PAULDING – Sometimes you have to save your best for last. The Lady Rams did just that as they picked up a hard fought GMC victory Thursday night on the road versus a very young and scrappy Paulding Panthers basketball team.

Having graduated seven seniors, the young Panthers were set out to make a late season mark while hosting the Tinora Lady Rams.

Tinora’s Liv Mueller drained a three pointer to give the Lady Rams an early 3-0 lead, that was the only bucket in the first six minutes of the ballgame.

The Panthers first points of the game came art the two-minute mark as sophomore Brooklyn Bakle hit a shot in the lane at the two-minute mark, the Lady Rams had a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter from The Jungle at Paulding High School.

A Mueller baseline jumper would give Tinora a 7-6 lead after one quarter of play, Mueller had five for the Lady Rams.

Both teams continued to struggle offensively in the second quarter. The young Panthers defense seemed to give the Lady Rams fits at times.

The Panthers would grab a 12-11 lead with 90 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

A driving Nova Okuley layup would give the Lady Rams a 13-12 lead at the half.

Paulding was led by Pease and Bakle with four points, Tinora’s Mueller would bucket eight in the initial half.

The Tinora offense would get a bit warmer in the third quarter. The Lady Rams would score the first seven points of the second half, breaking out to a 20-12 lead with 4:30 in the quarter.

Maggi Nagel of Tinora would battle inside throughout, bucketing six total points and grabbing key rebounds.

Mueller would again be the key in the quarter, scoring seven of her game high 18 points, giving Tinora a 27-17 lead after three quarters of play.

The fourth quarter saw both team combined for a total of 30 points as both offenses caught fire.

The Panthers would cut the Tinora lead down to 32-29 with just over two minutes remaining. The Panthers would fight to the end, but the Lady Rams of Tinora would eventually prevail with a 39-33 win.

Paulding’s freshman Addison Pease had eight points, and sophomore Brooklyn Schlatter would shine on defense throughout while scoring six points. The Panthers were led in scoring by sophomore Brooklyn Bakle with 10.

Tinora’s Mueller had 18, while Nova Okuley ended with eight hard fought points.

TINORA 7-6-12-14=39
PAULDING 6-5-5-16=33

Tinora scoring: D Sines 2, Norden 0, Harr 0, Lee 2, M Nagel 6, K Okuley 2, Mueller 18, Durfey 1, N Oluley 8

Paulding scoring:Pease 8, Bermejo 0, Bakle 10, Suffel 5, Schlatter 6, Kuckkuck 2, Barton 2

Tinora improves to 10-9 on the season, 3-3 in the GMC. The Lady Rams make a trip to Elmwood Saturday to take on the Lady Royals in a matinée makeup game.

Paulding falls to 2-17, 2-3 in conference play. The Panthers are off until Monday, when they will travel to Fairview.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game goes to Lady Rams senior Liv Mueller. Liv pumped in a game high 18 points in the Tinora win. Congratulations, Liv.

JV – 2 quarters only. Tinora 23-9