No. 5 West Holmes had a solid run going to the Division IV District Finals against No. 1 West Muskingum, and while they led after one quarter it was all Tornadoes the rest of the way in a 54-38 loss to end the season with a 19-7 record.
“Our kids once again played really hard,” said Coach Lindsy Belden. “We pressured the ball really well, but sometimes got beat off the dribble which caused us to rotate and be out of position defensively. We also did not shoot the ball real well.”
West Holmes started the scoring on a fast break layup by Allie McMillen, who stole the ball and went coast to coast for the score. After the Tornadoes tied up the game, McMillen responded with a three to take a 5-2 lead. They made it a five point game when Zalina Proper scored on a fast break layup after a Keegan Uhl steal. West Holmes had a 9-7 lead at the end of one quarter.
In the second quarter, the Knights had a 13-7 lead. The Tornadoes threatened to cut it to four, but Aveona Yoder came in for a clutch block near the basket. She blocked another shot seconds later, and it seemed like the momentum was in their favor. The Tornadoes were able to claw back and outscored the Knights 13-10, however, and West Holmes trailed 20-19 at the half.
In the third quarter it was a 33-27 game when Uhl nailed a wide open three to cut the Tornado lead to three. Then at 35-32, Jewel Brown jumped in front of a pass for a steal to keep the game within reach as the quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter was all Tornadoes, who outscored the Knights 19-6 down the stretch to run away with the district title.
West Holmes struggled shooting the ball at 30% and went only 3-for-20 from beyond the arc. They were also out-rebounded 37-27, and trailed 16-10 in assists and 11-9 in steals.
Proper led the scoring with 10 points, and also had three boards, two steals and an assist. McMillen had eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Yoder also had eight points, and added two rebounds, three blocks, a steal and an assist. Uhl was held to six points, three assists, two steals and two boards. Briar Cline had six points, eight rebounds and two assists.
It was a great all-around season for the Knights, who won the Ohio Cardinal Conference or the second straight season and went to the district finals.
“We had a really fun season,” said Belden, who won OCC Coach of the Year. “The girls all really got along well and were a great group to coach. They worked hard and were coachable. We accomplished a lot of things this season that we set out at the beginning of the season to do. We obviously fell short of the district championship, but that doesn't take away from everything that we did accomplish.”
The team loses Uhl (OCC Player of the Year), McMillen (first team All-OCC), Patten (All-OCC honorable mention) and Nealie Fair to graduation. Belden knows there will be big shoes to fill, but is thankful for their work they put into the program.
“We are very thankful for our seniors, who have set the tone and expectation for our younger players, not only in high school, but in our youth and middle school programs,” Belden said. “Allie, Keegan, Chloe, and Nealie are exceptional kids who have really developed into leaders for us this year. We are going to miss them tremendously and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to coach them.”
