Lady Zeps are OVAC Champs
Photo by Holly Dixon
By Julie LaFollette
The Shenandoah Lady Zeps earned the top seed in the OVAC Class 3A and took on Monroe Central in the OVAC Finals at the ECO Center on Saturday, winning the second championship in school history, 60-52.
“This was only the second time in school history that we have won an OVAC Championship,” Shenandoah Head Coach Roman Thompson stated. “This game was a battle. I thought they played great, I thought we played great, and down the stretch, we were able to convert and they weren’t.”
The game was close early on with a Brenna Leach layup tying it at eight midway through the first quarter. The Lady Zeps took the lead on another layup by Leach but a foul shot by Jadyn Miller tied the game at 12 late in the period. Emma Dailey gave Shenandoah a 13-12 lead on a foul shot.
The Lady Zeps started the second quarter with a five-point run with Emily Moore hitting an old-fashioned three-point play and Leach putting in a shot. Shenandoah increased the lead to 12 late in the period. Allie McFrederick ended the half with a three for the Lady Seminoles and the Lady Zeps led 29-20 at halftime.
Shenandoah led by as many as 11 in the third quarter before Monroe Central closed to within eight on an and one by Brylee McFrederick. The Lady Seminoles closed out the third quarter with a trey by Allie McFrederick and a two by Brylee McFrederick. The Lady Zeps led 42-37 with eight minutes left to play.
With just under six minutes left to play, Monroe Central tied the game at 44 on a bucket by Brylee McFrederick. A free throw and a basket by Moore gave Shenandoah a three-point lead but Monroe Central tied it at 47 on a three by Mayzie Emery. The Lady Zeps regained the lead on a basket by Leach and the Lady Seminoles were forced to foul to try to get the ball back. The Lady Zeps hit 9-of-10 in the final few minutes of the game to clinch the 60-52 win.
The Lady Zeps were led by Leach with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Moore scored 17 points and had four steals, Dailey had 10 points and five assists, and Molly Van Fleet had 11 points.
Brylee McFrederick led the Lady Seminoles with 22 points while Emery had 10 points and two assists. Miller has seven rebounds and three blocks.
The 17-2 Lady Zeps will play at Barnesville on Monday, at Caldwell on Thursday, and at Monroe Central on Saturday.
