Back on March 16 of this year, Miami Trace, Division II Regional champions, played Hathaway Brown in the State semifinals.
The Lady Panthers led by eight points at the half, but ended up losing by eight, 48-40.
Wednesday night saw a rematch of that game as Hathaway Brown made the long trip from Shaker Heights, Ohio, near Cleveland, to play Miami Trace at the Panther Pit in that storied venue’s last season of basketball.
Miami Trace broke the game wide open in the fourth quarter for a 63-39 rout.
Miami Trace had four players in double figures, led by sophomore Shay McDonald with 20 points.
Senior Victoria Fliehman scored 15, junior Cassidy Lovett scored 12 and senior Tanner Bryant had 10 points.
“Hathaway Brown’s record (now 1-5) doesn’t indicate the kind of team that they are,” Miami Trace head coach Ben Ackley said. “They play one of the toughest schedules in the state. They’ve already played Gilmour Academy who won the Division III State title last year. They have a player who is going to Michigan, probably be Miss (Basketball) Ohio.
“They’ve played Twinsburg, they’ve played Chippewa, who is 5-0,” Ackley said. “They were a team we wanted to play just because they are the kind of team you’re going to face in the tournament. They’re a grinding team. Their size was overwhelming at times. They had three kids on the floor who were six-feet tall and they gave us some issues at times with their length.
“I thought our kids did a very good job,” Ackley said. “When we have four kids in double figures, it’s going to be tough to beat us. Cassidy and Shaylee are playing at such a high level right now. I thought Cass did as much to control the game on the defensive end as I’ve seen in a long time. She never gets tired.
“I want to give our bench all the credit in the world,” Ackley said. “Becca Ratliff, Tori Evans, Morgan Miller and Olivia Fliehman. We went nine deep for extended time tonight and they gave us great minutes. That was a key to us sustaining what we did in the second half.
“We have two more games in the next three days, so, it’s very important that we give some of these kids a break,” Ackley said.
Jackie Carman led the Blazers with 21 points.
Sidney Radke and Ava Warcaba both scored eight points.
Miami Trace bolted out to an 11-0 lead before a large holiday crowd.
At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Panthers were in front, 17-9.
Hathaway Brown pulled to within as few as five points (19-14) with 6:03 to play in the first half.
By the halftime buzzer, Miami Trace held a 30-19 lead.
Both teams scored 11 points in the third quarter to set the score at 41-30, in favor of Miami Trace.
Hathaway Brown scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to pull to within seven at 41-34.
From there, however, Miami Trace outscored the visitors, 21-5for the 63-39 final.
Miami Trace led by as many as 26 points until a final basket was scored by the Blazers.
Tanner Bryant turned in a double-double with 17 rebounds. She also led her team with five assists.
Cassidy Lovett led Miami Trace with six steals.
Victoria Fliehman and Olivia Wolffe both had seven rebounds.
Miami Trace had 11 turnovers to 21 for Hathaway Brown.
The Lady Panthers hit 25 of 61 shots for 41 percent. They were even better from outside the three-point line, making 6 of 13 for 46 percent.
The Blazers made 13 of 50 field goal attempts for 26 percent and were 5 of 27 from three-point range for 19 percent.
“I could not be more proud of the way my team played,” Hathaway Brown head coach Carrie Barnabei said. “We were within seven points, but, then, it was what it was.”
Miami Trace, improving to 6-1 overall, will visit Ross Southeastern High School for a game Thursday against another team of Panthers.
Hathaway Brown will overnight in southern Ohio and play Chillicothe Thursday before heading home.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
MT 17 13 11 21 — 63
HB 9 10 11 9 — 39
MIAMI TRACE — Olivia Wolffe 0-0-0; Cassidy Lovett 4 (1)-1-12; Becca Ratliff 1-1-3; Shay McDonald 7 (2)-0-20; Tori Evans 0-0-0; Olivia Fliehman 0-0-0; Victoria Fliehman 2 (3)-2-15; Tanner Bryant 4-2-10. Morgan Miller 1-1-3; Lena Steele 0-0-0. TOTALS — 19 (6)-7-63. Free throw shooting: 7 of 17 for 41 percent. Three-point field goals: V. Fliehman, 3; McDonald, 2; Lovett. Combined field goal shooting: 25 of 61 for 41 percent. Three-point field goal shooting: 6 of 13 for 46 percent. Rebounds: 43 (14 offensive). Turnovers: 11. Assists: 17. Steals: 12. Personal fouls: 13.
HATHAWAY BROWN — Hanna Harler 0-0-0; Colleen Lux 0-0-0; Sidney Radke 1 (2)-0-8; Sadie Hertz 0-0-0; Kennedy Kostos 1-0-2; Josie Kennedy 0-0-0; Ava Warcaba 2-4-8; Jackie Carman 4 (3)-4-21. TOTALS — 8 (5)-8-39. Free throw shooting: 8 of 13 for 62 percent. Three-point field goals: Carman, 3; Radke, 2. Combined field goal shooting: 13 of 50 for 26 percent. Three-point field goal shooting: 5 of 27 for 19 percent. Turnovers: 21. Offensive rebounds: 7.
Lady Panthers win j-v game with Hathaway Brown
In the j-v game Wednesday, Miami Trace defeated Hathaway Brown, 27-18.
Aubrey Schwartz was the game’s leading scorer for Miami Trace with seven points.
Reagan Barton and Gracee Stewart both scored six points for Miami Trace.
Magarah Bloom had four points and Grace Bapst and Aubrey Wood both added two points for the Lady Panthers.
For Hathaway Brown, Abrams and Wyndham both scored six points, Sparacia scored four and Kostos had two.
