The 2022-’23 Lady Rams, coming of age

As the ’22-’23 Tinora Lady Rams prepared for the upcoming season, they were transitioning into a new period, a new coaching staff.

After the 21-23 season, the Lady Rams coach Kyle Teitje was not brought back.

Coach Teitje was 47-67 in five seasons as the Lady Rams head coach.

With just one senior, the 2021-’22 Lady Rams were 14-9, 5-2 in the GMC. The Lady Rams first winning season since 2016 as well as the first Defiance Physical Therapy Championship since 2010.

On May 5, 2023, the Lady Rams had a new mentor as former freshman boys coach Andrew Thiel was hired to take the reins of the Tinora girl’s basketball program.

A five member seniors class of Liv Mueller, Emily Harr, Maggi Nagel, Dakota Schaffner, and Sierra Brown, would look to win the schools first GMC title since the 2009-10 season.

The Lady Rams headed into the summer program, capturing the Hicksville Summer league title.

Before the start of the upcoming season, the Lady Rams would lose Anna Gray, who moved into the Bryan School District. Gray, a second team all GMC selection as a sophomore, averaged xx.xx PPH the previous season.

Another preseason issue would creep up on the Lady Rams as senior guard Sierra Brown would be lost due to an injury. Brown was injured in the last scrimmage game a week before the opening game. Brown would later find out she would miss the season due to the injury.

Tinora would finally open the new season on the road as they traveled over to take on the Miller City Wildcats. The Wildcats would down Tinora 56-43, as Nola Okuley would bucket 13 in the loss.

Up next, Tinora would travel over to take on the very talented Bryan Golden Bears and ex teammate Anna Gray. The Golden Bears would dominate the Lady Rams 50-28. As the season would play on, Bryan would be one of the areas better teams, making it into State.

Coach Thiel and the Rams would get their first win in the new regime as they would open the home season with a win over Hilltop. a 56-46 Tinora win would see senior Liv Mueller score a season high 21 points.

After a rough first half at Continental, the Lady Rams would rally in the second half as they defeated a much improved Lady Pirates team, 55-36. With the win, Tinora would even their mark at 2-2.

Up next for the Lady Rams was the Defiance Physical Therapy Classic. Tinora was looking to defend their title from the previous season, a 50-46 win over Archbold.

Unfortunately, Tinora would be defeated by Ayersville in the opening round, 41-36. Addison Lee would lead the way with nine points for Tinora.

The Lady Rams would rebound in the consolation game with a 51-48 win, Mueller would score 19 in the Tinora win. Maggi Nagel would secure the win with a last second steal.

A Saturday matinée vs Liberty Center would bring over the talented Lady Tigers. The Lady Tigers would dominate the Lady Rams on that Saturday afternoon, 55-25.
Tinora would stand at 3-4 through the first quarter of the season.

A middle of December trip to Patrick Henry would see the Lady Rams run into one of the more improved teams in the area. The young and talented Lady Patriots team would dominate the Lady Rams 50-35.

Heading into the Holiday season, Tinora would break off a three game winning streak.

Wins against Edgerton, Wauseon, and Eastwood would put the Lady Rams at 6-5 as the 2022 season ended.

Tinora battled the Lady Indians of Wauseon on the road and came away with a thrilling 46-44 road win. Liv Mueller and Nova Okuley would each pour in 14 points in the Tinora win against a very good Lady Indians team.

As the 2023 season started, the Grinch left a bag of coal for the Lady Rams as they started out the new year at 0-3. A tough loss on the road to rival Fairview, a rough home loss vs Wayne Trace, and another frustrating road loss at Ayersville put the Lady Rams at 6-8, 1-3 in the GMC.
Sophomore Nova Okuley would bucket a season high 21 points in the loss to Fairview.

As the month of January was coming to a close, the Lady Rams started to play their best ball of the season. Tinora would rip off three straight wins against Holgate, Montpelier, and Hicksville.
The Lady Rams would stand at 9-8

Unfortunately during this stretch, Tinora would lose another senior, Dakota Schaffner would be lost for the season due to injury. Schaffner would score a season high five points vs the Bryan Golden Bears in game 2.

Despite no scorers in double figures, the win vs Montpelier was one of the better team wins of the season.
Mueller with 15, and Nova with 13 in the home win bs the Lady Locos. Dakota Sines had her season high vs Hicksville with nine points.

A loss to the very talented Lady Kittens of Kalida didn’t derail the Ram train.

Coach Thiel rallied the Lady Rams as they would rip off three straight wins. Victories over Paulding, Elmwood, and Stryker would raise the Lady Rams season record to 12-9.

