Shermans Are Back In the Sweet 16 After 66-56 Win Over Scotties
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Unioto overcame a slow start and climbed out of an 11-point hole for a 66-56 D-III District Championship win over Tri-Valley Saturday at Zanesville High School.
The Scotties jumped out to a 10-0 lead before the Shermans could catch a break. Milee Smith hit Unioto’s first basket, but it didn’t come until the 4:21 mark. Tri-Valley posted a 19-12 lead after the first 8-minutes.
“I thought they were gonna come out playing zone” said Mya Hamilton after the game. “All the film I watched was zone. They came out in man and I think that frazzled us a little and they got out on a run, but with Milee – she hit a bunch of three’s. We were able to come back and I’m just glad we pulled out the win.”
That all changed to open the second period. The Tanks went on a 10-0 run and grabbed a 21-19 lead. The Shermans outscored Tri-Valley 22-12 in the second quarter for a 34-32 lead at the half.
Hamilton said the message in the huddle after the first quarter was “Keep fighting. Keep doing what we were doing. We needed to speed it up a bit. So, we started our pressure and I think that really just helped our momentum get goin’.”
Out of the break, the Scotties slowed the pace, working time off the clock and neither team scored until 4:13 when Mackenzie Harvey dropped in a three to give Tri-Valley a 35-34 lead. Unioto quickly answered and the teams exchanged leads until the Scotties closed on a 6-2 run to regain the lead through three-quarters, 46-44.
Smith tallied 33-points on the afternoon and perhaps one of the biggest shots came early in the fourth quarter. She opened the period with three free throws and then buried a bomb as the Shermans began to create some separation from the Scotties.
Shermans Coach Jeff Miller wasn’t rattled by the slow start. Once Smith knocked down a few shots, he could see the girls were going to be alright. “They (Tri-Valley) played really, really good early and then when we started chippin’ away, chippin’ away, you could see their style change a little bit” said Miller.
“The got a little more loose with the ball, started rushing some shots. A credit to our kids, we didn’t get down, we didn’t fold. As soon as she (Smith) hit that shot, not only did it get her going, but it also kinda lifted the spirits of everybody else on the court and on the bench because, okay… Milee’s got it goin’ now. She’s a special kid. When she gets it goin’ she’s awfully hard to stop.”
Unioto sank 10-of-15 free throws in the final quarter to secure the 66-56 win.
Behind Smith’s 33, Maggie Holbert had 13-points, Keyairah Beard added 11 and Mya Hamilton 9.
Now it’s on to Wednesday’s Regional Semi-Final back at Zanesville High School at 6pm. The Shermans will face Avon Lake (19-5). The Shoremen were 54-30 winners over Westlake Saturday night. The nightcap of the doubleheader at Zanesville features Mid State League Buckeye Division member Bloom-Carroll (13-12) and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (22-2) at 8pm.
The Scotties finish their season at 21-4 while the Tanks improve to 21-4.
SCORING:
UNIOTO (66): Milee Smith, 33; Maggie Holbert, 13, Keyairah Beard, 11; Mya Hamilton, 9.
TRI-VALLEY (56): Maddie Garber, 16; Mackenzie Harvey, 15; Addison Wilson, 9; Jacie Rollison, 8; Annika Collet, 6; Emma Smith 2.
