Sammie Rowland had just hit a big three-point shot for Tippecanoe with 2:53 left in the first half to pull the Red Devils to within one point of the high-flying Tecumseh Arrows, a team with six players averaging in double figures.
The Arrows then went on one of their patented runs, a 10-0 advantage over the final two minutes of the half, and stretched it out in the final 16 minutes as Tecumseh took solid control of the Kenton Trail Division of the CBC with a 66-48 win over Tipp.
“We have had different kids step up this year when we need to, and tonight Lindsey was our rock,” Tecumseh coach Danielle Thomas said of her senior Lindsey Nartker, who led all scorers with 26 points.
Ironically it was Rowland who also started the evening off for the Red Devils, as they sprinted out to a fast 8-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Cassidy Wasson added a layup and Allison Mader fired in a three, as Tipp was in early control of the league contest.
Like they are apt to do, the Arrows scored in bunches, as they reeled off six straight points to tie the game at eight, then put together a 6-0 run capped off by a three from Caroline Smith, pushing the Arrows lead to 14-11 after the opening period.
Freshman Corinne Thomas started off her perfect day with a three to open the second period giving Tecumseh a six point lead, but the Red Devils used a solid second period from Taylor Prall and the big three from Rowland, giving the visiting Red Devils hope as halftime approached.
Thomas hit another three to start their half-ending run, with Nartker adding a pair of layups. When Thomas connected from long range, the Arrows led 33-22 at the break.
Tecumseh, held under their average of 83 points per game, used their multiple weapons in the third period to extend their lead to 46-32 when Nartker scored in the paint. Although the Arrows continued to attack, the Red Devils didn’t give up.
Aubrey Cox scored four quick points late in the period, and Mader capped the third quarter off with a steal and layup, sending the game into the fourth with the Arrows hanging onto a 51-40 lead.
After Kelsey Wertz buried a three from the corner with 4:25 left in the game to keep the Red Devils within striking distance, down 56-44, but a game-ending 10-4 run, highlighted by five points from Thomas gave the Arrows the win.
In addition to the big night from Nartker, Thomas added 22 points on 8-8 shooting from the field, including 6-6 from the three. Danielle Franklin added seven points and eight assists and freshman Presley Griffitts contributed six points.
Tipp was led by Cox with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Rowland added nine points, Mader added eight, while Wasson, Wertz and Prall all scored six.
Tecumseh returns to action on Saturday for a big showdown at Stebbins, who was 7-1 heading into last weekend. Tippecanoe, the only team to beat Stebbins to date, also plays this week as they head to Bellefontaine Saturday night at 7:30.
