Feb. 13, 2014 Bulldog sports round-up
- Published: February 13, 2014
SWIMMING
Ngqakayi, Chick to districts
Two YSHS swimmers qualified for the district tournament for their first time over the weekend. Sophomore Aman Ngqakayi grabbed third place in two events at the Southwest Ohio Boys Sectionals at the Washington Township recreation center to qualify for districts. Ngqakayi finished the 100-yard freestyle in 50.40 seconds. He’ll be an 11th seed in the race at Friday’s districts, to be held at Miami University in Oxford. He’ll also be a 14th seed in the 100-yard breaststroke, which he finished at sectionals in 1:05.75.
Freshman Olivia Chick also broke two school records this year. She qualified for districts with a 52.98 second 100-yard freestyle swim. She’ll swim as a second seed at Saturday’s districts in the race. Chick will be the third seed in the 200-yard freestyle swim at districts, after she finished the race in 1:55.74 at sectionals.
Ngqakayi and Chick both broke two YSHS swim records this year in their events.
BASKETBALL
Girls wins five of last six
The Yellow Springs High School girls varsity basketball team ended its regular season on a high note, notching victories of five of its last six games. The Lady Bulldogs (10–8, 6–4 MBC) traveled to Schroder in Cincinnati on Saturday after a big road win against Xenia Christian on Thursday.
YSHS beat Xenia Christian 48–40 with strong team play — nine of the roster’s 12 players had points on the night. Leading the way was Kennedy Harshaw, with 14 points, Brianna Ayers with nine and Ashlei Kelly, with eight. Other Lady Bulldogs scoring were Shanice Wright, Elizabeth Smith, Rachele Orme, Molly Hendrickson, Anna Williamson and Anna Mullin. With the win, the Lady Bulldogs climbed to third. Last year YSHS took a share of the MBC title.
On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs beat Schroder on the road, 44–32, led by Smith, with 20 points. Ayers added nine and Harshaw had seven on the night.
Smith finished the regular season as third-leading scorer in the league, averaging 14.2 points per game. Harshaw is now second in the conference in field goal percentage, making 50.5 percent of her shots from the floor. She is also fourth-leading rebounder, with 6.4 per game.
The number six seed YSHS girls open tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Monroe High School against #10 New Miami.
Boys fall in MBC battle
On Friday, the YSHS boys varsity basketball team charged out to a 3–0 lead at Xenia Christian but ultimately fell 62–41 on the night. The young squad started four sophomores and a freshman in the loss. Kaner Butler led the Bulldogs (3–13, 2–7 MBC) with 12, Devon Perry put in nine and Isaiah Taylor scored eight.
YSHS, seeded 11th in the sectional tournament, take on #4 Bethel on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Troy High School.
8th-grade boys lose nailbiter
The McKinney eighth-grade boys basketball team’s talent and perseverance was on full display this week as they closed their regular season with a home game against Xenia Christian and played second seed Troy Christian in the MBC tournament.
On Thursday, Feb 6., against a strong Xenia Christian team, the Bulldogs traded the first several baskets evenly before XC roared into quick pressure defense, causing numerous turnovers, and had a convincing 28–13 lead at the half. With XC celebrating mightily all over the court, the Bulldogs methodically stormed back, outscoring them 21–9 in the third quarter to cut the Ambassadors’ lead to just one. In the final minute, XC pulled away for a 53–45 win. James Browning had 22 points, Zach Brintlinger-Conn had three points. Christian Elam played flawlessly at point, Clay Cooper shut down the top on defense and had great ball control, and Jakob Woodburn had many rebounds and hustled on defense, according to Coach Branson Pyles.
During the Troy Christian matchup in the tournament, the Bulldogs came to play and led the talented Eagles throughout the half before giving up the final two baskets for a 14–14 tie midway. The two teams continued trading baskets in the third quarter with each team scoring 14 points.
As the time ticked down, the Eagles picked up a couple of baskets to take a three-point lead. But the Bulldogs’ Tony Marinelli scored another of his big fourth-quarter buckets on a drive to draw within one. After the Eagles put in two free throws, with three seconds remaining, the Bulldogs ran a play that was perfectly executed, and Browning had an open look at the basket for a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. Straight and on line, the ball arrived at the rim two inches short. The final score was 41–38. Scoring for the Bulldogs was Browning (19 points), Marinelli (14), Elam (3), and Brintlinger-Conn (2). Cooper played a pivotal role on defense again, and the team had great support from Jalen Lewis and Woodburn.
According to Pyles, the team held their heads high and maintained composure and sportsmanship in the loss.
“I was so very proud to be a part of this effort and awesome representation of the YS Mckinney School,” he said.
7th-grade boys win in tourney
The seventh-grade boys basketball team concluded its regular season with a competitive effort against a versatile and talented Xenia Christian squad. The Bulldogs held their own by tying XC in the second and fourth quarters. Unfortunately, Xenia Christian cranked up the high octane offense in the first and the third quarters, which led to a 42–22 loss for the McKinney seventh-grade team. Andrew Clark scored 13 points and swiped three steals on the evening.
After finishing the regular season with a 7–4 record, the Bulldogs kicked off post-season tournament play with a 44–27 victory against Miami Valley. The breadth of scoring was impressive as six players contributed points, including Jason Lansing, who scored a basket in the fourth quarter. Trey Anderson lived up to his name by depositing two three-pointers in a 16-point effort. Clark led the team with 20 points.
