Shawnee comes up short in district final

0

SPRINGFIELD — Preble Shawnee’s most successful tournament run in more than 30 years ended in heartbreak.

The Arrows, a No. 7 seed out of the Covington sectional, fell to No. 3 East Clinton in a girls Division III district final, 48-46, Saturday, Feb. 27, at Springfield High School, on a late 3-pointer by the Astros.

“Obviously, it’s very upsetting. This team has worked their tails off,” Shawnee first-year coach Maggie Neanen said. “We quickly started the season 3-5. We finished 18-7. Definitely nothing to hang our heads down on, but it sucks.”

The Arrows were making their first district final appearance since the 1988-89 season.

Junior Liv Thompson led Shawnee with 20 points, 16 in the first half.

Junior Campbell Jewell added 15, with 12 coming in the first half.

East Clinton raced out to a 6-0 lead 30 seconds into the game before Shawnee settled in.

The Arrows scored the next seven points to take a 7-6 lead with 5:30 left in the opening quarter.

The Astros regained the momentum to take a 16-10 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Arrows rode the hot hands of Thompson and Jewell, who scored 18 of their team’s 21 points in the quarter to take a 31-26 halftime lead.

Shawnee extended its lead to 38-31 with 2:50 left in the third quarter. The Astros responded with a 9-0 run over the final part of the third and the opening minutes of the fourth quarter for a 40-38 lead.

Shawnee regained the lead at 44-42 and was up 46-44 with under a minute to play in the game.

After an East Clinton free throw made it a 46-45 game, Shawnee had an opportunity to extend its lead, but a free throw rolled out and the Astros gained possession and quickly got down court where they connected on a corner 3-pointer with 22 seconds left.

A Shawnee turnover and a missed free throw by East Clinton with six seconds left gave the Arrows one last chance.

The Arrows, who finished the season 18-7, got off a contested shot in the paint that hit the rim as time expired.

“I think sometimes we would get caught trying to make the steals 1,000 feet away from the basket instead of getting back on defense. Twenty-four, we knew would come in and be a shooter and she did just that and it’s on me for not fixing our defense,” Neanen said.

The Astros made seven 3-pointers for the game.

Neanen said the play of Thompson and Jewell sparked the Arrows.

”She’s been huge. Her energy definitely carries our team,” Neanen said of Thompson. “(When) Liv’s down. We’re down. Liv’s up. We’re up. I know the competitor in her that’s going to eat at her. But I also know the competitor in her it’s gonna make it next year and we’re back. it won’t be that way.”

“Cam’s huge. Again, we feed off of those two, they’re a package deal,” Neanen said. “They’re both on, we’re on both off. We’re off. Our offenses is run through her and she leads us. She’s D-1 for a reason.”

Shawnee will graduate two seniors in Gracie Lovely and Makaayla Morris.

”Gracie was the first girl I met at Preble Shawnee,” Neanen said. “And she has been the absolute most amazing leader that stats don’t show it. But she is our glue. She has been the sweetest, kindest, hardest working never misses kid. I wish I had three more years with both of them. Makayla coming out this year, she didn’t play last year. She trusted the program and the process. And she played her role very well. Definitely going to miss her next year.”

When Neanen took over the program in the summer she knew she would have a good team, but she never thought about the idea of guiding her team to the district finals in her first year.

”Haven’t really thought about it, but I knew the team was going to be talented,” she said. “I knew there’d be challenges. Luckily, we got those done and over with eight games in. Fortunately, it was eight games in but better late than never. First year with the program, very, very pleased. Preble Shawnee has really competitive kids. So, we’ll be back. We’ll be back.”

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk1.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk2.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk3.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk4.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

Preble Shawnee’s Harlee Howard drives to the basket during the Arrows district final game with East Clinton on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Arrows season ended with a 48-46 loss.
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk5.jpgPreble Shawnee’s Harlee Howard drives to the basket during the Arrows district final game with East Clinton on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Arrows season ended with a 48-46 loss. Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk6.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk7.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk8.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk9.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk10.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk11.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk12.jpgEddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

Preble Shawnee’s girls basketball team had its season come to an end with a 48-46 loss to East Clinton in a Division III district final on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Springfield High School. The Arrows finished the season 18-7.
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2022/03/web1_psgbk13.jpgPreble Shawnee’s girls basketball team had its season come to an end with a 48-46 loss to East Clinton in a Division III district final on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Springfield High School. The Arrows finished the season 18-7. Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Late 3 seals Arrows fate in 48-46 loss

By Eddie Mowen Jr.

[email protected]

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on Twitter @emowenjr

No posts to display