Lady Chargers Home Record Ends at 10-1

Article by Rob K. Winkle, Jr., B.A. | Photos by Reflections by Rob, LLC

The Lady Chargers would play their last home game of the season on Saturday in Piqua, and for six sophomores, it would be their last time on the court at Charger Gymnasium. Graduating sophomores Matea Bartel (Colerain HS), Makenzee Maschino (Troy HS), Raegan Beverly (Clermont Northeastern HS), Paxton Hunley (Miami-East HS), Dana Evans (West Clermont HS), and Taj Pewett (Colerain HS). Evans played only one game this year before an injury ended her last season as a Charger, and Taj Pewett has not seen the court at all this season due to injury.

The Chargers entered Saturday's action versus Cuyahoga Community College with an 18-5 (7-1) record and led the OCCAC with only four games remaining, including this game and all OCCAC matchups. Cuyahoga was second in the OCCAC 13-8 (4-2). Edison State would also seek to end their home season on a perfect 11-0 record. The ladies have been unstoppable at Piqua this season, playing relentless defense, lighting up the scoreboard, and moving the ball throughout the team fluidly, and in this game, they were playing with another purpose for their sophomore's last game at home.

This game would be about defense from beginning to end, with both teams scoring, but given the Chargers' normal scoring this year, Cuyahoga's defense played a role in this game. Freshman Abby Yukon (Graham HS) would lead the Chargers with 15 points after leaving Wednesday's game versus Hocking early with an ankle injury. Yukon recorded her 19th double-digit scoring effort in 23 appearances (12.5 ppg). The first 2:40 seconds of the game only saw 4 points, equaling a 2-2 score with 7:20 remaining in the first quarter. Cuyahoga would hit a series of offensive runs through the normally stout defense of the Chargers. However, Edison State held firm, trailing with a 14-10 score at the end of 1.

Sophomore Paxton Hunley, whose sister Rori Paxton also played at Edison State last year, would be the second leading scorer for the Chargers with 12 points and tie for the team lead with fellow sophomore Makenzee Maschino in leading assists with two, and Makenzee Maschino would again be solid on both sides defensively and offensively netting 10 points breaking double digits and five rebounds for her last run on home-court. Maschino would then foul out late in the game. The Chargers would still trail by eight at halftime, 28-20.

The Chargers would come out in the second half firing hot on the scoreboards and playing much tighter defense, but Cuyahoga also had the same strategy; this created several lead changes and a tight home stretch to the end of this game. Edison State would end the 3rd, still trailing 44-38, but quickly into the 4th, Yukon would hit her 15th point of the game with 9:22 left to play. The Chargers would finally even up with Cuyahoga at the 5:43 remaining mark in the 4th after Maschino hit an and-one basket after sinking both free throws. The sophomore guard put her team in the lead at 47-45 with 5:27 remaining.

Sophomore Matea Bartel would play more of a defensive and ball-control role in this game but would still score 6 points, but placing second on the team with nine rebounds, unusually quiet was a freshman and three-time Player of the Week winner Allison Hughes (Parkway HS) who would score four total points less than one-third of her 14.0 average per game on the season but still do her jobs inside snatching a team-leading 13 rebounds, and would come up big on the defensive side with a team-leading four steals.

At the 5:11 mark, Cuyahoga would again tie the game at 48. Both teams would switch small leads for a short time until the 1:12 mark when Cuyahoga hit a late three-point shot, which seemed to be the ending shift to this game combined with a lack of offense from normally heavy hitters like Hughes and Bartel, due to Cuyahoga defensive strategy. Ultimately, the Chargers would come up short in a hard-fought game with the final score of 62-54, falling to 18-6 (7-2) and finishing the home campaign at 10-1. Cuyahoga would improve to 14-8 (5-2), holding firm in second place in the OCCAC.

The OCCAC tournament hosts the top three finishing teams each season, which, after Saturday's action on the women's side, would be Edison State, Cuyahoga, and Hocking. Edison State has split the season series with Hocking 1-1. They will play Cuyahoga again on the road on February 21, followed by neighboring rival Clark State on February 28, and their season will be complete at Lakeland on March 2nd. Clark State playing the Chargers, given the strength of that rivalry as always, is one to watch, and Lakeland and Edison State have been the two top women's basketball programs in the OCCAC for the last three seasons.

The Lady Chargers have consistently put on a show for their home crowd this season, playing flawless basketball and refusing to lose on their home court until today. For a team to post a record of 10-1 at home truly is a testament to the players' heart and ability, which Coach McMahon and Coach Martin should be proud of.

View all the action photos of the Lady Chargers' great home season at www.reflectionsbyrob.com.