UHRICHSVILLE — Elli Wallick might not have the numbers of a big-time scorer, but Tuscarawas Valley’s 5-foot-5 guard is strong in all facets.
That said, she picked the perfect time to go on a heater.
Wallick came up aces at seemingly every turn in a 54-42 win against West Muskingum in a Division V regional semifinal clash, scoring a career-high 30 points in a win-or-go-home scenario on March 4 at Claymont High School.
Playing above the margins
Wallick, the Division V Co-Player of the Year in the East District by media and Player of the Year in the Inter-Valley Conference and District 5 by coaches, entered the game averaging a shade more than 12 points per game while shooting 38% on 3s.
She blew both of those averages into smithereens against a stingy West M defense that entered allowing just 30 points per game and held Union Local to 28 in its district final last weekend.
Wallick finished with six 3-pointers, of which two came in a 14-2 run to start the game. She also had two key baskets after offensive rebounds kept plays alive in the second half, including a three in an eight-point fourth quarter that pushed a nine-point lead with 5:52 left to 46-34.
Earlier, she thwarted West rallies in the third with big baskets. The second was a 3-pointer with two minutes left after a Lyla Johnson’s drive and score got West within 35-25.
Trojans assistant coach Shawn Dillon called those momentum-killing shots “huge.”
“We gave the six (in a row) to end the half there and gave them a little momentum, but we came out in the third and kind of established things again and settled down,” Dillon said. “In those situations, if we can get a shot to go in, it can settle things down for sure.”
Wallick had 15 points in each half as she and 6-foot-1 post player Brennen Reichman, who entered averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, combined for all but 12 of the team’s points.
“Its double swings were us missing shots and her coming back down and hitting a shot,” West M coach Josh Middleton said. “We’d miss a shot, and they would come flying down and make one. That’s just hard to beat. She’s a good player.”
Ward said Wallick’s leadership and mid-range game have been areas of significant progress since the outset of her career.
“She’s out there calling out their plays and knowing where to be and everything else, and she still makes a play,” Dillon said. “She’s really just taking control of this team.”
Missed chances early haunt West
The Tornadoes, who battled early foul trouble with top defender Jayden Thornton on the bench, never made up the early deficit in a game that was played mostly even after the first quarter.
Middleton estimated his team missed eight or nine layups in the first half alone, which led to transition chances or fouls.
“And it wasn’t like we were taking bad shots,” Middleton said. “We were getting good looks at the basket.”
In addition to the missed shots, the Tornadoes were hurt by the second-chance opportunities during many key moments. Reichman, a renowned inside presence, forced Middleton’s hand defensively.
“(Reichman) was so good that we had to put two people around her, and take our chances with outside shots being made, instead of of letting them pound it inside,” Middleton said. “I thought we did that. I thought we made them work for a lot of stuff. They weren’t getting shots after one or two passes. There were 10 passes sometimes.”
Johnson had 14 points and all but matched Wallick for much of the second half in a strong game, and 11 points from Jayden Thornton offered a secondary option.
West never got closer than eight points of the lead after trailing by double digits, but it took a Herculean effort from Wallick to prevent another comeback bid.
It typified the team’s grit, Middleton said.
“I thought all year we’ve been where we’ve battled and battled,” Middleton said. “I just feel like this group was awesome, because there has not been a ton of games where we have out-athleted or out-sized somebody. We had to do everything by grinding and doing it the right way.”
Another rematch for TV
The win sends the Trojans (22-2) into another regional final matchup with defending state champion Portsmouth, which improved to 20-4 with a 55-32 win against Seaman North Adams in its regional final.
The game is set for 5 p.m. on March 7 at Logan’s Jim Myers Gymnasium and one the Trojans have had their eyes on since that fateful loss that ended last season.
Portsmouth’s four losses have come by a combined 14 points.
“We’ve got to slow down their point guard,” Dillon said. “She’s quicker than can be, and we’ve got to play with them. I mean, we can’t back down to them. We have to play physical with them and just go at them.”
Ward saw the Trojans at the Classic in The Country at Hiland and feels his team can learn from last year’s loss.
“Hopefully we get a great game plan and get ready for them on Saturday,” Dillon said.
sblackbu@usatodayco.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Wallick’s career night carries Tusky Valley to regional win vs. West M
Reporting by Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
