JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
Okaw Valley girls got a season-climaxing 22 points from senior Rachel Marshall in her final basketball game as a Timberwolf, bowing out of the season at the Sullivan Regional to Meridian, 68-55.
Marshall has found a way to score all season, even if it meant getting to the line. Her final game was typical. She shot 18 free throws, making ten. Her only points in the first half came off of 6-of-12 foul shooting. In the second half she scored 16 of her 22 points, 4-of-6 from the line and six deuces.
She was matched by Meridian's top scorer, Ashley Mendenall (22 points), followed closely by Grider with 19 points, including a trey hat trick. Okaw had no one to match Grider's singular output. However, the Pack did have a quartet of arc angels combine for four 3-pointers, matching Meridian's 3-count.
Okaw's Amanda Hyett had one of her better games, scoring eight points and even knockling down a trey. Sarah Burch (9) and Ariel Rothrock (5), who advanced in the 3-Point Showdown, also had solo treys and Keshia Newton had the other one. All but Newton's triple were in the first half.
Meridian started out like gangbusters, putting on a 21-13 run in the first period. Okaw answered back with an 18-12 counter-punch in the second to trim the Hawk lead to just two at the break, 33-31. Going into the locker room, Okaw was stoked and it was game on.
The third quarter was nip 'n tuck with nobody getting a big run. After three periods, Meridian was still up just two possessions, 48-44. However, down the stretch the Hawks soared away from the T'Wolves, 20-11, to post the 13-point win.
Meridian's Mendenall scored three times early, Doyle twice and Grider had a deuce and a trey. Sapp also had a trey and Funk went to the line twice, making 3-of-4 shots for 21 points. Okaw had four players score early, but mostly from the line. Marshall was 3-of-6, Hyett was 1-of-2, plus a two, Burch hit her trey, while Jasmine Pierce and Jessica Krutsinger had solo twos each for 13 points.
In the second quarter Okaw run, the Pack still only had three field goals. But, two of them were treys by Hyett and Rothrock. Okaw also got to the line seven times, Meridian just twice. Marshall made 3-of-6, again, Burch was 2-of-2, Rothrock was 2-of-2 and Pierce was 2-of-2. Newton was 1-of-2. Okaw shot 10-of-14 at the stripe to help fuel their comeback before the half.
Meridian got another trey from Grider and two scores from Mendenall and Hood. They made just 1-of-4 free throws and saw their lead almost evaporate.
After half-time, Marshall started to score from the floor and added 2-of-4 free throws for eight points. Newton hit her trey and Pierce scored once for 13 points. Their defense also kept Meridian from getting a big run. Meridian did get two scores from Doyle and Grider and solo twos from Fonner and Funk. Mendenall converted a 3-point play for 15 points to give them a 4-point lead heading into crunch time.
Okaw was looking for the #4-#5 upset at regional, but didn't get it. Okaw scored just 11 points late, eight of those from Marshall on three more buckets and 2-of-2 at the line. She didn't get much help offensively. Newton split a pair at the line and Hyett scored once, but that was it.
Meridian broke free late for 20 points and Mendenall led the stampede with nine points. She scored four times and made 1-of-3 free throws. Grider also got busy, hitting her third trey and making a pair of deuces. Sapp was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws. She went to the line again and made 1-of-2.
Both teams shot a lot of free throws. There were 41 free throws shot and 29 made. Okaw was 19-of-24 and Meridian 10-of-17.
Okaw Valley is done for the year, while Meridian advances to play #1 seed Central A&M; in a semifinal on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Sullivan Sarah Burch led all 3-point shooters in the showdown, making nine treys, to advance. Ariel Rothrock made five 3-pointers to advance, as did Mendenall and Kayla Day of Meridian.
1A Regional
Meridian 68, Okaw Valley 55
M'dian 21-12-15-20--68
Okaw 13-18-13-11--55
Okaw stats: Rachel Marshall 22 (6 FGs, 10/18 FTs), Amanda Hyett 8 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/4 FTs), Keshia Newton 7 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/4 FTs), Jasmine Pierce 6 (2 FGs, 2/2 FTs), Sarah Burch 5 (1-3 pt FG, 2/2 FTs), Ariel Rothrock 5 (1-3 pt FG, 2/3 FTs), Jessica Krutsinger 2 (FG, 0/1 FTs). Team FGs 16 (4-3 pt: Newton, Burch, Rothrock, Hyett). Team FTs 19-of-24.
M'dian stats: Mendenall 22 (10 FGs, 2/4 FTs), Grider 19 (5-2s, 3-3 pt FGs), K. Doyle 9 (4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Sapp 7 (1-3 pt FG, 4/5 FTs), Funk 5 (3/4 FTs), Hood 4 (2 FGs), Fonner 2 (FG), Randolph (0/2 FTs). Team FGs 26 (4-3 pt: Grider 3, Sapp 1). Team FTs 10-of-17.
*Watch for web updates and the Daily Union print edition for a complete story, stats, and photos.
