On a Thursday night when the Tinora Athletic Department honored its Fall sports champions, also on tap was the 61st meeting in the girls’ basketball edition of the River Rivalry.

The rivalry, which was tied 30-30 in the all-time series, saw the Pilots enter with a 13-1 record, a 3-0 GMC record, and ranked as the #8 team in the latest Ohio HS girls basketball poll.

The host Lady Rams entered with an 8-6 record, 2-1 in the Green Meadows Conference.

Right from the start, the Pilots showed why they are one of the area’s leading defensive teams, averaging just 29 points allowed per game. Senior center Taylor Craft swatted away three shots in the initial four minutes of the contest. 

Ayersville led the Tinora 9-3 with just 15 seconds of the initial quarter. Tinora’s Addison Lee would convert an old fashion three point play to pull the Lady Rams to within 9-6 after the first quarter.

The second quarter would again see a tight Pilots defense cause havoc for the Lady Rams offense. 

Tinora would cut the Pilots lead to 12-11 midway through the quarter on an Addison Lee drive and score. That would be the last point of the half for Tinora.

Ayersville would see sophomore Lanie Sheets bucket five points in the quarter, and a Mable McGuire free throw would give the Pilots a 17-11 lead with two minutes remaining in the half. That’s the way the initial 16 minutes would end.

Ayersville limited Tinora to just five points in the second stanza, forcing numerous turnovers, as they would grab a 17-11 lead at the half.

The Ayersville defense forced 11 turnovers and held Karli and Nova Okuley scoreless in the first half. The Pilots were led by Sheets and her five points.

The third quarter again saw the Pilot defense buckle down as they would limit the Lady Rams to just two points in the quarter, Addison Lee would connect on two free throws.

Ayersville grabbed a commanding 20-11 lead midway through the quarter on a Kendra Waldron free throw at the 5:20 mark. The Pilots exited the third quarter with a 23-13 advantage.

The final quarter again saw the Lady Rams struggle to find the bottom of the net. The Pilots would sustain their lead to midway through the fourth quarter. 

Neither team would score in the first 3 minutes of the quarter, the first points coming at the line as Tinora’s Addison Lee would split a pair of free throws, Tinora trailed 23-14 with 4:55 on the clock. 

The Lady Rams offense would see a bit of a spark in the final three minutes as Eowyn’s Blanchard’s three pointer cut the Pilots lead to 27-20 with 2:20 on the clock.
Blanchard again cut into the Ayersville lead as she hit a free throw, trimming the lead even more down to 27-22 with 1:25 remaining.

The Lady Rams Julia Durfey hit a three with 21 seconds to trim the lead to 31-25.

Unfortunately, Tinora could get no closer as the Pilots defense came through, limiting Tinora to just two more points, and taking a 33-25 win back across the river with them.

The Pilots did not allow a point to the Lady Rams leading scorer, Nova Oluley and Karli Okuley was also held scoreless.

AYERSVILLE 9-8-6-10=33
TINORA   6-5-2-12=25

Ayersville scoring: McGuire 3, Manon 5, Waldron 6, Sheets 10, Schindler 7, Craft 2

Tinora scoring: Lee 10, Blanchard 9, Durfey 6

JV Tinora 17-16
Pilots – Knueven 6, Rams Meyer 7

Jackson Lee performed the national anthem on guitar.

The boys cross-country (plus Lauren Sattler) and football team were honored for their fantastic fall sports seasons.

Amelia Canales and Alex Ballekova provided a great dance routine at the half as well.

Watch back, click below: