MCGUFFEY-The Spencerville Bearcats looked to snap their four game losing streak on Tuesday night as they visited Upper Scioto Valley. The Bearcats got off to a quick start to pick up the 59-32 victory.
“When we are able to defend well and we are able to get out and run, it’s a good thing for us,” said Spencerville head coach Greg Ekis. “We did a great job in transition tonight and we can play that well when we don’t face a set defense.”
Spencerville set the tone in the opening quarter and things looked good for the visitors. It was a 7-0 run by the Bearcats, with a pair of baskets by Gabi Croft and three points from Clara Goecke, that put the Rams on their heels early. Upper Scioto Valley scored their only points of the quarter on a basket by Brielle Cotterman.
It was a 13-0 that seemed to put the game out of reach. Croft and Goecke scored four points each in the run, while Heidi Keller connected on a triple try as the Bearcats had a commanding 20-2 advantage.
“We haven’t shot the ball well the last few games,” added Ekis. “Tonight, what made us happy as coaches was that we shared the ball well and we made the extra pass when we had the opportunity to.”
The hosts had a good scoring quarter in the second, but Spencerville was able to maintain a sizable lead into the locker room. The Bearcats connected on four three-pointers in the quarter as Kirsten Wurst and Keller kept the offensive firepower going.
Neveah Lowery tried to put together a Ram rally attempt as she notched seven of the teams 14 second quarter points but the Bearcats were able to maintain the lead.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the third quarter and points were hard to come by. Kennedy Hall scored five points in the quarter for the Rams, but balanced scoring by Croft and Wurst kept Spencerville ahead 49-25 into the final eight minutes.
The teams emptied their benches in the lone scoring final quarter. Croft added four points in her game high 16 points, while Allison Post connected on a three from downtown to allow Spencerville to pick up the victory.
Spencerville improves to 2-5 on the season and will host unbeaten Leipsic in NWC action.
“It will be nice to get back home cause we have played five in a row on the road,” concluded Ekis. “Leipsic is a very good team and they are very well-coached and we think it’s going to be a very good battle.”
Spencerville 20 – 18 – 11 – 10 – 59
Upper Scioto Valley 2 – 14 – 9 – 7 – 32
Spencerville (59)
Gabi Croft (16) Kirsten Wurst (15) Heidi Keller (11) Clara Goecke (7) Eilan Muniz (3) Allison Post (3) Delanie Bowersock (2) Sydney Lemar (2)
Upper Scioto Valley (32)
Nevaeh Lowery (15) Brielle Cotterman (8) Kennedy Hall (7) Patience Hall (4) Sydney Christensen (2)
B-rockblythe.org 