“It was a little hectic for our first game. We just have to get used to it,” said freshman guard/forward Olivia Wells-Daniels, who paced Middletown with nine points and 14 rebounds. “You’ll be surprised at what we can do. I know that we’re going to be the team that we need to be by the end of the season.”
Freshman Ari Layne tossed in seven points for the Middies, who were ultimately taken down by 28-percent shooting and 16 turnovers.
Emily Kepple (13), Sha’mya Leigh (12) and Aliyah Burks (10) topped the scoring for the Vikings as they gave Allison Jaynes, a 2007 Miamisburg graduate, a win in her head coaching debut.
“The good thing is this group battles. I don’t ever have to question their ability to play hard,” Middies coach Kevin Aldridge said. “We’re learning how to really execute every time we’re on the basketball floor. Not perfection, but making sure we’re in the right spots and locked in.
“I understand there’s a youth movement going on across the area, so we’re certainly not the only ones to make adjustments. We’re just asking for a little patience. I have a talented group. We’ll get it together.
“I believe everything that happened today is fixable. Plus, we’re missing some key pieces. Once we get everybody cleared and on board, we’ll be fine.”
Among the missing were senior Monique Prather, who’s expected to be cleared to play soon after transferring from Hamilton; junior Ashli Wills, a Middletown native who moved to Georgia and now must sit out the first 11 games after coming home (she’s also hurt); and sophomore Shonae Middleton, who was out of town Saturday.
“I believe in this group,” said Aldridge, whose team hosts Ross on Monday. “We’re just kind of fitting the pieces together right now. Hopefully we’ll be able to put a product out there that we can all be proud of.”
Wells-Daniels contributed two steals and two blocked shots in her first varsity contest. Sophomore Makina Gibson and freshman Samill Calhoun added five points apiece.
“It’s about being energetic and keeping a positive mind-set even if you’re messing up,” Wells-Daniels said. “Since I play AAU basketball, I have to learn that not everything is about you. You have to learn about your team. If I’m not playing well, I feel like I’m not giving my max effort for my team. If I don’t give all I’ve got, then how am I helping my team?”
Aldridge credited the Vikings for their defensive play in a 3-2 zone Saturday.
Miamisburg jumped to a 9-0 advantage and led by as many as 11 points in the opening half. The Middies kept fighting, chopping the deficit to 32-29 on Layne’s 3-pointer with 1:37 left in the third stanza.
But the Vikings finished that period with a six-point spurt in the last 59 seconds and weren’t seriously challenged the rest of the way.
“It feels really good,” Jaynes said. “The girls came out and executed exactly what we had planned. We’ve been stressing how important it is to be consistent, to be patient. Our defense has to create our offense, and they’re finally starting to realize that.”
Jaynes, who coached under Jill Phillips at Lakota East last season, admitted she had some nerves in her first game at the helm.
“The kids kept me in line,” Jaynes said. “We’re trying to change the culture. Our seniors haven’t had a winning season since they’ve been here, so we’ve been trying to tell them as long as you’re executing and buying in, things can gradually shift.”
Miamisburg had a 43-35 edge on the boards, led by Catherine Weber (nine), Kepple (eight) and Allison Rang (six).
The Vikings will host Carroll on Dec. 5.
Miamisburg 12-13-13-11—49
Middletown 4-13-12-8—37
MIAMISBURG (1-0): Allison Rang 3 0 6, Sha’mya Leigh 5 2 12, Aliyah Burks 3 4 10, Alex Sperry 1 2 4, Catherine Weber 2 0 4, Emily Kepple 5 3 13. Totals: 19-11-49
MIDDLETOWN (0-1): Breyon Wright 2 0 4, Samill Calhoun 2 0 5, Makina Gibson 2 0 5, Dayla Blake 1 0 3, Ari Layne 3 0 7, Olivia Wells-Daniels 4 1 9, Rachel Heidtman 0 1 1, Grace Boles 0 3 3. Totals: 14-5-37
3-pointers: MID 4 (Calhoun, Gibson, Blake, Layne)
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