Triad’s smothering defense overcame an arctic 23 percent shooting performance as the Lady Cardinals beat Madison Plains, 36-28, on Thursday.
Triad won despite hitting only three-of-29 from beyond the three-point arc.
The Lady Cardinals did so by coming up with 14 steals on defense.
“We were concerned the offense might suffer tonight since this was our fourth game in six days,” said Lady Cardinal head coach Jeff Merklin. “However, our defensive effort, especially post Makenzie Cauley, was superb.
“Makenzie held Madison Plains’ leading scorer, Hope Fetherholf, to just two points,” he said. “Erica (assistant coach Trainer) did a great job analyzing film for this game and Makenzie did a great job executing the game plan.”
Triad led 12-8 after the opening quarter and 20-13 by halftime.
The Lady Cards took a 28-21 margin into the final eight minutes.
Frani and Cati LeVan led Triad with 11 points each and Cauley scored nine to go with a game-high 14 rebounds.
The win was the Lady Cardinals’ third straight and improved their record to 7-6 overall and 3-6 in the Ohio Heritage Conference.
Triad will travel to Cedarville on Saturday.
Triad
C. LeVan 3-4-11, F. LeVan 4-3-11, Cauley 4-0-9, Bailey 2-0-5. Totals 13-7-36.
Three-point goals: C. LeVan 1, Cauley 1, Bailey 1.
Madison Plains
Davis 5-0-12, Kelly 3-3-10, Little 1-0-2, Fetherholf 1-0-2, Huffman 1-0-2. Totals 11-3-28.
Three-point goals: Davis 2, Kelly 1.
FHS girls fall
Fairbanks’ girls slipped to 1-11 overall and 1-7 in the Ohio Heritage Conference after a 49-26 loss to Cedarville.
Macy Wanamaker led the Lady Panthers (who will travel to Springfield Catholic Central on Saturday) with nine points.
Megan Rausch and Molly Olson each tallied five, followed by Sam Picklesimer and Bella Rowland-three each and Emma Kugel-one.
Bunsold cagers win two
Marysville’s eighth-grade Blue girls hoop squad won two games this week.
The Lady Monarchs began on Tuesday with a 29-22 triumph over Olentangy Liberty.
Aubri Schmutz led all scorers with nine points, while Leah Brown pulled down eight rebounds.
Bunsold came back on Thursday with a 43-26 verdict over Olentangy Orange.
Ava Krutowskis led Marysville’s scorers with nine points, while Cam Lee and Brown each scored eight.
Brown was also the leading rebounder with six.
The Lady Monarchs are now 10-1 for the season.