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View photos from this game at MyDaytonDailyNews.com
With four starters back from last year’s Division III regional semifinal team, there’s no chance Greeneview will sneak up on anyone this season. But with a lineup that tops out at 5 foot 8, there’s still much to prove for the Rams.
“We’re all kind of short, so everybody short-sights us anyway,” shrugged Kristen Combs after an as-yet season defining 71-45 dismantling of host Miami Valley in Monday night’s non-league girls high school basketball. “There’s a little bit of we’re trying to surprise people and show we can play physical. We can play tough.”
There was an abundance of that from Greeneview and especially from Combs. The senior drained five 3s and converted 11 of 12 fourth-quarter free throws to tally a season-high 30 points. Junior Sydnie Sonneman added 12 points for Greeneview (10-2).
It was only the second loss for Miami Valley (10-2), but the Rams might have benefitted in another way. Miami Valley has lost just three games in four of the last five season, but each time failed to win a D-IV district final.
That’s why coach Randy Duff loaded his non-league schedule with Versailles, Carroll, Greeneview, Thurgood Marshall and Fenwick. The payoff won’t be revealed until early March.
“That’s what we’re doing,” said Duff, whose team was led by Taylor Middleton’s 13 points. “The program’s been at a pretty high level for a while now. We just can’t seem to get over the hump. That’s why we put these teams on the schedule.”
Greeneview has lost only to Ohio Heritage Conference rival West Liberty-Salem (9-2) and Miami Trace in its previous game on Dec. 23. Cedarville (9-2) also is an OHC contender.
“Our style is a lot different than it was a year ago,” Greeneview coach Tim Hoelle said. “Hopefully, you have a game like this, that new style starts to click for the rest of the season.”
Miami Valley’s other loss was by five points at Versailles. There’s no letup in the schedule, with Metro Buckeye Conference rival Xenia Christian (10-1) visiting on Thursday.
“I like where we’re at,” Duff said. “My staff and I get out and we’ll see 200 games. We’ve seen the Division IV teams. We know where we’re at and we know what we have to do.”
Tia Karras added 10 points for Miami Valley and Alyssa Clements nine.
Stebbins 88, Xenia 27: Mackenzie Lingg hit a half-dozen 3s and tallied 24 points and Alyssa Bowman added 19 points as the host Indians improved to 13-2 in a non-league game.
Tecumseh 77, Northmont 53: Lindsey Nartker and Corinne Thomas each had 23 points and Presley Griffitts added 18 to lead the visiting Arrows (11-2) in another non-league game. Erin Mangen led Northmont (6-6) with 12 points.
Bellbrook 38, Vandalia Butler 34: Cassidy Hofacker scored 16 points as unbeaten Bellbrook (11-0) dodged a road scare. Shelby Moses led Butler (6-5) with 11 points.
Urbana 47, Piqua 32: Katy Curnutte unloaded 30 points for host Urbana (4-8).
Milton-Union 51, Covington 45: Jordan Price had 11 points and five steals and Taylor Jacobs was good for 10 points and as many rebounds and the host Bulldogs used an 18-10 fourth-quarter run to improve to 10-3.
Boys results
Yellow Springs 68, Miami Valley 58: Isaiah Taylor tallied 22 points and Kaner Butler 18 for the host Bulldogs (8-3). Casey Gossett had 28 points for Miami Valley (1-9).
Bethel 59, Troy Christian 30: Caleb South scored 16 points and Ian Anderson added 14, including 4 three-pointers for the host Bees.
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