The Utica girls basketball team fell short on their senior night game against Johnstown, losing the game and their share of the LCL title with a score of 54-55.
The game was played on February 9 at Utica High School.
After the first quarter, Utica trailed by a lone point, 12-13. Makena Wilson led Utica’s opening quarter, scoring five of her twelve points. At the end of the first half, Utica again trailed by just one point with a score of 24-25.
Utica posted thirteen points in the third and even led at the beginning of the second half, but the Johnnies had a four-point lead as the quarter came to a close. In the final frame, Utica almost pulled away with a comeback win, cutting Johnstown’s lead from nine to one, but never managed to capture the lead after the beginning of the third.
The leading scorer on the night came from Johnstown’s sophomore Caitlyn Cox, who scored twenty-one points on the night and helped Johnstown keep sole custody of the LCL title. Behind her was Lauren Baughman with fifteen,
Utica’s leading scorer was junior Emily Ritzer, who had eighteen points.
The team’s next and last game of the regular season is against Centerburg on February 21.
Utica also fell in its last meeting with Centerburg on Jan. 13, 2025, losing 60-39.
