New Madison, OH December 13, 2007

By Doug Frazier

This night at the Battleground would be a meeting of once beaten teams in the CCC. Tri-County North comes at 4-1 in the Conference while the Patriots have a 3-1 record.

Tri –Village controls the opening tip, but turns the ball over as they try to convert quickly. Tri-County North is patient as they probe the Patriot’s man-to-man defense, but they come away empty s well. TV opens the scoring as Kaila Burns hits a jumper at 6:33. Kaila Burns scores again in transition and it is 4-0. The Panthers get their first bucket as Megan Thompson makes a nice spin move in the lane for a lay-up. Jordyn Fisherback answers with three and another jumper by Burns makes it 9-2 Tri-Village. North finds Sarah Whitaker open for three on an inbounds play and a put back at the buzzer off an offensive board by Brittney Mullins closes the quarter at 9-7.

Jordyn Fisherback clears an offensive board for two as the second quarter opens. Tina Allison makes a steal and turns it into a lay-up and it is 13-7 TV. North seems to be solving the Patriot defense this quarter as they switch to a zone and tie the game at 15-15 halfway through.

Tri-Village then went on a 9-0 run. First Tina Allison finds an offensive board and a put back for two. Amelia Frazier hit a twelve-footer and TV is back up four at 19-15. Then Fisherback cleans the offensive glass again and collects two. Amelia Frazier finished the run draining a three with 0:05 and the team’s head to the locker room with the score 24-15.

Tri-County North stays with their zone defense to open the second half. The Lady Pat’s are patient and work the ball until Burns cast in a three to extend the lead to twelve 27-15. Tri-County North shows no quit as they score on back-to-back possessions before committing an unforced turnover. Emily Ervin knocks down three for North and they have cut the lead to seven at 29-22. Fisherback completes a three-point play at the line after another offensive board and the Patriot advantage is back to ten. Rachel Heindl hits a jumper with a minute to play in the period to bring it 32-24. The Panthers go to the line for two free throws in the closing seconds, but cannot convert. Tri-Village gets the rebound and looks to get a shot before the buzzer, however Thompson would steal the ball at half court and take it the hole to bring the Panthers within six as the buzzer sounds.

The Lady Panthers miss their first shot to open the final stanza, but get the board and put it back for two. Heindl draws the foul on a shot after a steal and makes them both to make it a two-point game at 32-30. North scores again in transition and ties it at 32-32. Frazier drives the lane for a six-footer… but Desiree Brown draws the foul and makes good at the line for two to bring it back to even at 34-34. Rachel Heindl scores at 3:32 to give North their first lead 34-36. Megan Thompson hits the front of a one and one but misses the backside, however Brown finds the rebound and put-back and extends the Panther lead 34-39. Tri-Village fouls Brown at 1:39 to put her on the line and she answers with both tosses to make it 34-41. Frazier breaks the North press and finds Burns open on the wing, Kaila drains the three and it brings Tri-Village within four at 37-41. Tri-Village sends the Panthers to line again for the double-bonus, but they miss both tosses. Frazier finds Burns again and the Pats are within one 40-41. The Patriots send Brittney Mullins to the line for two, she converts on the first but misses the second. Jordyn Fisherback finds Tina Allison inside with a nice pass for a lay-up and the Pat’s have tied it at 42-42. Megan Thompson goes to the line for North with 0:20 on the clock. Thompson coolly hits them both and North is up two again at 44-42. Tri-Village inbounds and breaks the Panther press, Frazier passes to burns on the wing again. This time Burns tosses it back to Frazier who drains the three-pointer with 0:11 showing. The Panthers inbounds after a timeout and bring across half court only to turn it over out of bounds with 0:04 to play and the Patriots come back to grab the victory 45-44.

When asked about his thoughts after the game, Coach Brad Gray said, “To be honest, I thought we were dead in the water with about a minute to go when we were down like that. I’ve got to give all of the credit to the kids; it didn’t have anything to do with anything I did. Gray continued, “Kaila Burns hits a couple of threes to get us in it, and Amelia with just a huge shot there at the end. North has a nice team, they were down by twelve and never they never quit. I was very impressed with the way they played. It was a great win, I went from my lowest low to my highest high in coaching in just over a minute.”

The Lady Pat’s are now 6-3 on the season and will be in action at Twin Valley South for a Conference game next Thursday (Dec 20). The Lady Patriot JV team was also victorious tonight 39-14.

Scoring by Quarters:

TV………9…15….08…13 – 45
TCN…….7…08…11….18 – 44

Tri-Village
Allison 06
Bundy 02
Burns 15
Fisherback 09
Frazier 12
Totals 45

Tri-County North
Thompson 09
Ervin 05
Mullins 04
Brown 08
Whitaker 10
Heindl 08
Totals 44