Miami Trace bounces back, pulls away from Waverly for first win

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — If Miami Trace coach Kayla Dettwiller was wondering how her team would respond after a loss, she now has the answer.

After being handed a season-opening 43-point loss to Unioto last Wednesday, Dettwiller’s youth-filled Panthers could have allowed that setback to determine which path they’d be taking throughout the entirety of the 2023-24 season.

But instead, they shook it off, put it in the rearview mirror and bounced back in a resounding way, earning their first victory by a 61-51 final over Waverly.

“We knew going into Wednesday that we had a Goliath of an opponent in front of us,” Dettwiller said. “So we talked to the kids about having nothing to lose in that game and just trying to get better on each possession and each play. We’re extremely young with 18 kids in the program and nine freshmen. So every play and every possession, they’re growing up. I can’t wait to see how they’re playing in February.”

Two of those youngins led the way in the victory — freshman Gracie Lovett and sophomore Ellie Robinette.

The duo combined to score 26 points alongside 16 rebounds and seven assists. Needless to say, the future is bright.

“Even though we lost [on Wednesday], we still kept up with [Unioto] it felt like,” Robinette said. “We still gave a total team effort and we still pushed each other. We’re such a young group and it’s mainly underclassmen. We play at a faster pace and having that fast tempo, I feel like, helps us. We know we can get up and down the court. We’re growing and we’re bonding.”

Tale of the tape

Junior Nevaeh Lyons had the hot hand out of the gates, pacing the Panthers (1-1) to a 10-8 lead after the first eight minutes.

Lyons hit the team’s first two buckets, at the 7:13 and 6:43 marks, before teaming up with Jessee Stewart and Robinette to put MT ahead after one. While it was a slim two-point lead, it created momentum, which they’d desperately need throughout the second.

“The fast start was really big for us,” Dettwiller said. “Getting those points early was something we talked about in the locker room … coming out and building a lead. We just couldn’t extend it until later in the game. Nevaeh got us started, though, and hit some good, wide open shots.”

Waverly’s Caris Risner — who was magnificent all game — tied the game at 12-12 with a pair of free throws but Robinette nailed a 3 and Lyons scored again, putting the Panthers ahead 17-12 with 4:36 to play.

But just after that burst of momentum, Stewart, the team’s only senior, was forced to sit out with two quick fouls. She took the team’s only source of veteran leadership to the bench with her.

“We only have four upperclassmen in the entire program and [Stewart] carries a lot on her shoulders,” Dettwiller said. “The good thing with our youth is that they’ve played a lot of basketball together and they’ve had a lot of success early on. So they’re not complete strangers to certain situations. It’s just a testament to them as a team, continuing to play. You see some teams that don’t know what to do when their leader is out. Our kids looked for ways to score.”

PHOTOS: Images from Miami Trace’s win over Waverly

The Tigers (0-1) certainly took advantage of their opportunity to pounce – pun intended — and embarked on a 11-4 scoring run to end the first half, seizing a 23-21 lead at the break.

But while Miami Trace gave up the lead, it also weathered the storm. And when Stewart returned to the lineup in the third, positive possessions started to develop.

Stewart and Ryleigh Vincent nailed back-to-back shots early, forcing a 25-25 tie, before Lauren Guess scored with 3:33 to put MT back on top at 33-32. Stewart then dialed long distance with 2:37 to go before Robinette followed suit with 1:37 to go, making it a 39-32 lead.

That seven-point lead dwindled to six at 43-37 heading to the fourth but the Panthers never trailed again.

Try as they might, Risner and Eyra Coe did everything they could to keep Waverly in the ballgame. But Lovett took over late, scoring at will and matching Risner and Coe basket for basket, before Stewart hit a late 3 to make it a 59-48 game with 3:07 remaining. That all but sealed Miami Trace’s first victory.

“We knew coming into this game that [Waverly] was going to do a lot of the same things [as Unioto],” Dettwiller said. “We were going to see a lot of dribble-penetration from Waverly. They were fast, played physical and they attacked the boards. So we had to stop penetration and get box outs.”

Stat book

Lovett led the Panthers with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists while Robinette added 12 points, eight boards and a pair of helpers. Stewart also hit double-digit scoring figures with 12 points of her own.

Waverly was paced by Risner with a game-high 21 points alongside seven rebounds and four assists. Coe chipped in with 15 points and four boards.

What’s on tap

Waverly will attempt to bounce back on Thursday in non-league play, hosting Zane Trace, while Miami Trace returns to action on Wednesday in FAC action at Chillicothe.

Last season, the Panthers dropped both decisions to the Cavaliers by 55-53 and 47-44 finals.

“I’m looking for us to grow, make good basketball decisions and build off of this win,” Dettwiller said. “We want to continue to instill confidence in our younger kids and, hopefully, this puts us into Chillicothe with some momentum and on an uphill swing.”

BOX SCORE

Waverly: 8-15-14-14 — 51

Miami Trace: 10-11-22-18 — 61

Waverly: 19-44 FG, 14-21 FT, 1-13 3pt., 23 rebounds (Risner 7), 13 turnovers, 5 assists (Risner 4). Scoring: Risner 21, Coe 15, Royster 7, Schrader 6, Pecorari 2.

Miami Trace: 25-57 FG, 6-18 FT, 5-13 3pt., 29 rebounds (Robinette 8, Lovett 8), 15 turnovers, 12 assists (Lovett 5). Scoring: Robinette 14, Lovett 12, Stewart 12, Lyons 9, Guess 8, Vincent 6.

SPONSORED BY SCHMIDT FAMILY RESTAURANT GROUP