SHELBY — The Whippets may have stumbled out of the starting gate, but it didn’t take long for them to regain their footing Thursday evening.
Five players scored in double figures as Shelby rumbled to a 77-42 win over Clear Fork in Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference action at Shelby.
The Whippets (8-3, 5-1) led 11-9 after the first quarter but outscored the Colts (5-7, 1-3) 66-33 the rest of the way.
“In the first quarter I thought we were pretty bad,” Shelby coach Natalie Lantz said. “We were driving hard, which is great, but as you draw that second defender it’s got to be a kickout. We want open shots, not forced shots.
“The final three quarters I was pleased with. We made a couple of adjustments defensively and we took better shots near the bucket.”
Clear Fork trailed 13-11 after a Bekah Conrad layup with 7:07 remaining in the second quarter before Shelby went to work. The Whippets outscored the Colts 22-10 the rest of the period to open a 35-21 halftime lead.
“That’s the best team we’re probably going to face this year and the best team in Richland County,” Clear Fork coach Scott Sellers said. “They’re well-coached, the Baker girls (Haylee and Olivia) are awesome and Sophie Niese is awesome. Then on top of all that, they have a bunch of role players who can all knock down shots. They are amazing.”
Any hope the Colts had of making a second-half comeback was quickly dashed during the third quarter. Shelby opened the period on a 19-2 run and outscored Clear Fork 27-12. Haylee and Olivia Baker scored eight points apiece in the period.
“I think we wore them down there, especially in the third quarter,” Lantz said.
Sellers agreed.
“That is one of the first times all season where we’ve gotten worn down,” Sellers said. “We’ve got a lot of guards and we sub a lot.”
Haylee Baker led Shelby with 15 points, while Brooklyn Gwirtz had 14. Olivia Baker, Niese and Audi Albert each had a dozen.
Conrad led the Colts with a game-high 24 points. Annika Labaki and Lyvia Davis each had four.
