Many of the keys going in were playing out for both teams. Unioto was able to attack the basket in secondary break. The Lady Shermans did have some opportunities from three-point land, but they were only able to knock down three in the game. Even with that number, I thought just the threat of some of their shooters really opened up the paint and Unioto was able to take advantage with some dribble drives. That low three-point total as well as Unioto just getting to the free throw line four times ended up not producing enough points to win, but the defensive effort was solid keeping the game low scoring and giving them a chance to hang around into the fourth quarter. I also thought another key going into the game was taken care of by Alexis Overly. I thought the freshman point guard played a great floor game.
Both teams were forced to adjust from their game plan due to the flow of the game. The game was called extremely loose – both ways – and it really forced the two teams into a battle of who was going to be the more physical, more aggressive team. The answer to this question early was Adena. One play that sticks out in my mind came early in the game when Adena’s Jenny Grigsby made a great diving effort to outwork two Unioto players for a loose ball – a play that resulted in an Adena lay-up. I also thought the Lady Warriors did a great job of hitting the offensive glass in the first half.
Unioto did a nice job on the defensive end. Grigsby and Autumn Smith did score the basketball in the first half, but Unioto was able to keep Natalie Cooper and Michelle Ackley under control. I felt allowing just 24 points in the first half was a good number, but again, the Adena defense never allowed the Unioto offense to get going.
The third quarter is when it appeared the game was going to get away from Unioto. Down 28-20, the Lady Shermans had a look at a three-pointer, but the ball did not fall. Adena broke out into transition as Smith found Cooper for a left wing triple to push the lead to 11 at 31-20.
With Adena eventually up 12 entering the final quarter, Unioto’s Morgan Gumm started to put her stamp on this game. Gumm, who brought some toughness to the game in the second quarter as well when Unioto was in danger of having it get away, started denying Smith the ball. I thought Gumm’s energy level started to become contagious. Ashley Flautt, Overly, and Hannah Miller all made key defensive plays that resulted in points on the other end and the momentum started to swing. In this stretch, Mallory Retherford nailed a triple and Tori Cox scored a few inside baskets as well.
I also thought a key was Adena became very tentative. I felt when Unioto started to extend that it would play into Adena’s hands; however, Adena did not attack, and keep in mind the game had few whistles so holding the ball was a very difficult task. Even though the Lady Warriors scored only four, fourth-quarter points to finish with 41 (a number well below their season average), Adena was able to hold Unioto to 38 points on the night while fouling only one time in the entire second half.
Regardless of how Adena arrived at the three point win the night belonged to the two-shade blue. Grigsby – who in my opinion is now a lock for this year’s POY – scored 19 points. Teammates Smith and Cooper finished with nine and seven points respectively. Adena is now just one win in Bainbridge Thursday night from finishing off the gold ball run.
