It was one of those games where those who were in attendance are probably still scratching their heads and wondering what in the world happened.
After a dominant opening quarter for the Tecumseh girls’ basketball team, they completely shut down in the second period and never could put together another big run, as the Arrows lost a key Central Buckeye Conference game last week 56-48 on the road at Kenton Ridge.
The way the game started, it appeared that it would be business as usual for the defending league champs from Tecumseh, as they quickly jumped in front 5-0 in the opening two minutes and later in the quarter built on an 8-6 lead by putting together a 11-2 run behind a pair of three’s each from Corinne Thomas and Makenzie Pauley to take a 19-8 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Presley Griffitts scored on a pair of shots around the rim, and with 5:00 left in the first half, Tecumseh was in total control 25-12.
At that point, the wheels fell off for the remainder of the half for the Arrows, as their offense went silent and Kenton Ridge began their road back. Mikala Morris scored six points to lead the charge during the run. When Desiree Jones scored on a drive to the rim with 1:19 left in the half, the Cougars had come back to tie the game at 25.
But they weren’t done. They finished their 17-0 run to take a 29-25 lead at the half as a stunned Tecumseh team walked to the lockerroom at the break trying to figure out what had just happened.
Tecumseh quickly responded to start the third period as Griffitts connected from 15-feet out and the Arrows answered each Kenton Ridge score in the third period to eventually tie the game at 34 when Macy Berner scored with 1:28 left in the period.
Tecumseh grabbed the lead early in the fourth when Kirsten Nartker finished around the rim to give the Arrows a 38-36 lead with 6:19 left in the game.
From there, both teams battled as a layup from Griffitts and long three from Thomas kept tying the game for the Arrows, but they could never regain the lead again.
Morris scored ten points in the fourth period and when she hit a layup and followed with a pair of free throws with 1:25 left, the Cougars pushed their lead to 53-46 and Tecumseh could not answer.
Morris led Kenton Ridge with 23, while Jones added 15. For Tecumseh, Thomas scored 15 and Griffitts 14, both nearly half of their average. Pauley added ten for the Arrows.
Tecumseh is back in action at Urbana tonight in a game that was rescheduled following the untimely death of Hillclimbers coach Bill Moss. On Saturday the Arrows host Shawnee is a game that now becomes crucial to regain the momentum in the Kenton Trail Division.
