Greene claims Al Doyle Tournament title with total team effort
Frank Speziale Photo
OXFORD – After two days of well-played basketball at the Blackhawk nest, the Greene Lady Trojans took home the Al Doyle Tournament title by taking down the Lady Warriors of Walton in the championship game last Friday.
Before getting to the championship game, Greene topped Afton while Walton defeated the tournament host Lady Blackhawks.
In the first varsity game of the afternoon, the Lady Trojans faced the Crimson Knights. Greene controlled the tempo of the game from the start, jumping out to a 19-8 lead after the first eight minutes of play with four of the team’s field goals coming from Emma Smith’s inside play.
Both teams struggled to score in the second quarter but the Trojans came out at the half to produce a balanced scoring front, dropping 13 in the third with six different players recording a basket.
In the fourth, Katelynn Pratt put six points of her own towards the Greene total on the score board. She finished the night with nine while teammate Alyssa Sands added four in the quarter and recorded 11 in the afternoon session.
Smith led all scorers in the contest with 12 points. But that wouldn’t be the end of her stellar performance in the tournament.
The Lady Blackhawks gave Walton a tough run in the evening event as the two teams entered the fourth quarter with just a three point differential between them.
Oxford’s Hannah Ryan had a quiet nine points heading into the final eight minutes, while her teammate Allison Beckwith added all of her seven in the third as both kept the Lady Blackhawks within reach.
Between the play of McKenzie Clough and Olivia Hardy for the Lady Warriors, Walton took the slight advantage into the fourth.
While Clough added another six in the period, it was Walton’s Jordynn Palmatier and Kylee Wiggans knocked down long-range threes to extend the lead for the Warriors. Walton outscored the Blackhawks 21-6 in the final quarter, advancing to face Greene in the finals.
Ryan finished for a season-high and team leading 14 in the loss for Oxford. Clough tallied a game high 20 while Hardy added 17 for the Warriors in the winning effort.
Oxford and Afton met in the consolation game before the final on Friday evening.
The Crimson Knights were short handed in the contest but never quit, staying in contention for the entire 32 minutes of play.
After being held without a bucket in the second quarter and entering the half with nine points on the scoreboard, Afton came out with some fire as Casey East scored 7 of her team-high 10 in the third. The Crimson Knights outscored Blackhawks over the eight minute span 15-8, cutting the Oxford lead down to five.
Again, Afton outscored the the host team in the fourth by one point but it wasn’t enough to take the lead and the win.
Oxford was again led by Hannah Ryan in the scoring column with her 13 points being spread throughout the contest. Karley Miller chipped in nine points in the consolation game win for the Blackhawks.
The Trojans again created a lopsided score on the scoreboard, taking a 15-1 lead, as Smith tallied eight immediately.
The Lady Warriors answered with a sniper attack from outside the three-point line as all but three of their points in the second came from the beyond the arc.
But Smith, along with Sands, led the second quarter scoring attack for Greene with both combining for the 18 points for the Trojans.
In the second half, Walton and Greene played an evenly match game as the score for the half was 27-26 with Walton hitting another four three-point field goals in the fourth.
But that first quarter was a key factor as Greene was crowned the tournament champs. The Trojans shooting 21-for-43 plus their defense also contributed to the win.
Smith and Sands were able to score as many as they were due to the selfless play of their teammates. McKenna Sergi and Madison Rice combined for 11 assists.
“We played an outstanding game,” said Trojans head coach Dave Gorton. “We were very unselfish and strong with the basketball. Our defensive effort was great as we played a half court defense that pushed them outside their comfort zone.
“We had great shot selection and on point passing. It was a great game for us,” Gorton commented.
Smith added 11 rebounds, recording a double-double with her game-high 24 points and the tournament Most Valuable Player nod.
Sands was named to the All-Tournament team as well as she ended the night with 17 points and 6 steals.
As all three county schools return to the classroom following the holiday break, their action will return to the court as well. Afton hosts Bainbridge-Guilford later today in a boys-girls quad-header. Greene travels to Sidney on Friday while Oxford returns to action on Monday, January 8 when they head to Harpursville.
