Williamsburg, has been red hot in Clermont County girls varsity basketball action. Included among the recent victories are wins over the two largest schools in the Southern Buckeye Conference, enrollment-wise, Amelia and Western Brown. Williamsburg has the smallest enrollment of any Clermont County school.
“I expected to be competitive this year because we have some very good varsity experience coming back (four starters),” said Wildcat head coach Ken Lowe.
The four starters back in the pack are senior guard Molly Bruns, senior forward Rachel Meisberger, junior guard Heidi McManus, and sophomore guard Elizabeth Meisberger. The other member of this season’s starting five, junior forward Tara Dennis, also has good varsity experience.
Lowe believes another factor in his charges’ favor is “they play well together.”
The Blue and White averages 46.7 points per game and allows 40.0. “That is the best in the four years I’ve been here,” said the ‘Cats’ mentor.
Dennis and McManus average 16.4 and McManus 9.8 points, respectively, per game. Dennis is the rebound leader with a 10.0 average and Bruns and McManus are the assist leaders.
“We’re doing well, but there is room for improvement in all areas,” said Lowe who mentioned the junior varsity team under coach Tim Swart is “playing well” and sporting an 8-3 record.
Williamsburg blasted Batavia 60-25 in a Southern Buckeye Conference National Division game. The hosts led at the end of each quarter 18-8, 33-11, and 49-20. Dennis dropped in 19 points and McManus 11. Kylee Richardson put in eight points for the visiting Bulldogs.
Williamsburg whipped Northeastern in Owensville 53-40 in a Southern Buckeye Conference non-division contest. Dennis scorched the nets for 25 points and McManus for 23, including three three-pointers. Alexis Schmidt’s nine points paced CNE.
Amelia was also beaten 53-40. The visiting Wildcats were behind 11-6 and 23-18 after the first two stanzas and went ahead 38-29 after the third frame of this non-division Southern Buckeye battle. Dennis’ 24 points led all scorers. Kymmy Simon, junior guard, and Danielle Lang, sophomore forward, made 16 and 10 points, respectively, for the Barons.
New Richmond
The Lions have been winning of late including a 35-20 verdict over visiting Batavia in a non-division duel of the Southern Buckeye. Reno Frayne, senior center-forward, made 13 points for the victors and junior forward Abby Hericks seven for the vanquished.
The Red and Black also setback Taylor’s Yellow Jackets 30-21. In this non-conference clash, the home girls were ahead throughout 13-7, 19-12, and 21-16. Junior guard Mikaela Rupp made 11 points to lead the NR offensive charge.
In a non-division game of the Southern Buckeye, Georgetown’s G-Women whipped the visiting Red and Black 51-24 owning quarter leads of 20-5, 27-7, and 45-17. Junior forward Georgia Buckingham’s nine points paced the Clermont countians.
Amelia
The Barons overpowered visiting Felicity 74-38 after spotting the visitors a 14-12 advantage after the first eight minutes of play. The hosts led the rest of the way 32-16 and 57-26. Simon poured in 26 points and junior guard-forward Megan Mentzel 12 for the Blue and White. Alex Stevenson, senior forward, tossed in nine points for the Red and White in this non-division bout of the Southern Buckeye.
In a non-conference confrontation, Amelia mastered Mariemont’s Warriors 53-34 on the victor’s court. The Barons held sway all the way 14-8, 29-12, and 41-21. Simon made 12 points, Mentzel 11, and junior guard-forward Alanna Whited 10 for the triumphant.
Aiken eliminated Amelia 44-32 in a non-league confrontation on the Falcons’ floor. Simon’s eight points topped the Barons’ scoring.
Bethel-Tate
The Tigers tamed Batavia 49-30 in the county seat. Brooke Kenneda, senior center, and Tess Jenike, senior guard, were in the forefront of the Red and Gray’s offense with respective point totals of 15 and 12 points. Sophomore guard McKenna Fraley netted a personal varsity high of seven points for the Green and White.
In a non-division fray of the Southern Buckeye, Georgetown put down the Fighting Tigers 60-47. Following a 14-both first quarter, the visitors took over 29-18 and 41-36 despite Jenike’ s 15 points and 13 by junior guard Carolin Baker.
Milford
The E-Gals won out in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference East Division over Little Miami’s Panthers 55-52. The Red and White spotted their guests a 9-4 and 21-18 lead after the first two quarters before taking over 39-32 going into the last eight minutes of regulation play. Junior guard Kelly Yee’s 14 points was the most made by a Clermont countian.
In another division game of the Fort Ancient Valley, King’s Knights escaped with a 44-42 overtime victory over their hosts. The first quarter was tied at four and the E-Gals were ahead 17-15 and 26-21 after the next pair of periods before the scored was knotted at 34 at the end of regulation time. Leading the Red and White’s scoring was junior guard-forward Morgan Wolcott with 13 points, Yee with 11, and sophomore forward Rachel Sullivan with 10.
Walnut Hills’ Eagles just got past Milford 27-26 in a Fort Ancient Valley East battle on the winners’ hardwood. The host Eagles led 7-6 and 15-14 after the first two periods before the visitors temporarily led 20-19 after three quarters of play. Sullivan’s eight points topped the Red and White’s offense.
Clermont Northeastern
The Rockets beat Blanchester 39-28 at home in a non-division game of the Southern Buckeye. The visitors were ahead 15-14 and 23-22 after CNE had taken a 6-5 first frame edge. Alexis Schmidt’s 15 points was the best of the scoring total for CNE.
Goshen
The Warriors were undone by Wyoming in a non-league loss 43-20 on the road. Allie Jeandrevin, junior guard, threw in eight points for the Red and Gray. The Cowgirls were ahead throughout 13-3, 21-9, and 30-8.
Felicity
The Cardinals were plucked by Cincinnati Country Day’s Indians 60-38 in a non-league road game. Sophomore forward-center Arica Stutz sank 12 points for the Cards.
Peebles out-scored their guests 63-40 as the Indians were ahead all the way 14-6, 30-17, and 52-30. Stutz poured in 20 points for the Clermont countians.
Glen Este
The Trojans lost three consecutive Fort Ancient Valley East endeavors. The first was to Anderson’s Redskins 46-40 as the Purple People were behind 9-7 after one quarter and up 21-17 and 35-29 after the next two breaks. Senior guard Lakin Louiso made 11 points (including three three-pointers) and sophomore guard Hannah Carson also had a trio of threes for GE.
Kings konked the Trojans 51-46 in an East Division game on the losers’ wood 51-46. The Knights were up 17-9, 23-12, and 33-24 at the rests. Junior forward Jackie Young tallied 15 points and Louiso 11 (including three-threes) for the Clermont countians.
Little Miami barely upended Glen Este 45-44 in a Fort Ancient East fray in Morrow. The visitors were ahead 14-12 and 26-23 after the first two periods before the Panthers took a 34-31 advantage after three frames. Louiso sank 12 points (including three threes, Young 11, and sophomore forward Katie Gaskill 10.
Batavia
The Bulldogs were defeated by Finneytown’s Wildcats in a non-league game on the losers’ floor. The guests were up at the intermissions 17-6, 31-14, and 41-22. Senior guard Alyssa Gibson’s 10 points were the most by the Batavia.
Madeira bashed Batavia 55-23 with the Mustangs on top at each stop 16-8, 32-16, and 45-18. Senior guard Sarah Gibson netted six points to lead the visitors scoring in this non-league loss.