Stephens’ 3s fuel Tigress second-quarter surge

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Princeton’s Allie Youngren eyes the basket between LaMoille/Ohio’s Laura Stauffer and Lorraine Stamberger in Thursday’s hoop action at Prouty Gym. (BCR photo/Chris Yucus)

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PRINCETON — A Midland dad yelled from the stands, “Don’t let her shoot,” as Princeton’s Molly Stephens hit her second straight three-pointer and third of the first half to lift the Tigresses to a 31-23 lead late in the second quarter in Friday’s Holiday Tournament game with Midland.

Stephens’ flurry capped a 22-5 spurt, including nine straight points, which turned an 18-9 deficit into a 31-23 lead. The senior guard finished with a team-high 23 points to lead the Tigresses to a 61-57 win over the Timberwolves.

“That’s the nice thing about our team. On any given night we have a kid who can score 20. I think we’re hard to key on one girl on our team. Any one of these girls is capable,” PHS coach Spencer Davis said.

PHS (2-0) will now take on old tournament rival Stark County, a 57-20 win over LaMoille/Ohio in Friday’s first game, in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sophomores C.J. Rhodes (two free throws) and Jasmine Kunkel (a three) got the ball rolling. Lacey Jensen hit a free throw, Molly Harmon scored inside and Stephens downed two free throws to give PHS a 19-18 lead after trailing 18-9.

A Katie Click putback regained a 21-19 lead, a steal and fullcourt layup by Audra Ackerman and a post feed to Harmon put six straight points on the board for a 25-19 lead.

Stephens’ two threes made it 31-23, but a layup by Midland’s Sondra Monier to beat the halftime buzzer pulled the T-Wolves within 31-27.

“We picked up the pressure. We can press and we can run. I think they got a little tired,” Davis said. “We pressed them hard. We run a lot of girls in and out and they all play hard. That’s what’s nice about these girls, they play hard for me. I appreciate that.”

Stephens kept her hot hand in the third quarter, hitting a three from the corner and a two on an inbounds play for a 40-31 lead. She hit a short pop and then ran the wheel, kissing a bank shot off the glass to end the third for a 46-37 lead.

Brooke Kitts, who matched Stephens’ 23 points, kept the T-Wolves in the game, 10 fourth-quarter points, including two buckets and two free throws down the stretch.

Midland coach Leroy Poignant called for a timeout he didn’t have as PHS attempted to run the clock out on an inbounds play and the officials ran the final seconds off the clock.

“When it gets to close games, you hope that your seniors who have played a lot of basketball can come in there and run some offense and seal a win for us. It’s nice to learn a lot of lessons and win,” Davis said.

• Notes: PHS and Stark County will meet in the title again with the Lady Rebels looking to defend their championship. Stark County coach Scott Paxson said he likes the tournament, because “it gives us a little bit of everything.” ... LaMoille/Ohio’s troubles continued Friday, falling behind 28-0 at the end of the first quarter and trailing 39-4 at the half. Haley Stouffer hit two threes to lead in the first game. L/O coach Bill Stouffer said sophomore Macee Monroe broke her thumb Thursday.

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