OXFORD – After two days of well-played basketball at the Blackhawk nest, the Greene Lady Trojans took home the Al Doyle Tournament title by taking down the Lady Warriors of Walton in the championship game last Friday.
Before getting to the championship game, Greene topped Afton while Walton defeated the tournament host Lady Blackhawks.
In the first varsity game of the afternoon, the Lady Trojans faced the Crimson Knights. Greene controlled the tempo of the game from the start, jumping out to a 19-8 lead after the first eight minutes of play with four of the team’s field goals coming from Emma Smith’s inside play.
Both teams struggled to score in the second quarter but the Trojans came out at the half to produce a balanced scoring front, dropping 13 in the third with six different players recording a basket.
In the fourth, Katelynn Pratt put six points of her own towards the Greene total on the score board. She finished the night with nine while teammate Alyssa Sands added four in the quarter and recorded 11 in the afternoon session.
Smith led all scorers in the contest with 12 points. But that wouldn’t be the end of her stellar performance in the tournament.
The Lady Blackhawks gave Walton a tough run in the evening event as the two teams entered the fourth quarter with just a three point differential between them.
Oxford’s Hannah Ryan had a quiet nine points heading into the final eight minutes, while her teammate Allison Beckwith added all of her seven in the third as both kept the Lady Blackhawks within reach.
Between the play of McKenzie Clough and Olivia Hardy for the Lady Warriors, Walton took the slight advantage into the fourth.
While Clough added another six in the period, it was Walton’s Jordynn Palmatier and Kylee Wiggans knocked down long-range threes to extend the lead for the Warriors. Walton outscored the Blackhawks 21-6 in the final quarter, advancing to face Greene in the finals.
Ryan finished for a season-high and team leading 14 in the loss for Oxford. Clough tallied a game high 20 while Hardy added 17 for the Warriors in the winning effort.
Oxford and Afton met in the consolation game before the final on Friday evening.
The Crimson Knights were short handed in the contest but never quit, staying in contention for the entire 32 minutes of play.
After being held without a bucket in the second quarter and entering the half with nine points on the scoreboard, Afton came out with some fire as Casey East scored 7 of her team-high 10 in the third. The Crimson Knights outscored Blackhawks over the eight minute span 15-8, cutting the Oxford lead down to five.
Again, Afton outscored the the host team in the fourth by one point but it wasn’t enough to take the lead and the win.
Oxford was again led by Hannah Ryan in the scoring column with her 13 points being spread throughout the contest. Karley Miller chipped in nine points in the consolation game win for the Blackhawks.
The Trojans again created a lopsided score on the scoreboard, taking a 15-1 lead, as Smith tallied eight immediately.
The Lady Warriors answered with a sniper attack from outside the three-point line as all but three of their points in the second came from the beyond the arc.
But Smith, along with Sands, led the second quarter scoring attack for Greene with both combining for the 18 points for the Trojans.
In the second half, Walton and Greene played an evenly match game as the score for the half was 27-26 with Walton hitting another four three-point field goals in the fourth.
But that first quarter was a key factor as Greene was crowned the tournament champs. The Trojans shooting 21-for-43 plus their defense also contributed to the win.
Smith and Sands were able to score as many as they were due to the selfless play of their teammates. McKenna Sergi and Madison Rice combined for 11 assists.
“We played an outstanding game,” said Trojans head coach Dave Gorton. “We were very unselfish and strong with the basketball. Our defensive effort was great as we played a half court defense that pushed them outside their comfort zone.
“We had great shot selection and on point passing. It was a great game for us,” Gorton commented.
Smith added 11 rebounds, recording a double-double with her game-high 24 points and the tournament Most Valuable Player nod.
Sands was named to the All-Tournament team as well as she ended the night with 17 points and 6 steals.
As all three county schools return to the classroom following the holiday break, their action will return to the court as well. Afton hosts Bainbridge-Guilford later today in a boys-girls quad-header. Greene travels to Sidney on Friday while Oxford returns to action on Monday, January 8 when they head to Harpursville.
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