AYERSVILLE – Through the first three and a half quarters, the Lady Rams gave all that the GMC Champion Fairview Apaches could handle in the Sectional Final.
A Saturday afternoon rematch at the Hanger at Ayersville High School turned into a barn burner.
For the second time this season, the Lady Rams and Lady Apaches met on the hardwood, at stake was the Sectional title. The initial GMC game, that was held back on Jan 5 at Fairview, saw the Lady Rams lead at the half. Fairview would rally for a regular season win, 55-47.
The first quarter saw both teams race up and down the court as the first quarter ended in a 16-16 ite.
Allison Rhodes of Fairview would dominate the quarter with 7 while Tinora’s Karli Okuley would bucket 6 in the first quarter.
Rhodes would pick up two fouls in the first quarter for the Lady Apaches.
The second quarter was much of the same as the initial quarter, teams battling up and down the hardwood, fighting for each and every loose ball.
One thing fans on hand didn’t see was much scoring in the first half by the GMC Player of the year, Carrie Zeedyke as the Rams defense and Liv Mueller would lock down Zeedyke to just two points in the first half.
Tinora would grab a 19-18 lead on a Liv Mueller bucket and free thrown at the 7:01 mark in the first half.
Kelly Crites would catch fire for the Lady Apaches in the second quarter, giving Fairview a 24-19 lead midway through the second quarter.
Allison Rhodes would make a great play for Fairview with five second remaining in the half and the Lady Apaches clinging to a 31-30 lead. Rhodes would make a save on the right baseline while falling out of bounds, throwing the ball over her head in the right corner to Haley Hammer who nailed a three pointer at the buzzer, giving Fairview a 34-30 lead as the teams headed to the half.
Kelly Crites would drain 14 points, while Rhodes would bucket 11 first half points for the Lady Apaches.
Karli Okuley would pace Tinora with eight first half points.
As the third quarter started, the Apaches came out blazing.
The closest the Lady Rams would get was 34-33 a minute into the third quarter.
Fairview would open a 42-33 lead on a Rhodes runner in the lane with 5 minutes in the third. Rhodes would pick up her fourth foul midway through the quarter as well.
The Lady Apaches would outscore the Lady Rams of Tinora 12-8, grabbing a 46-38 lead after three.
Carrie Zeedyke would exit the third quarter with just two points through three.
The Lady Rams looked to catch a break with 7:15 to go in the game as Allison Rhodes would exit as she would collect her fifth foul, exiting the game with 13 points. Fairview led 46-38 at the time of Rhodes fouling out.
Tinora would close the gap to 46-40 with just over five minutes remaining on a Nova Okuley bucket.
Kelly Crites would kick her total points up to 25 for the game as the Lady Apaches would break open the once close game down the stretch.
Fairview’s Carrie Zeedyke would finally light up the scoreboard, as she would score eight of her 10 points from the free throw line over the final three minutes as the Lady Apaches would pull away, opening a double-digit lead.
Tinora would continue to attack the basket with Rhodes out, unfortunately for the Lady Rams, they just could not find the bottom of the basket in the second half, as Fairview would outscore Tinora 31-16.
Fairview would exit the Hanger with a hard fought 65-44 win.
Although the score does not indicate how close the game was, the Tinora Lady Rams battled Fairview throughout and never gave up. Tinora could just not get anything to fall over the final 13 minutes of the contest.
The Lady Rams would see their season end at 13-11.
Tinora’s senior class of Sierra Brown, Emily Harr, Liv Mueller, Maggi Nagel, and Dakota Schafner would close out their Tinora Lady Rams basketball career. Thank you for everything you have done to rebuild the Tinora basketball program, ladies.
You all made us proud today!!
Fairview improves to 19-4 and will play Ottawa Glandorf on 2/22 at 7:30 pm at Elida.
TINORA 16-14-8-6=44
FAIRVIEW 16-18-12-19=65
Tinora scoring: D Sines 6, Harr 2, Lee 4, Nagel 4, K Okuley 8, Mueller 7, Durfey 2, N Okuley 11
Fairview scoring: Manis 0, Singer 5, Zeedyke 10, Crites 25, Rhodes 13, Merritt 0, Hammer 9, Taylor 4, Sharp 0, Shininger 0
