Chargers Home Cookin' to 10-0
In a game such as NJCAA women's basketball, dynamics are constantly changing; one constant factor in three of the last four seasons in the OCCAC conference has been either Edison State or Lakeland Community College winning the championship solely or even one year as co-champions in 2019-2020. Edison State would enter Saturday's contest putting their perfect OCCAC and home record on the line, 6-0 and 9-0, respectively.
Article by Rob K. Winkle, Jr., B.A. | Photos by Reflections by Rob, LLC
In a game such as NJCAA women's basketball, dynamics are constantly changing; one constant factor in three of the last four seasons in the OCCAC conference has been either Edison State or Lakeland Community College winning the championship solely or even one year as co-champions in 2019-2020. Edison State would enter Saturday's contest putting their perfect OCCAC and home record on the line, 6-0 and 9-0, respectively. Lakeland entered today's contest two games behind the Chargers with a 4-2 record in the OCCAC. Two teams, coaching staffs, and programs all too familiar with each other over recent history, specifically this game's sophomore players, some of whom had matched up against the same opponents last year.
The Chargers held to form this season, especially at home, with selfless team play, constant ball movement, shutdown defense, and net-scorching offense roster-wide. The first-quarter action would see Edison State forced several early turnovers, jumping in front early; however, with 3:39 remaining in the 1st quarter, Lakeland would take its first lead 11-10. That lead would be the first and only lead the Lady Lakers would see on this day in Charger gymnasium; with 31.8 seconds left in the first, the Chargers tied the game at 16 and then took an 18-16 lead into the half and never lost the lead again.
The Chargers' shocking offensive power would come from their whole lineup per usual, the leaders being Player of the Week winner sophomore Matea Bartel (Colerain HS) would drop 19 and rebound 15, sophomore Paxton Hunley (Miami-East HS) also hit 19, and three-time Player of the Week freshman Allison Hughes (Parkway HS) sunk 13 points and 11 rebounds (2nd on team) coming in third with sophomore Makenzee Maschino (Troy HS) who also netted 13.
Edison State would jump in front and command the entire 3rd quarter, ending 3 with a 68-57 lead over the Lakers. The defense was aggressive and fierce by both teams in this game, resulting in multiple foul-outs, four in total (2 Edison State, 2 Lakeland). Freshman Abby Yukon (Graham HS) would score 13, the third charger to do so in this game, breaking double-digits (5th most in the game) for the 18th time in 22 appearances combined, with Hughes making her 16 of 22 appearances in double-digit points, meaning not including today's unofficial numbers the two freshmen, Hughes and Yukon have accounted for 565 of the Chargers' points this year.
The ever-present thorn in the opposing team's side for the Chargers since her return from a knee injury on January 10, sophomore Makenzee Machino (Troy HS) would execute six assists, tying Yukon in that category, and one steal also score, as mentioned earlier, 13 points before fouling out at the 4:40 mark in the 4th. Sophomore Raegan Beverly had a relatively quiet night offensively but played well defensively also drawing her fifth foul late in the 4th with 47.7 remaining, this was in addition to two Lakers fouling out including Trinity Jackson drawing her fifth on a technical foul in the 4th. Yukon and Hunley led in steals with two each.
The Chargers had their normal firepower, scoring 86, but the key to this game, given the team's history and Lakeland's ability to score as well, undoubtedly was their stringent defense and team play. The Chargers improved their season record to 18-4 (7-0), holding their first-place position in the OCCAC, dropping Lakeland to the four-spot. The Lady Chargers' also improved their flawless record at home to 10-0 this season. Six games are remaining for the ladies, five of which are OCCAC matchups, including key rematches with Lakeland and nearby rival Clark State, whom they defeated Wednesday. Only one game remains at Charger Gymnasium in Piqua for the lady Chargers: Sophomore Day on February 10, 2024, at 3:00 pm versus OCCAC opponent Cuyahoga. The Chargers have a game before celebrating their sophomores on Wednesday the 7th at Hocking, and their remaining schedule is below. February 10, 2024, is your last chance to watch this exciting team in Piqua. The tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. following the men's matchup on February 10, 2024.
- February 7 @Hocking 5:30 p.m.
- February 10 home (Sophomore Day) vs. Cuyahoga 3:00 p.m.
- February 15 @Miami University-Middletown (non-conference) 5:30 p.m.
- February 21 @Cuyahoga 4:00 p.m.
- February 28 @Clark State 5:30 p.m.
- March 2 @ Lakeland 3:00 p.m.
View or purchase available action photos of the Chargers home games at Reflections by Rob, LLC