Two YSHS swimmers qualified for the district tournament for their first time over the weekend. Sophomore Aman Ngqakayi grabbed third place in two events at the Southwest Ohio Boys Sectionals at the Washington Township recreation center to qualify for districts. Ngqakayi finished the 100-yard freestyle in 50.40 seconds. He’ll be an 11th seed in the race at Friday’s districts, to be held at Miami University in Oxford. He’ll also be a 14th seed in the 100-yard breaststroke, which he finished at sectionals in 1:05.75.
Freshman Olivia Chick also broke two school records this year. She qualified for districts with a 52.98 second 100-yard freestyle swim. She’ll swim as a second seed at Saturday’s districts in the race. Chick will be the third seed in the 200-yard freestyle swim at districts, after she finished the race in 1:55.74 at sectionals.
Ngqakayi and Chick both broke two YSHS swim records this year in their events.
basketball
Girls wins five of last six
The Yellow Springs High School girls varsity basketball team ended its regular season on a high note, notching victories of five of its last six games. The Lady Bulldogs (10–8, 6–4 MBC) traveled to Schroder in Cincinnati on Saturday after a big road win against Xenia Christian on Thursday.
YSHS beat Xenia Christian 48–40 with strong team play — nine of the roster’s 12 players had points on the night. Leading the way was Kennedy Harshaw, with 14 points, Brianna Ayers with nine and Ashlei Kelly, with eight. Other Lady Bulldogs scoring were Shanice Wright, Elizabeth Smith, Rachele Orme, Molly Hendrickson, Anna Williamson and Anna Mullin. With the win, the Lady Bulldogs climbed to third. Last year YSHS took a share of the MBC title.
On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs beat Schroder on the road, 44–32, led by Smith, with 20 points. Ayers added nine and Harshaw had seven on the night.
Smith finished the regular season as third-leading scorer in the league, averaging 14.2 points per game. Harshaw is now second in the conference in field goal percentage, making 50.5 percent of her shots from the floor. She is also fourth-leading rebounder, with 6.4 per game.
The number six seed YSHS girls open tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Monroe High School against #10 New Miami.
Boys fall in MBC battle
On Friday, the YSHS boys varsity basketball team charged out to a 3–0 lead at Xenia Christian but ultimately fell 62–41 on the night. The young squad started four sophomores and a freshman in the loss. Kaner Butler led the Bulldogs (3–13, 2–7 MBC) with 12, Devon Perry put in nine and Isaiah Taylor scored eight.
YSHS, seeded 11th in the sectional tournament, take on #4 Bethel on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Troy High School.
8th-grade boys lose nailbiter
The McKinney eighth-grade boys basketball team’s talent and perseverance was on full display this week as they closed their regular season with a home game against Xenia Christian and played second seed Troy Christian in the MBC tournament.
On Thursday, Feb 6., against a strong Xenia Christian team, the Bulldogs traded the first several baskets evenly before XC roared into quick pressure defense, causing numerous turnovers, and had a convincing 28–13 lead at the half. With XC celebrating mightily all over the court, the Bulldogs methodically stormed back, outscoring them 21–9 in the third quarter to cut the Ambassadors’ lead to just one. In the final minute, XC pulled away for a 53–45 win. James Browning had 22 points, Zach Brintlinger-Conn had three points. Christian Elam played flawlessly at point, Clay Cooper shut down the top on defense and had great ball control, and Jakob Woodburn had many rebounds and hustled on defense, according to Coach Branson Pyles.
During the Troy Christian matchup in the tournament, the Bulldogs came to play and led the talented Eagles throughout the half before giving up the final two baskets for a 14–14 tie midway. The two teams continued trading baskets in the third quarter with each team scoring 14 points.
As the time ticked down, the Eagles picked up a couple of baskets to take a three-point lead. But the Bulldogs’ Tony Marinelli scored another of his big fourth-quarter buckets on a drive to draw within one. After the Eagles put in two free throws, with three seconds remaining, the Bulldogs ran a play that was perfectly executed, and Browning had an open look at the basket for a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. Straight and on line, the ball arrived at the rim two inches short. The final score was 41–38. Scoring for the Bulldogs was Browning (19 points), Marinelli (14), Elam (3), and Brintlinger-Conn (2). Cooper played a pivotal role on defense again, and the team had great support from Jalen Lewis and Woodburn.
According to Pyles, the team held their heads high and maintained composure and sportsmanship in the loss.
“I was so very proud to be a part of this effort and awesome representation of the YS Mckinney School,” he said.
7th-grade boys win in tourney
The seventh-grade boys basketball team concluded its regular season with a competitive effort against a versatile and talented Xenia Christian squad. The Bulldogs held their own by tying XC in the second and fourth quarters. Unfortunately, Xenia Christian cranked up the high octane offense in the first and the third quarters, which led to a 42–22 loss for the McKinney seventh-grade team. Andrew Clark scored 13 points and swiped three steals on the evening.
After finishing the regular season with a 7–4 record, the Bulldogs kicked off post-season tournament play with a 44–27 victory against Miami Valley. The breadth of scoring was impressive as six players contributed points, including Jason Lansing, who scored a basket in the fourth quarter. Trey Anderson lived up to his name by depositing two three-pointers in a 16-point effort. Clark led the team with 20 points.
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