Lady Redskins are OVAC Runner-up
By Julie LaFollette
The OVAC Class 2A second seeded Caldwell Lady Redskins played the top seed Southern in the OVAC Finals on Saturday, with Southern taking home the title, 49-40.
“We wanted to come out on top today,” Caldwell Head Coach Heather Saliba commented. We just did not get it done. I think we are a better team than they were but we just got behind. We did dig out of the hole to tie the game but could not get over the hump. It is great to see the improvement this team has made throughout the year, going from just a few wins last season to an OVAC runner up this season. We will continue to work hard and get ready for a tournament run.”
Southern started the game with a 13-point run before Caldwell finally got on the board on a trey by Breighlee Moracco with two minutes remaining in the opening period. Moracco hit a pair of charity tosses and Laynie Sidwell hit a bucket to close to 15-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Redskins pulled to within three with about three minutes to play in the second quarter on a three by Moracco. A minute later, Lexi Franklin scored a basket to pull within two and a put back by Camy Crock tied it at 22. The Lady Indians retook the lead on a basket by Alllyssa Shrodes to lead 24-22 at the half.
Southern extended their lead to seven on back-to-back buckets by Shroades in the third quarter. A basket by Mea Hendershot closed the gap to five but Shroades hit another two late in the period to give the Lady Indians a 33-26 lead with eight minutes left to play.
Southern led by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter. Caldwell closed to nine at the end of the game on a foul shot by Hendershot and a basket by Crock but would get no closer and the Lady Indians won 49-40.
Moracco had 12 points, five assists, and three steals to lead Caldwell. Franklin had 11 points and Crock had 12 rebounds.
The Lady Redskins advanced to the finals with a win over the third seed Steubenville Central Catholic on Monday, 71-45.
The game was close early on with Caldwell leading 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. They extended their lead to 13 at halftime, 33-20. The Lady Redskins led 57-39 with a big 24 points in the third quarter. They cruised to the 71-45 win to advance to the finals.
Morocco had a double-double with 16 points, 12 steals and three blocked shots. Sidwell had 16 points and eight rebounds and Crock had 11 points. Lowe had six rebounds and Hendershot had seven assists.
Caldwell won the two quarter JV contest 38-14.
The 15-5 Lady Redskins will host Warren on Monday and Shenandoah on Thursday.
