by Gregg Meadows
The stage is set for this Saturday’s (Jan. 28) big ‘Round Two’ showdown in Thornville, as the Lady Dawgs from Dresden travel to Sheridan High School to face the Lady Generals on their home floor.
Tri-Valley won ‘Round One’ back on Dec. 17 in The Dawg House by a 55-45 count. Since then, Sheridan has not been beaten in league play, and currently sits a game back of the Lady Dawgs in the MVL Big School Division play; Tri-Valley has not been beaten in Big School Division action, but does have a loss to Small School division member New Lex (Dec. 21 in Dresden) on the books in a crossover game.
The Lady Dawgs tuned up for the big Sheridan game on Wednesday night, Jan. 25 with a 58-25 win over visiting Meadowbrook at The Dawg House. Mackenzie Harvey’s 18 points led the winners, who also got 13 from Lexi Howe, eight counters from Maddie Garber, and six from Sami Cameron. Kenli Norman’s 13 led Meadowbrook. TV also took the JV contest which was limited to two quarters of play – 23-3, and was led by Maddie Garber’s nine points.
The win improved Coach Kurt Kaufman’s Tri-Valley squad’s overall record to 16-3 on the season.
On Saturday, Jan. 21 at home vs Morgan, the Lady Dawgs defeated the visiting Lady Raiders by a 62-19 count. TVHS senior All-Ohioan Lexi Howe was recognized and honored in a brief ‘Senior Day’ ceremony ahead of the varsity contest.
Lady Dawg junior guard Karlee Rose led all scorers with 17 points in the win, with sophomore guard Mackenzie Harvey right behind with 15, Lexi Howe 12, and Sami Cameron with eight counters. Tri-Valley won the JV contest 43-19 thanks to 16 points from Maddie Garber, and nine from Ella Knowlton, and six from Baylie Tignor.
On Tuesday night, Jan. 17 in Dresden at The Dawg House girls basketball senior standout Lexi Howe became the school’s all-time leading career scorer (See pg. 1 story) when she hit a third quarter three-point shot in the Lady Dawg’s thrilling come-from-behind 44-43 win over visiting Bishop Watterson in a non-conference game. Howe also made a crucial steal and the winning basket with a lay-up in the game’s final seconds as well.
Tri-Valley trailed the visiting Lady Eagles 10-7 at the first break, getting just a Kylan Brock trey and buckets from Howe and Mackenzie Harvey. Howe heated up in the second stanza however, pouring ten points through the nets, including a traditional three-point play in the waning seconds of the first half that gave the home team a 22-20 advantage at intermission.
Howe’s third quarter trey that broke the record came at 4:17 of the period, which gave her team a 32-27 lead. But the scrappy Lady Eagles outscored the hosts 11-4 to close the quarter, and led 38-36 heading into what would be a tense final eight minutes of action.
TV sophomore Mackenzie Harvey struck for six-fourth frame points to keep the home team close, but Watterson still led 43-42 before Howe made the play of the game, with her steal and game-winning lay-up with 23 seconds left.
Howe’s game-high 23 points led the winners, who also got eight from Harvey, and an important six points from junior Kylan Brock, who left the game in the second half with an ankle injury. Sophia Zeil’s 21 points and 10 from Sydney Spears led the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Dawgs took the floor again 24 hours later, diving back into MVL Big school division play and picking up a win over the visiting Philo Lady Electrics by a 65-24 score to improve to 13-3 on the 2022-23 season. Mackenzie Harvey’s 14 points topped TV, who also got 10 each from Lexi Howe, PD Moore, and Karlee Rose. Caitlin Rose led Philo with 10 points. Coach Logan Scott’s junior varsity team got back on the winning track with 48-17 win over the Philo JV’s. Maddie Garber and Ella Knowlton’s nine points led the winners, who also got eight from Baylie Tignor, six each out of Clara Goss and Audrey Wickerham, and five points from Gwyn Dal Ponte. Jenna Lytton’s 11 were high for the Lady Electrics.
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