Beavercreek and Bellbrook tipped off the opening night of the Ohio High School girls basketball season Friday with a non-league clash pitting traditional Greene County heavyweights. The host Eagles survived 34-30.
“It’s been a couple years since we’ve been 1-0.” Bellbrook head coach Jason Tincher said. “That’s what we talked about. Urban Meyer always says the best thing about being 1-0 is you get the chance to go 2-0.”
Featuring seven sophomores and two freshmen on its 12-player roster, Creek struggled to score.
The Eagles led 8-7 after the first quarter, 18-14 at halftime and 24-18 after the third. Ahead 30-18 with 3:30 left, the Eagles appeared in control. Then momentum shifted.
Using a 10-0 run, the Beavers cut the deficit to 32-30 and had possession with less than 15 seconds left. Junior Anna Landing’s attempt from the left baseline to tie the game fell just short and two ensuing free throws by Bellbrook’s Dreann Price produced the final margin.
“We’re going to have trouble scoring (this season),” Zink said. “We’re going to have to defend and we did a good job of that tonight. When we were down 12, the kids could have folded – especially with how young we are – and we didn’t.”
Junior Maci Rhoades scored a game-high 14 points for Beavercreek, while junior Trinity Bean added seven and Landing five. Those three and senior Tieran McKitrick round out the Beavers experienced returners. Last year’s leading scorer, junior Alyssa Hall, transferred to Wayne.
Bellbrook is in a similar situation.
Despite having seven seniors on the roster, the Eagles return five players who saw action in seven games or more last year. Bellbrook’s backcourt – sophomores Kendall Knisley and Price and freshman Kelley Griffin – is young.
“I like being in intense situations (like tonight) with these young guards,” Tincher said. “We’re going to be better for it down the road, but there’s a lot to clean up.”
Junior Bailey Zerby and Price led Bellbrook with nine points each, while senior Gigi Painter was recognized by Tincher for her efforts inside.
Both teams could meet again in the Division I postseason, as Bellbrook – a D-II state semifinalist just two years ago – bumps up to the big school ranks.
The Eagles look to challenge Valley View for the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwest Division title.
Beavercreek faces its regular Greater Western Ohio Conference grind.
“Centerville, Wayne, Fairmont, Springboro…we have Mount Notre Dame next Saturday,” Zink said. “Where does it end? We’re going to have to scratch and claw for every win we can get.”
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