Chargers Dominate Clark State 73-40, Eye Tournament Spot

Article by Rob K. Winkle, Jr., B.A. | Photo by Reflections by Rob, LLC

The Lady Chargers would travel 31 miles to neighboring Springfield to take on their OCCAC rival, Clark State, for the final time this season. The stakes are always high between these two teams for the sake of rivalry. Tonight, however, the stakes were much higher for Coach McMahon and his team as a win was needed to maintain position in the OCCAC Div-II tournament. As mentioned when these two rivals met earlier in the season, an additional dynamic to this game is four former high school teammates at Tecumseh High School would all be involved in this game, and the stands were full of Tecumseh supporters; however, not sitting all together like last season. Chargers' guards Emma Garber (Tecumseh HS) and Morgan Allen (Tecumseh HS) would team up to take on Clark State's Madi Moore and Morgan Board and one of them would have a big game, more on that below.

Freshman Guard Abby Yukon (Graham HS) was the offensive force tonight that Clark State could not find an answer for, scoring 12 in the 1st half and 10 in the second half for a total of 22 points on the night, 9 of those points in the first quarter. (Stats Unofficial at press time) The Chargers trailed early 7-2 2:30 minutes into the game and battled back to a 1-point deficit with 1:12 remaining in the 1st of 11-9. Then Yukon would heat up, dropping an and-one basketball with 58.3 remaining in the 1st and would convert the 3-point play to put her team ahead 12-11. Edison State would end the 1st quarter ahead 16-11 they would never again trail in this contest. Yukon (12.5 PPG) has now posted double-digit points in 20 of her 25 games this year and scored 12 against Clark State in Piqua.

As usual with this team, Yukon would not be the only source of firepower; this team has made it routine, hitting baskets from all spots on the court with their whole roster all season. Freshman and two-time OCCAC POTW Allison Hughes (Parkway HS), who averages 13.4 ppg, would score 12 total and pull several rebounds consistent with her standard of play this year, coming in second in points for the night. Without including tonight's totals, Yukon and Hughes had accounted for 646 (35%) of the Charger's 1842 total points coming into tonight's game. The two freshman stars are putting together quite a season. Edison State would go into the half-time locker rooms leading 39-21.

The Chargers would also have the all-around play of sophomore guard Makenzee Maschino (Troy HS) since her return in December to control the ball, play stringent defense, and lit up the scoring numbers. Maschino would score ten total tonight with several assists and blocks.

This season, OCCAC Player of the Week, Sophomore guard Paxton Hunley (Miami-East HS) would be the fourth Charger to post double-digits in this blowout effort, scoring 10 to tie Maschino for 3rd on the team in scoring. The Chargers pull ahead by 25 with 5:21 left in the 3rd, leading 49-24.

Another OCCAC Player of the Week this season, Matea Bartel (Colerain HS), would play tough on boards as she has all season after being forced to play up more often due to the season-ending Achilles injury to Freshman Ania Pearson (Lima Shawnee), pulling several boards and putting in 9 points to contribute. The Chargers would continue to be consistent, fluent with ball movement, tough on boards, and stingy on defense to handily defeat their rival for the second time this season, 73-40.

This was an away game for Garber and Morgan by team specifications; however, it was a sweet homecoming as they were able to win decisively in front of many of their high-school fans who were divided as Eagles and Chargers, but in the end, all still Tecumseh Arrows. Garber would have a big game. Several steals, rebounds, tight defense, and big passes were all in her game tonight, leaving with 5 points scored as well.

Where do the Chargers go from here? After play tonight, they remain 1st in the OCCAC by conference rankings but in a three-way tie with Lakeland and Cuyahoga with 8-3 records in OCCAC play. This is not unfamiliar territory for Coach McMahon and Coach Martin or the Chargers. Edison State or Lakeland have been champions or co-champions of the OCCAC for three of the last four seasons. As for the tournament, the top three teams in the OCCAC will advance to the NJCAA Divison-II tournament. The mentioned familiar territory for the Chargers is their season comes down to Lakeland on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Kirtland.

To simplify it, the Chargers must defeat Lakeland as the #4 team. Hocking College has a 7-4 OCCAC record but ended their season tonight by defeating Terra State. If the Chargers defeat Lakeland on Saturday, they will punch their ticket to the tournament. A loss ties them with Hocking, and then tiebreakers come into play, but the best and most effective route for the ladies to make the tournament is simply to beat Lakeland again, as they defeated them 86-70 in Piqua on February 4th. A win would end the Chargers' season record at 20-7 (9-3), Lakeland would be 12-9 (8-4), and Cuyahoga plays Clark State on Saturday, assuming a win for them would end their season at 18-9 (9-3) this scenario would put Cuyahoga as the #1 seed via a tiebreak and a 2-game sweep of the Chargers this season, Chargers #2 via a sweep of Lakeland, and Lakeland would take the #3 seed from the OCCAC. Those three teams would move into tournament play and Edison State and Cuyahoga would be OCCAC co-champions for the season.

These ladies were fired up after the big win on Wednesday and have no intention of allowing their season to end on Saturday so that it will be a showdown in Kirtland. However, if Lakeland defeats Edison State and Cuyahoga defeats Clark State, then Cuyahoga and Lakeland will be co-champions because the league championship is based on winning percentage alone. Lakeland and Cuyahoga have 9-3 OCCAC records, and Edison State would end 8-4 in OCCAC play.

This win ended a three-game skid for the Chargers. This team has produced an OCCAC POTW six times this year (Hughes 3, Yukon, Hunley, and Bartel 1), a team that has fought to the end for each other and showed adeptness on all sides of the ball and only lost one game at home (9-1).

For all game photos, including this game, visit Reflections by Rob, LLC.