Meadow Heights girls snap skid with back-to-back wins

PATTON — After suffering an 11-game losing streak, the Meadow Heights girls basketball team reeled off back-to-back wins including a 49-47 home victory over Perryville on Thursday, Feb. 13.

With the score tied at 44 and 1:22 left in the game, Meadow Heights coach Tim Winkler took a timeout and reminded his squad it was in a similar situation the day before (tied late in the fourth quarter in a home game against Charleston).

His message was to encourage the girls to keep their heads up and not panic.

“Let’s make the plays, keep our poise,” Winkler said.

They did just that, outscoring the Lady Pirates by two the rest of the way.

Zoe Hoehn led Perryville (8-13) with 17 points. Madeline Gremaud contributed eight points, including two of the team’s three 3-pointers. Perryville’s leading scorer Aby Amberger was held to just four field goals and 12 points.

“We did a good job of making sure 22 (Amberger) didn’t beat us,” he said.

It wasn’t easy but, for the second straight day, the Panthers found a way to earn a home win.

Jaycee Shelton contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds, Rylann Yamnitz and Maci Long each finished with 12 points and two made 3-pointers, while Lyndi Green added seven points as the Panthers held on for the win.

Meadow Heights led 12-9 after the opening quarter and pushed its lead to 15-9 early in the second. Perryville responded with an 8-0 run to take a 17-15 lead with about two minutes before halftime.

The Panthers closed the quarter on a 5-0 edge, getting a pair of free throws from Shelton, one from Yamnitz and a field goal by Maci Long.

However, Perryville began the third quarter on an 8-0 run, going in front 25-20. Shelton’s 3-pointer ended the Lady Pirates’ scoring surge. Yamnitz hit a pair of field goals and converted a three-point play. Long’s 3-pointer made it 31-29 in favor of Meadow Heights, but Amberger’s field goal with 12 seconds left tied the game at 33, heading into the final quarter.

Hoehn converted a pair of free throws with 1:30 left to give the Pirates a 44-43 advantage but, eight seconds later, Yamnitz split a pair of foul shots, tying the contest at 44.

Perryville had an opportunity to take the lead, but Shelton corralled a defensive rebound and scored with one minute left. Thirty seconds later, Green’s field goal pushed the Meadow Heights’ lead to 48-44.

Following a blocked shot by Shelton, Hoehn grabbed an offensive rebound and sank a 3-pointer (48-47) with 15 seconds left. Shelton was fouled and made 1 of 2 at the line, leaving the Panthers in front 49-47 with 8.2 seconds.

The Lady Pirates committed a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, but Meadow Heights gave them one more chance as it had an over-and-back violation with two seconds left.

Perryville’s inbounds pass went to Kara Long, but her baseline jumper was off the mark, giving the Panthers the home victory.

Meadow Heights 57, Charleston 50

Meadow Heights led by at least three points after every quarter as it defeated Charleston 57-50 on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The home victory snapped an 11-game losing streak.

The Panthers led 14-11 after the first quarter and 31-23 at halftime. It was 44-36 in favor of Meadow Heights entering the fourth quarter, but Charleston stormed back to tie the contest at 44.

The Panthers closed the game on a 13-6 run to earn the win.

Shelton contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds. She was a perfect 8 of 8 at the foul line. Long scored 15 points, Yamnitz tallied 12 points and Green finished with 10 points.