With teammates watching in anticipation, Marysville’s Alyssa Strahm (43) drops in a three-pointer at Thomas Worthington. The Lady Monarchs clinched the OCC Cardinal Division title with their victory.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Lady Monarch hoopsters celebrate their Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division championship after beating Thomas Worthington. Among those pictured are from left, Abri Schmutz, Alyssa Strahm (43), Ava Wilkerson, Ava Krutowskis, Grace Groves, JoJo Eberhart (21) and Abby Williams (far right).
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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The championship has been secured.
All that’s left now, at least in the Ohio Capital Conference, is to go unbeaten.
Marysville’s varsity girls basketball team clinched the outright OCC Cardinal Division title with a 59-31 triumph at Thomas Worthington.
The team defended its OCC title from last year.
Thomas Worthington went into the contest with a 6-2 record in the division and was the closest team to the Lady Monarchs, who are now 9-0 in the OCC.
Marysville will have the opportunity to run the table against Cardinal Division foes when it hosts Olentangy Berlin (4-14) tonight for the regular season finale.
“Winning the championship is nice, but we’re not cutting down the nets until after the final game,” said coach Klarke Ransome.
MHS (18-3) won the same way it’s done the entire season… with a smothering defense and an unselfish offense.
“We’ve shared the ball well this season,” said Ransome. “These girls don’t care who gets credit for anything.
“There are no egos and all they want to do is win.”
There was never any doubt as to victory being the final outcome for the Lady Monarchs.
Ava Wilkerson swished a couple of trifectas as Marysville jumped out to an 8-2 lead.
She added another basket to elevate the margin to 12-4 near the midway point of the opening period.
Cam Lee dribbled around a screen and hit a jumper to push MHS out to its first double-digit lead of 14-4. The basket marked two of her 10 points.
Leah Brown dished the ball to Abby Williams for a basket.
Lee then tickled the twine with a shot that created an 18-4 advantage for Marysville.
Aleyna Rick was credited with a late basket, pulling Thomas Worthington to within 18-6 by the end of the period.
There wasn’t much the Lady Cardinals could do against an MHS defense that has been problematic for opponents all winter.
Marysville’s stifling man-to-man alignment continued to close gaps and prevented Worthington from getting into the lane.
Outside shot offerings refused to fall for the Cardinals as they fell farther and farther behind.
JoJo Eberhart and Alyssa Strahm buried trifectas for a 31-10 Marysville margin.
Eberhart later rebounded a Cardington misfire and dribbled coast-to-coast for a bucket that tripled the advantage to 33-11.
Strahm, who tallied all eight of her points during the quarter, knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, helping Marysville to a 36-16 halftime lead.
Ava Krutowskis, who missed a game earlier this week due to illness, joined in the three-point fun during the third quarter.
Her offering from beyond the arc stretched Marysville’s lead to 42-18.
Lee threw down a pair of treys during the waning minutes of the set.
As a result, the Lady Monarchs held a 50-20 spread by the end of the period.
Ransome substituted liberally throughout the second half, especially during the final eight minutes of action.
Although the Lady Monarchs didn’t reach the running-clock rule of 35 points, they were able to easily coast to the victory.
“This was a good game to get our younger players some time on the court,” said Ransome. “It was a good learning experience for them.
“We just keep getting better and better,” he said, adding that’s what teams need to do as the post-season tourney begins next week.
Marysville
Eberhart 6-0-13, Wilkerson 4-0-11, C. Lee 4-0-10, Strahm 3-0-8, Brown 1-3-5, Schmutz 1-2-4, Krutowskis 1-0-3, Williams 1-0-2, Hansen 1-0-2, Tweed 0-1-1, G. Lee 0-0-0, Groves 0-0-0. Totals 22-6- 59.
Three-point goals: Wilkerson 3, C. Lee 2, Strahm 2, Eberhart 1, Krutowskis 1.
Thomas Worthington
Tinnerello 3-3-9, Rick 3-0-6, Elmi 2-2-6, Garner 1-3-5, Sellers 2-0-5, Dibowski 0-0-0, Laakso 0-0-0, Cross 0-0-0. Totals 11-8-31.
Three-point goal: Sellers 1.