Liv Mueller would bucket 18 in the win vs Paulding, as she and her Lady Rams teammates would claw their way to a 39-33 win. A Saturday Matinée at Elmwood would see Karli Okuley set a season high of 14 points as the Tinora would bring home a win.

Senior Night 2023 vs Stryker, what a night for the memories and scrapbook.

The five member seniors class of Liv Mueller, Emily Harr, Maggi Nagel, Dakota Schaffner, and Sierra Brown, who have been in the program since the days of elementary basketball, suited up in front of the home crown for the final time.

In a feel good, tear-jerking moment, Lady Rams senior Sierra Brown suited up for the first time this season and was introduced as a starter.

Along with her four senior teammates on the floor, the Lady Rams controlled the tap, fellow injured Lady Rams Dakota Schaffner passed the ball into Brown, Sierra then bucketed her first points of her senior season. A great feel good moment for the season as well for all in attendance. (Video below)

The Lady Rams regular season finale was on the road at Antwerp. In a contest resembling more of a 1990’s NBA game than a current HS game, the Lady Rams were defeated 44-34. Antwerp led from start to finish as Tinora ended their regular season with a sour taste in their mouth.

The OHSAA tournament road was much closer and friendlier for Tinoira than years past. To start the tournament trail, Tinora made the short trip over to Ayersville to take on the Bluffton Lady Pirates in the opening round of the Sectional tournament.

Tinora would trail much of the game before rallying for a thrilling 42-24 come from behind win.
Addison Lee, Dakota Sines, and Liv Mueller would fuel the Tinora second half rally.

Up next for the Lady Rams, a rematch with the Fairview Lady Apaches.

After losing in game #12, 55-47 at Fairview, the Lady Rams were looking for revenge in the Sectional Finals.

Tinora would battle the Lady Apaches for most of the game, unfortunately for the Lady Rams, Fairview would pull away in the last six minutes, ending the Tinora basketball season, 66-44.

Although not the ending coach Thiel and the Lady Rams wanted, a very successful season overall in year one of his tenure.

Postseason awards went to Liv Mueller and Karli & Nova Okuley. Liv and Nova would be named to the GMC All-Second team, while Karli would be named Honorable Mention.

Despite losing a great senior class, the future is bright in the Lady Rams program.

Julia Durfey and Dakota Sines showed much promise during the season, Addison Lee continued to lead, showing great athleticism throughout the season, Karli Okuley steady as always, and Nova Okuley continued to shine, all look to lead the Rams next season.
Tegan Norden showed much a promising future down the stretch as well for the Lady Rams.

Looking to fill the varsity roster next season will be a great cast of JV players under the coaching of coach Barcewicz.

Incoming juniors Kenzi Nagel Autumn Henry, Aaliyah Dombroff, Emma Bailey, Amelia Coy showed they have the talent to make the next step.

The incoming sophomore class has some talent, Paige Gamby and Christina Meyer shined during the JV season at times, joining her are Jayden Sines, Aurora Reeves, Cailyn March, and prior to injury, Tatum Creps also all showed promise.

Thanks to coach Fairchild for joining me for most of the season, a great time each game.

The final numbers:
13-11 overall, 3-4 in the GMC
Leading Scorer: Liv Muller 11:67 PPG
Leading rebounder: Maggi Nagel 6.9
Steals leader: Liv Mueller 2.04
FG% Leader: Dakota Sines 50%
FT %: Liv Mueller 63%
3 pt FG made: Live Mueller 40

Tinora Rams Live Player of the Game awards went to the below Lady Rams this season:
*11/28 vs Hilltop – girls basketball – Liv Mueller – 21 points-5 three pointers
*12/1 vs Continental – girls basketball – Liv Mueller 17 points
*12/6/ vs Defiance – girls basketball – Maggi Nagel – 5 points – Steal to secure the win
*12/15 vs Edgerton girls basketball – Nova Okuley – 16 points
*12/20 vs Wauseon girls basketball – Addison Lee – 8 points, 6 blocks, great D
*1/24 vs Montpelier – girls basketball – Maggi Nagel 9 points – great D
*1/26 vs Hicksville – girls basketball – Karli Okuley 8 points – great D
*2/2 vs Paulding – girls basketball – Liv Mueller – 18 points, 4 rebounds
*2/6 vs Stryker – girls basketball – Senior girls
(Liv Mueller, Emily Harr, Sierra Brown, Maggi Nagel, and Dakota Schaffner)
*2/15 vs Bluffton – OHSAA Sectional – Three shared the award
(Liv Mueller – 15 points, Addison Lee – 10 points, Dakota Sines 8 points)