PERRY–Despite already notching nine wins, Madison earned one of its most significant victories of the season Tuesday at the Santa Slam showcase at Perry.
A tight four-point Blue Streak halftime lead ballooned to 12 heading into the final quarter of a 54-42 win over the host Pirates.
“We made some halftime adjustments, moved a few girls around, and we were able to get into the passing lanes and get some steals that got us in transition, which is where we thrive,” said Madison head coach Heather Reho. “We thrived once we were able to push the ball.”
Mia Lynch got the Pirates out in front with a score underneath, but Kendra Smith and CC Alley quickly turned the tide with back-to-back 3-pointers for Madison.
Emily Mechenbier knocked down a jumper, Lynch answered in the post, and Madelyn White gave Madison the lead with a strong drive for a 13-12 edge after one quarter.
Mechenbier scored in the paint, Gianna LaMarco splashed a triple, and Mechenbier went back to work on the offensive glass with a putback to tie the game at 19.
White finished on the break, then LaMarco went coast-to-coast off a rebound and scored at the other end to send Madison into halftime with a 26-22 lead.
Amara Morant opened the second half with a corner 3-pointer. LaMarco then found a wide-open White cutting to the basket, and White followed with a triple of her own as Madison pushed the advantage to 42-30 heading into the fourth.
Brynn Trefzger buried a deep 3-pointer, and Payton Winters found Mechenbier down low to cut the deficit to 49-40, but LaMarco’s step-through move on the block helped Madison fend off Perry.
While it marked Madison’s 10th win of the season, it also stood out as a midseason signature victory over a rival.
“This was a huge win, probably number one on my list,” LaMarco said. “I know half the Perry girls, so it was great to see my friends, but we were all locked in to get the win.”
Now 10-2 after their 12th game, the Blue Streaks are beginning to understand what this team is capable of.
“This team never gives up, and we can play any style (of basketball) when we need to,” Reho said. “On any given night, any one of these girls can step up and be the MVP of that game, which is a nice luxury to have.”
LaMarco led all scorers with 20 points and four steals, while White followed with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and three rebounds. Alley added nine points with three 3-pointers, and Kaylee LaMarco chipped in eight points.
For Perry, the loss came on the heels of another tough matchup against Canfield, but head coach Roy Infalvi said the experience will pay off.
“I feel good about our team. I know we’ll respond to this. In the Canfield game, I thought we got after it, competed well, and out-physicaled them,” Infalvi said. “Today, it was a little bit of the opposite. Madison did some really nice things, but we weren’t physical and didn’t get the ball inside enough. We’ll take this and learn from it.”
Mechenbier paced the Pirates with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Lynch added 13 points.
Madison hosts Mayfield on Dec. 29, while Perry visits Geneva on Dec. 30.
