fast, and very guard-oriented. They have a great point guard (Kendra Justice), who we will have to slow down in order to play the style of game that we want," Barnett said. "We need to play this game very similar to how we played Wheelersburg … slow the tempo, get into a half court set, limit our turnovers, box out better than we have been doing, and play solid defense.
"They have five girls who all contribute, and we are all going to have to play a great defensive game."
In their 22 games, MHS averages 53.5 points per game, along with 23 rebounds per game. They have scored 1,177 points.
Minford has four players who average 10 or more points per game.
"They play very aggressive defense, and we have to be able to handle the pressure. We have a height advantage again," Barnett said. "They only have one big girl on the inside, so one of ours (Laney or Brooke, who are both 5-10) is going to have a mismatch. We have to attack that."
One of the standout players for MHS is 5-10 senior Laiken Gambill (No. 32). Gambill averages 11.9 ppg, along with 5.1 rpg. She's scored 262 points this season, with three games of 22 or more points, as she scored 32 against Wheelersburg for her season-high on Dec. 16. Her biggest rebounding game was 10 boards on Jan. 27 against Northwest.
In their most recent game, a 55-40 win over North Adams, Courtney Spriggs led MHS with 17 points, followed by Kendra Justice with 13. Justice had a double-double vs. NA with 10 rebounds.
For the season, Justice, a 5-6 senior guard, averages 11.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg. She's scored 256 points this season. Spriggs averages 10 ppg. Abby Donahoe (No. 15), a 5-5 senior, averages 10 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
Then there are the Lady Mustangs.
Lynchburg-Clay has won their last three games and eight of their last nine contests headed into this district final game.
LC junior Brooke Hertlein has had a breakout season, including this postseason. This postseason, she is averaging 19.5 ppg, scoring 19 against Adena and 20 against Wheelersburg. In her last three games, the junior is averaging 18.7 ppg as she scored 17 against the Washington Lady Blue Lions in the regular season finale.
Hertlein also produces defensively, as she has grabbed no less than eight rebounds per game in her last nine games. In that span, she has totaled 100 rebounds (11.1 rpg), with 19 against Adena and 15 vs. North Adams in their next-to-last regular season game. In the span of the last nine games, the junior post player has tallied five games of 10 or more rebounds.
The Lady Mustangs' last loss came on Feb. 10 against North Adams by a 39-37 score at LCHS. On that night, LC shot just 25 percent from the field, but things have changed since then, as they have scored no less than 43 points a game. In their last three games, LC is averaging 47 ppg (141 points).
In this postseason, LC has had three players have a total of four 10-plus points per game. Against Adena, Hannah Blankenship scored 15, and in that same game, Meredith Fittro tallied 11 points. Hertlein has the other two double-figure games.
Laney Lewis, a member of the All-Southern Hills League team, has scored 11 points in the two tournament games, but her defense was a big reason for the Lady Mustangs' win against Wheelersburg, as she held their highest scorer in check for the game. Another LC player who has stood out defensively is Lillian Blankenship, All-SHL, with Barnett saying after the Wheelersburg game that Blankenship's leadership on the court, along with her game management abilities, kept them in the game.
"We know that no matter what anyone else thought about us (this season), that we were capable of playing some really good basketball," Barnett said. "It seems that our girls are peaking at the right time. They are finally starting to overcome mistakes and find a way to win.
"Their will is tremendous."
LC and Minford will tip-off Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens. They will be the third game of the day, with Division III girls games at the Convo starting at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]