Pilots take down the Barnesville Shamrocks, 52-30
HANNIBAL — The shooting percentage for Barnesville High School resembled the frigid temperature outside the R.L. Potts gym on Thursday, and River’s Lady Pilots took advantage in a 52-30 Senior Night repeat win.
In a tight battle for a homecourt OVAC 2A playoff game, coach Rick Isaly’s 10-7 crew forced 18 turnovers, many helping to make an eight-point second quarter lead become a 29-point cushion.
“When we picked it up offensively it’s because we’re moving our feet and getting in the flow,” said Isaly, disappointed his own club had 17 turnovers. “We had three players in double figures, plus Mallory (Maddy) played well for a freshman, giving us what we need off the bench.”
Senior Kaylee Hagan led the winners with 17 points, while sophomore Maci Isaly and frosh Carleigh Trifonoff added 12 and 11, respectively.
“We missed too many bunnies,” said coach Ty Leach of his 7-9 record group. “It comes down to a lack of confidence especially in the paint.” The Lady Rocks shot 25 percent (11-of-44) to River’s 21-of-44.
“(River) shot it well and Rick (Isaly) always does a great job coaching and getting a new group of girls involved every season.”
The hosts led 7-1 before Leach’s young club pulled to 7-5 on a Madelynn Tyson hoop. Zoey Fox hit 1-of-2 at the line and back-to-back ‘treys’ from Isaly and Trifonoff made it 14-5.
The Lady Pilots’ other senior, Reese Hobbs, converted a steal and banked in a Hagan feed at the buzzer for an 18-9 lead at the break.
Hagan and Maddy scored inside for a 22-9 spread at 5:01 before Lilly Welch’s pair of low post scores trimmed the deficit to 22-14. Leach’s club would get no closer.
River closed the half with a Fox free throw, a Hobbs hoop, 1-of-2 shotting from the line by Isaly, and a layup by Hagan for a 28-14 intermission lead as a Pilot press was effective.
Three points from Tyson made it 28-17, but a River timeout at 6:24 preceded a 21-3 Lady Pilot run as a putback by Fox and bonus bombs from Trifonoff, Hagan and Isaly made it 41-20 at the quarter call.
Hagan, who had eight rebounds and five assists, drove the lane to open the fourth and she followed scores from Trifonoff and Isaly to create a 49-20 difference.
Welch led the Lady Rocks with 11 points, while Tyson added nine points for the Green-and-Red, who host Shadyside on Saturday afternoon.
Isaly was all over the floor with eight boards, four steals and six assists, while Hobbs and Trifonoff had four steals each for the Pilots, who visit Frontier on Monday.