Both teams are in first place in their respective OHC divisions. West Liberty (11-1) leads the North with a 6-0 conference record, while Southeastern (9-3) is on top of the South at 5-2. Southeastern gives up an average of about 40 points per game, while the Tigers are holding opponents to an average of 33.
“We pride ourselves on our defense,” West Liberty-Salem coach Dennis McIntosh said. “We work at it and spend a lot of practice time on it. I thought it was a well-played game. Southeastern’s got a lot of nice players and caused a lot of trouble for our offense.”
Southeastern stayed close for most of the second half but almost fell out of contention by going without a basket for nearly four minutes late in the fourth quarter. The Tigers led 38-36 before Southeastern’s drought started.
Gabby Hollar and Kelsey Day hit back-to-back baskets in a 30-second span for West Liberty to extend the lead to 44-36 with 2:46 left. Neither team scored again until the final seconds.
“As well as we played, that stretch where we couldn’t make a bucket was just too much. They’re just too good for us to do that,” Southeastern coach PJ Bertemes said. “We’ve had stretches in different games where we’ve struggled to score the ball. Our defense keeps us in and gives us a shot at the end, and that’s what happened tonight.”
The Trojans got back in the game quickly. Jessica Erwin broke the scoreless streak on a basket after a steal with 24 seconds left, but she fouled out during the ensuing inbounds pass.
West Liberty missed a shot on the next possession, and the Trojans grabbed the rebound. Southeastern’s Katie Eriksen hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 12 seconds left to cut West Liberty’s lead to 44-41.
Southeastern fouled Taylor Lauck on the inbounds pass, and she made two foul shots that bounced in after hitting the back of the rim. Southeastern did not get a shot off during its last possession.
Erwin, a 5-11 forward, led the Trojans with 19 points. She’s been Southeastern’s go-to scorer, and Bertemes said it hurt not having her on the court during the last possession.
“When she fouled, it was one of those times where we couldn’t wait for somebody else to foul,” Bertemes said. “She’s just trying to make a play, and I think it could have easily been a jump ball, but that’s the way it goes.”
Erwin scored nine points in the first quarter to help the Trojans take an 11-8 lead. The Tigers pulled even at 15-15 midway through the second and then finished on a 10-5 run over the last four minutes to take a five-point lead.
McIntosh said limiting Erwin’s scoring after the first quarter was a big key to the win.
“We basically had to stop her penetration and make her take more outside shots,” McIntosh said. “Once they got in their half-court sets, we didn’t try to put as much pressure on her on the outside. I just thought Gabby Hollar and Laine Godwin did a great job of staying in front of her.”
Mikalia McIntosh led the Tigers with 12 points, while Hollar added 11. Lily Yoder, who averages about 14 points, did not score.
“They did a great job of taking Yoder out of the game, and Gabby and Mikalia really came up with some big shots,” McIntosh said. “We’ve got seven girls that can score, and all of them can play good defense.”
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