JoJo Eberhart (21) of Marysville goes up for a basket against Bexley. Eberhart scored 19 points during the Lady Monarchs’ victory.
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Leah Brown of Marysville (center) draws a foul in the lane against Bexley. Brown tallied nine points during the MHS triumph.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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It was just like another day at the office for the Marysville High School girls basketball squad.
The Lady Monarchs, just like in so many other games this winter, had little trouble putting down Bexley.
MHS upped its record to 18-3 with a 61-42 non-conference triumph.
It was a contest in which Marysville again exhibited its season-long traits.
“This was another game in which we played with a lot of energy and effort,” said coach Klarke Ransome.
“Bexley (which is now 14-4) is a quality team,” he said. “I just don’t think they were able to recover after the first quarter.”
The Lady Monarchs (who will travel to Thomas Worthington this evening) blasted the Lions for 22 points during the opening period.
JoJo Eberhart tallied eight quick points as MHS notched the first 11 markers of the game.
Each of her baskets came as the result of stellar defensive plays, including two of her steals.
“We have been able to hang our hats on defense this season,” said Ransome. “Our defense leads us to quite a few offensive opportunities.”
Bexley didn’t score its first point until Mikayla Williams sank a free throw with 5:20 left in the stanza.
Ava Wilkerson then tripled home a basket and Leah Brown breezed past a defender for a shot that upped Marysville’s margin to 16-1.
Brown later scored on the backside of the basket after an inbounds play.
Cam Lee and Eberhart then executed a classic pick and roll with Eberhart’s bucket pushing the Lady Monarchs out to a 20-5 spread.
Lee came up with a steal and Abri Schmutz hit a basket at the buzzer, giving MHS a 22-5 lead.
Brown kicked the ball out to Wilkerson for a trifecta that elevated Marysville to a 25-5 advantage early in the second period.
Bexley had no answer for MHS’ gap-sound defense that closed down driving and passing lanes.
The Lady Lions came up with numerous empty possessions which the Lady Monarchs turned into points of their own.
Wilkerson, Lee and Eberhart hit baskets as the Marysville lead soared to 35-18.
Lee swished a three-pointer and was fouled with 1:15 remaining in the half.
She couldn’t connect on the charity toss that would have given her a four-point play.
Still, the long-distance dial-up drove MHS’ advantage to 38-18.
A bucket by Bexley’s Syndie Smith narrowed the visitors’ deficit to 38-20 at the turn.
The Lady Monarchs continued their work once play resumed after halftime.
The closest the Lions got during the second half was 43-28 when Williams hit a three-ball midway through the third period.
Eberhart, Brown and Gab Lee nudged the nylon with trifectas that pushed MHS to a 54-34 advantage by the conclusion of the quarter.
Schmutz tallied a pair of baskets during the fourth period as the Lady Monarchs cruised to the triumph.
Marysville
Eberhart 7-4-19, Wilkerson 4-1-11, Brown 4-0-9, C. Lee 3-0-7, Schmutz 3-0-6, G. Lee 1-0-3, Strahm 1-0-3, Tweed 1-0-2, Groves 0-1-1, McKinney 0-0-0. Totals 24-6-61.
Three-point goals: Wilkerson 2, Eberhart 1, Brown 1, C. Lee 1, G. Lee 1, Strahm 1.
Bexley
Sheridan 5-0-11, Smith 3-4-10, Williams 2-2-7, Heilman 2-2-6, Comstock 1-2-4, Ingram 2-0-4, McClellan 0-0-0, Kok 0-0-0, Snyder 0-0-0. Totals 15-10-42.
Three-point goals: Sheridan 1, Williams 1.