Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LOGAN — Size is certainly not Logan Elm’s biggest strength.
But as it turns out, when you have speed, it doesn’t have to be.
The Braves’ track-style pace simply wears on opponents as they connect on one dagger after another.
It’s a recipe that’s worked 18 times this season.
Well, 19 times after Wednesday.
Logan Elm (20-4) had an answer for whatever McClain threw its way, and despite the Tigers’ best effort, the Braves had more in their tank as they collected a 51-42 victory in a Division IV district semifinal.
“These kids know how to honor each other. They know how to respect each other, and they truly love each other, where they know they’re going to fight for one another,” Logan Elm coach Mike Schultz said. “They’re worth fighting for, and they have each other’s back the whole time through thick and thin. They want to play for each other, and they don’t want to fail each other.”
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
Through the season, Logan Elm senior and leading scorer Kiannah Ingram has been the driving force behind the Braves’ success.
That didn’t change on Wednesday as she finished the night with 24 points and four rebounds. However, Kennedy Groff and Kimmy Petty both knocked down clutch shots in big moments to lift their team as well.
“We’re all really good offensive players and can shoot the ball from outside. But even if we aren’t hitting those shots, we’re all capable drivers,” Groff said. “We have multiple options that we’re able to run really well against anyone, so it comes down to just executing in practice and staying super polished.”
McClain (19-5) jumped ahead to a 5-2 lead, but Logan Elm countered with 3’s from Paylnn Wray and Kennedy Groff to take the lead, holding it until the end of the first frame at 13-10.
PHOTOS: Images from Logan Elm’s district semifinal win over McClain
Ingram began to heat up in the second, logging a steal and score, followed by a 3 and another bucket to help the Braves to a 24-16 lead, closing the half out ahead 24-18.
That run from Ingram only expanded in the third as she opened with a personal 7-2 run, extending the advantage to 31-20.
However, the Tigers began to chip away at the lead behind Paisley Pryor and Larah Henson, who combined to outscore the Braves 10-5 down the stretch to trim the deficit to 36-30.
McClain continued to hang around as Pryor corralled rebounds and connected on a handful of shots to keep the Tigers within 43-37.
But Groff responded on the other end with a huge 3 that push the lead back to three possessions, and that was ultimately the dagger that sealed McClain’s fate and kept the Braves’ season going.
“Up six with over three minutes to go, that wasn’t the shot we were looking for, but Kennedy was wide open and knocked it down,” Schultz said with a laugh. “She looked over at me and I couldn’t say anything since she made it, and what a huge shot it was. These girls just know how to battle and all of the close games we’ve been in have prepared us for games like this and I’m proud of them.”
Following Ingram’s 24-point night, Petty added eight points to the Braves’ totals.
Pryor finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds for McClain, and Henson added 12 points and 10 boards to the mix.
As McClain’s season ends, Logan Elm returns to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday in a Division IV district final against top-seeded Circleville, who defeated Hillsboro to advance.
That game will happen at Logan High School.
“Winning a district title would mean everything. It’s what we’ve been working towards all season and for the last three years since Schultz took over,” Logan Elm’s Gillian Savage said. “It’s been a slow process, but this is the one season that we can really push and make it happen. It’s been 32 years since our last district title, so it would mean everything to our community to bring it back with how much they’ve supported and traveled with us this season.”
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