New Madison – February 3, 2005
The Lady Patriots were celebrating “Senior Night” as four young ladies, Heather Deaton, Olivia Frazier, Brennan Moore and Mary Skidmore suited up for their last regular season game. Each of them had impressive games contributing to a big conference win over a very stubborn and aggressive Mississinawa Valley Blackhawk team by the score of 66-53.
The Blackhawk’s got off to a fast start with a 6 – 1 lead behind Whitney Gelhaus and her inside game. The Patriots roared back behind seniors Heather Deaton, Mary Skidmore and Brennan Moore. Deaton and Skidmore scored 7 each in the period with Moore adding two points. Skidmore provided the go ahead score on a basket and a charity toss to go up 14-13 with 58 seconds to play. Moore would drop 2 free throws and end the quarter up 16-13.
Mississinawa tied it up quickly with a trey to start the second period but TV would go on an 8 point run and at 3:20 led 24-16. But MV got a 5-point run to close the gap to 24-21 at 2:35. The Lady Patriots would get scoring from all over the floor inside, outside, off penetration and after Tina Allison scored two inside at 1:15 they had a 30-22 lead. The lady Blackhawk’s nailed a 15’ jumper but Mary Skidmore netted one throw to end the scoring and TV led at the half with a 31-24 lead.
In the third period it looked like Tri-Village was going to run away from MV as they raced out to a 44-29 advantage when Karli Dill sank a trey at 3:57. Mississinawa would hang tough as their coach would continue to change his lineup trying to get the defensive intensity established and they would narrow the lead down to 12 at the end of three 51-39. Deaton led in the quarter with 10 points.
In the final stanza the Blackhawk’s would fight and claw but could get no closer than 12 points as the Patriots would go on to record a 66-53 win.
For the game Heather Deaton would score 26 points and pull down 11 rebounds. Mary Skidmore also performed well with 16 points and 5 assists.
“This was a fun game to be a part of tonight for our seniors,” said Coach Jim Maples. The girls played inspired basketball and we beat a very good Mississinawa team.” “Now we have to prepare ourselves to do it all over again as we face them again in the first round of sectional play and it won’t be easy.” “We got a nice game from Mary Skidmore and Heather Deaton tonight,” commented Maples.
The Lady Patriots finish the season with a 15-5 overall record. Their 9-2-conference record places them in third place behind second place Covington 10-1 and conference champions Franklin Monroe 11-0.
The Lady Patriots are the #3 seed in the sectional tournament in the Tipp City and play Tuesday February 8th at 8:00pm taking on once again Mississinawa Valley.
All Patriot fans please make the trip to Tipp and support our Lady Patriots.
Scoring
3-Pointers – MV – 4 (Harrod 3, Livingston) TV – 2 (Skidmore, Dill)
Tri-Village…………..16…31…51…66
Mississinawa Valley.13…24…39…53
Tri-Village
Dill – 6
Deaton – 26
Moore – 8
Skidmore – 16
Frazier – 5
Allison – 5
Totals – 66
Mississinawa Valley
Harrod – 17
Bateman – 6
Livingston – 14
Neargarder – 6
Gelhaus – 10
Totals – 53
