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CHILLICOTHE — With a chance to clinch a share of its second consecutive Scioto Valley Conference championship, Unioto knew it needed to get out to a fast start on Tuesday against Adena.
So that’s exactly what the Shermans did … and they never let off the gas pedal.
Unioto (17-2, 12-0 SVC) launched out to a 13-1 lead to get its fast start and cruised to a 63-49 victory over second-place Adena in front of a capacity crowd.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Playing without two starters, the Shermans were able to get the usual performances from Milee Smith and Amaris Betts. But a spectacular display on both ends of the floor from Maggie Holbert helped the Tanks maintain their lead throughout the game.
Holbert — who was tasked with guarding defending SVC Player of the Year Emma Garrison — scored a season-high 12 points while holding Garrison to just six, 10-plus under her average.
“Tonight, we were facing the challenge of not having Mya [Hamilton] with us,” Holbert said. “We knew that we were going to have a different lineup and play different roles. We needed to take charge as a team. I’ve been more of a defensive player and I know that’s my role. But without one of our main scorers, I needed to step up to help us win this game.”
Tale of the tape
After the Shermans took a quick lead, Adena (17-2, 10-2 SVC) bounced back with excellent play off the bench from Corinne Day and Kamryn Sowers, who each scored five first half points.
The Warriors put together a 7-2 run late in the half, but the Shermans grabbed some momentum back when Aidyn Danison scored a runout layup in the closing seconds to take a 30-16 lead into the locker room.
Adena shot a lowly 2-for-14 from 3-point range in the first half, but came out firing in the second, nailing four of its first five attempts of the third quarter.
Garrison, Sydney Ater, Marly Halcomb and Kiera Williams all knocked down triples, but they were unable to cut the lead below 10 points — due in part to Smith exploding offensively on the other end.
PHOTOS: Images from Unioto’s win over Adena
Smith, a sophomore, scored 16 of her game-high 28 points in the second half, doing enough to offset the clinical shooting display that Halcomb put on in the second half. Halcomb, only a freshman, also scored 16 points in the second half.
The Shermans were seemingly able to answer every run the Warriors made, whether it be with a 3 from Betts, a layup from Amelia Uhrig to Abbie Marshall, or a tough three-point play from Smith that brought Unioto’s faithful to their feet.
Stat book
Halcomb led the Warriors with 21 points and five rebounds while Garrison and Williams each added six points. Sowers passed out a team-high four assists for the Warriors, as well.
“Defense wins games, but you also have to be able to score some,” Holbert said. “Emma is [Adena’s] main player, and she’s a very well-rounded player. But we knew we needed to shut her down and that was my role tonight.”
Smith also added 10 rebounds and four steals to go along with her game-high 28 points. Betts netted 17 points, passed out four assists and pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds. Uhrig also corralled nine boards.
In total, the Shermans out-rebounded Adena by a 39-17 margin.
“I didn’t really realize was rebounding as much as I was,” Betts said. “[Adena] doesn’t really have size besides [Corrine] Day, but she wasn’t in [the game] a lot. So I knew that I could get some rebounds.”
What’s on tap
Tuesday marked Unioto’s 26th consecutive SVC victory, clinching a second straight league title.
“It means a lot,” Betts said. “I really love this team.”
“This is our second year. We’re back-to-back,” Holbert said. “It feels good to know that we have a team that’s strong and one that has strong relationships. We’re just trying to keep going.”
The Shermans will be back in action on Saturday at Zane Trace while Adena returns to the floor that same night, hosting Piketon.
BOX SCORE
Adena: 6-10-14-19 — 49
Unioto 16-14-15-18 — 63
Adena: 16-49 FG, 8-19 FT, 9-25 3pt. Scoring: Halcomb 21, Garrison 6, Williams 6, Day 5, Sowers 5, Ater 4, Corcoran 2.
Unioto: 24-59 FG, 13-17 FT, 4-16 3pt. Scoring: Smith 28; Betts 17, Holbert 12, Marshall 3, Danison 2, Uhrig 1.
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