Middies able to survive late flurry

Turnover-prone MHS staves off late Dayton Christian rally, as Frazier leads way with 25 points.

Photos: Middletown vs. Dayton Christian

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By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 2:37 AM Saturday, November 28, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Close may only count in horseshoes and hand grenades, but the host Middletown High School girls basketball team survived a close call Friday night, Nov. 27, in the Wade E. Miller gym.

The Middies (1-0) led 59-49 with just over three minutes left to play, but had to fight off a Dayton Christian rally in the final seconds for a 61-59 win.

Dayton Christian’s Lisa Weber launched a grenade of the 3-point variety with nine seconds left in the game that rolled around the inside of the rim and fell out. Had the shot fallen through, the upstart Warriors would’ve tied the game at 60. Instead, teammate Lindsey Wenzel hit a pair of free throws to pull to within a point.

At the other end, Micah Dennis hit the front end of a pair of double-bonus free throws with 6.6 seconds left to seal the win. Dayton Christian (0-1) could only muster a desperation shot from well behind midcourt as the buzzer sounded.

“I don’t think we were all on the same page, especially toward the middle of the game,” said the Middies senior center Taylor Frazier. “I’m proud that we stuck together and won though.”

Frazier finished with a game-high 25 points. Middie coach Scott Dalton wiped his brow as he left the locker room.

“Whew! Turnovers killed us tonight. And it seemed like whenever we did get a good lead, we just couldn’t put them away,” Dalton said. “I knew (Dayton Christian) would be a good test for us. They were 15-6 last season. We’re just a very young team and I think that showed tonight.”

Middletown had 38 turnovers, 23 in the first half.

Dayton Christian’s Weber led the Warriors with 22 points, but she would’ve loved to have finished with 25.

“I thought that shot was going to go in,” she said. “We were close, but I guess we just needed a few more seconds.”

Dayton Christian reeled off a 12-4 run to close to within two points, but trailed 30-28 at halftime. Middletown went on a 9-0 run to start the second half, and had a 10-point lead after three quarters of play. Once more, Dayton Christian went on a closing spurt, outscoring the Middies 11-4 in the final 3:24.

Both teams return to action Monday with Middletown playing a 7 p.m. contest in Finneytown. Dayton Christian will travel to West Carrollton. Warriors coach Paul Orme felt good after the game.

“Lisa’s shot was in-and-out. What’re you going to do?” Orme shrugged. “I’m really pleased with how we battled back like that, and I’m happy with the way we played.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.

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She will be the top player IF she doesn't get ruled ineligible. She needs to get her head in her academics if she ever plans on making it anywhere in basketball.

if
10:13 AM, 11/28/2009

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I was there and glad to see the Middies win. Taylor Frazier is awesome. However, one thing I’d like to see her do more of is not rushing her shot too much. 5 or 6 times she received the ball under the basket and missed by a lot because she rushed herself and didn’t square up more and shoot like she is capable of shooting. She is too talented to miss those kinds of shots. I think she could end up being the top player in the whole conference, and I’d like to see that happen. Go Middies!!!

HappyMiddieFan
9:04 AM, 11/28/2009

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