Tnl-News.com - Tournament run continues

Tosha Fields

By TODD REED

News Leader Sports Editor

The Lady Lions advanced to the Dresden Division II district basketball finals with a 53-41 win over New Philadelphia.

Minerva put together a solid first half to lead 19-11 after the opening eight minutes of play, and 35-17 at intermission.

The winners netted the games first seven points, scoring on their first three possessions. Tosha Fields dominated play, scoring nine of the team's 19 first-quarter points.

The Lady Quakers were able to cut the lead to nine with less than two minutes to play in the third stanza.

Kassidy Hardgrove came through in the clutch, as she has done throughout her career, scoring the quarter's last five points to increase her team's lead to 14. New Philadelphia would never threaten the rest of the way.

Fields had another great all-around game with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Chelsie Butler was dominant at both ends of the floor, scoring 16 points, blocking 11 shots and grabbing six rebounds.

Hardgrove had 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals; Anne Marie Soles connected on all three of her attempts from the field for seven points; Taylor Maurer had three points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals; and Tara Lawson grabbed five boards.

"We played a great first half of basketball, both offensively and defensively," stated Head Coach Bruce Wright. "Our intensity level was high even before the game started and once the tip off happened, it became more intense.

"We really moved the ball well in the half court, creating some nice baskets and we saw the floor well in the open court for some easy transition buckets. They were really guarding the perimeter during the first half and we were able to penetrate, allowing Chelsie and Tosha to score 23 points around the hoop.

"New Philadelphia had a difficult time running their offense, because our pressure made it difficult for them to find open shots. We knew at halftime they would make a run and we had to persevere through it and maintain our lead.

"Chelsie went to the bench with her third foul with about 5 1/2 minutes to go in the third and we became stagnant in our offense. We stopped penetrating and started standing around. We also turned the ball over on four successive possessions and they cut the lead to nine. Kassidy made a big three and drove the lane for a layup to end the quarter on a 5-0 run. That extended the lead back to 14 entering the fourth and we regained our composure.

"The key was we were still playing intense defense, not allowing them any easy baskets. We had a chance in the fourth to extend the lead to 15 or 16, but we missed some front ends of free throws to make it interesting in the end. The deeper you go into the tournament, the more important free throws become.

"Katie (Mihok), Anne Marie, Tara, and Tosh did a nice job containing Danielle Ledrich, the District 5 player of the year. Everyone did a great job of communicating her location on the floor. She worked for every shot and we really wore her down.

"We're not satisfied and will continue to focus on one game at a time."

Minerva was 21-of-45 from the field and 6-of-14 from the line, while New Philadelphia was 14-of-53 from the floor and 11-of-20 from the line.

Ledrich led the Lady Quakers with 16 points. Taylor Moreland had six points and six rebounds.

The Lady Lions were to battle Wintersville Indian Creek for the district title on March 2. The winner will advance to a regional semifinals contest on Tuesday, March 9, at 6:15, at a site yet to be determined.

treed@the-review.com