Independence outlasts Logan, Red Devils 46-41
By Dan StillwellRegister-Herald Sports Writer
Surprisingly, Independence didn’t go out of its way to try to stop Oak Hill’s Lakeisha Logan Tuesday night.
Instead, the Patriots tried to be the better team.
It worked.
Independence (2-2) got balanced scoring to overcome a 30-point effort from Logan and defeat the Red Devils 46-41 at Coal City.
“Everybody played well. Everybody contributed,” coach Rick Lane said. “The best thing that has happened to us was going to Greenbrier East’s tournament and getting beat twice. Some of the kids didn’t play all the time there and it looked like they wanted to play tonight.”
Senior center Brittney Murdock led the Patriots with 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Forward Monica Oglesby, also a senior, grabbed 15 boards — nine in the second half, and scored six points for the Patriots.
“Brittney has been playing well, but this was the best I’ve ever seen Monica play,” Lane said. “She came out and wanted to rebound and wanted the ball. She did all the things we’ve been looking for her to do the last two years.”
Independence also got solid play from guard-forward Brittany Meadows (nine points, five rebounds, three steals) and a revolving cast of guards, including Satira Tajdin (six points on two trifectas).
Each Patriot scored, while beyond Logan’s 30 Oak Hill got five points from sophomore Ashley Milstrey and two points apiece from three other players.
Logan, a Virginia Tech signee and one of three experienced Red Devils back from last year’s state quarterfinalist team, got off to a slow start. She missed her first four shots before hitting a trey with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter.
The Patriots led 14-3 early in the second period before Logan finally began to find the range. She hit two threes to narrow the gap to 14-9, but Independence answered with an 11-0 run keyed by three-pointers from Hannah McCargish and Tajdin.
Lane kept the Patriots in a variety of zone defenses, rather than put a box-and-one or a triangle-and-two on Lane as other teams have done.
Independence led Logan 38-29 at halftime. No one else from Oak Hill had scored.
“This has happened a couple of times. We have to come out with some intensity to begin with and not put ourselves in a 10 or 12-point hole,” Oak Hill coach Jerry Epperly said. “We’re having to constantly do things we don’t really want to do to get ourselves back into the game and it ends up causing us to get into foul trouble.”
Logan kept firing, hitting seven threes in the game, and cut the deficit down to three points, 44-41, with 1:05 to play.
She picked up her fifth foul seven seconds later, and Independence got a late basket from Oglesby to seal the win.
“Except for the Bluefield game we haven’t given up,” Epperly said. “But we’re lacking a little experience and a little on the skill level. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll find a combination.”
Independence plays at Mount Hope Thursday. Oak Hill hosts Summers County Dec. 28.
Oak Hill
Laura Sears 1 0-0 2, Lakeisha Logan 11 1-2 30, Taletha Brown 0 0-0 0, Ashley Milstrey 2 0-0 5, Jessie Shieler 1 0-0 2, Tammy Jones 1 0-0 2, Krista Connelly 0 0-0 0, Britney Thomas 0 0-0 0, Patty Tygrett 0 0-0 0, Kelly Lyke. Totals: 15 1-2 41.
Independence
Brittany Ballangee 1 0-0 2, Brittany Meadows 1 0-0 3, Hannah McCargish 1 0-0 3, Stephanie Russell 1 0-0 2, Satira Tajdin 2 0-0 6, Morgan Bryant 1 2-2 4, Monica Oglesby 2 2-6 6, Brittney Murdock 7 0-0 14. Totals: 19 5-17 46.
OH (1-4) 3 11 15 12 — 41
I (2-2) 12 15 11 8 — 46
Three-point goals: OH: 8 (Logan 7, Milstrey 1); I: 3 (Tajdin 2, McCargish 1); Fouled out: Logan.
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