November 26, 2011

New Madison, Ohio

The Tri-Village Lady Patriots were looking to defend their tournament title from last year. They would set the tone early in the contest with a defensive barrage that left Franklin Monroe stymied and struggling to find offense.

“Teha Richards really set the tone for the second night in row for our team on defense”, said Coach Brad Gray. “She was able to get two 5 second defensive stops that gave us the ball and set the stage for our defense, I can’t say enough about her effort. In fact it was more valuable then if she had scored 20 points on the night.”

Tri-Village used the defensive effort to roll out to a 16-4 first quarter advantage with Shay Thomas leading the attack with 8 points.

Kayla Linkous would pour in 10 points in the 2nd quarter as Tri-Village continued to build on their lead going up 34-17 at the half.

The Lady Patriots defense again posed a problem for FM in the 3rd frame that led to many fast break baskets to go up 51-25.

FM junior Haley Gray found the range from behind the arch with a couple of treys and scored a couple of fielders to help the Jets to their largest offensive output in the final stanza on her way to scoring 18 points…but it wasn’t enough as Tri-Village rolled on to a 78-40 win.

The win marked back-to-back titles and the 3rd championship in the last 4 years for Tri-Village. In the 24 years of the tournament Tri-Village has won 12 titles.

Kayla Linkous would win her 3rd All Tournament MVP award in 4 years with a 56-point effort in two nights along with snaring 24 rebounds as well.

Making the all Tournament Team was Abbey O’Donnell from Arcanum, Haley Gray from Franklin Monroe, Krystal Falknor, Teha Richards, Shaye Thomas and Kayla Linkous from Tri-Village.

Teha Richards added 12 points and Shaye Thomas 11 for Tri-Village on the night.

“Our Girls didn’t play in sync for much of the first half nor did we shoot the ball real well…but we really hung our hat on defense and achieved one of the first goals we set for this team and that is to win the Bill Burkett Tournament”, said Coach Gray.

“We have a nice blend of youth with some experienced players and they are setting the tone for what we expect out of them and we will get better”, concluded Gray.

Score By Quarters:
Tri-Village…………16…18…17…27 – 78
Franklin Monroe…..04…13…08…15 – 40

Individual Scoring:
Tri-Village (2-0)
Ecko Brown –1-1-0/2 – 5
Lexi Bruner – 1-1-0/0 – 5
Elizabeth Collins – 0-1-0/0 – 2
Krystal Falknor – 1-2-0/0 – 7
Heather Ferris – 0-2-0/0 – 4
Kayla Linkous – 0-14-4/4 – 32
Raya Mikesell – 0-1-0/0 – 2
Teha Richards – 1-3-3/7 – 12
Shaye Thomas – 0-2-7/11 – 11
Totals – 4-27-14/24 – 78

Franklin Monroe (1-1)
Haley Gray – 2-4-4/4 – 18
Allison Snider – 0-2-0/2 – 4
Taylor Robins – 0-2-0/0 – 4
Aubree Myers – 0-1-0/0 – 2
Claire Neiswander – 0-1-0/0 – 2
Michelle Heckman – 0-1-3/8 – 5
Allison Hildebrand – 0-0-2/6 – 2
Sydney Hartzell – 0-1-1/2 - 3
Totals 2-12-10/22 – 40