Two of the 18…Versailles’ Katey Litten drives to the rim for two of the Tigers’ 18 first quarter points. Delphos St. John never recovered, losing by 45 points Thursday. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Having won five of their last six games, the Versailles girls are out to have people question not the 11 games they’ve won…but the 6 games they’ve lost prior to the tournament draw.
Versailles, OH – There really is no game story to write. Not much of a game!
Simply, the Versailles Tigers came out Thursday night, shot 55% from the field, led Delphos St. John 18-2 at the end of a quarter…35-9 at the end of the half…then cruised in the second half with a running clock to a 62-17 win.
If you’re one to count, it marked their 11th win in 17 outings against 6 losses; and it signified one of those rare area teams in 2024 that’s actually improving exponentially with each passing game as the tournament draw approaches next weekend (Feb. 4).
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But the manner in which Versailles has played since the first of the year also has people who follow them questioning more their 6 losses than the 11 wins. The 11 wins are more legit, they say, than the 6 losses.
For instance, the 6 losses have come to legitimate teams – St. Henry, Miami East, Fort Loramie, Alter, Parkway, Waynesville – by an average of 9 points. And three of the losses (Waynesville, Parkway, and East) by 4 points or less – games in which they scored less than 50 points.
But their wins since January 1st are equally impressive, quality wins over Jackson Center, Tipp City, Fort Recovery, Bellefontaine, and a 40-point mashing of a young, but talented Arcanum team. They have size, they have speed, perimeter shooting…and now when they need it the most, their stockpiling confidence for a hoped-for return to the district and regional round of the tournament. This same team, largely, lost to last year’s state champs in Division III, Columbus Africentric, in the regional finals.
The Tigers’ Sarah Stammen scores two of her 9 points on this layup in Thursday’s win over DSJ.
“I would agree that our team looks better than its record,” said coach Tracy White. “Our schedule has been hard, brutal, when you consider our six losses. Those teams we’ve lost to have a cumulative record of 77-4. So we’re playing good competition and that’s helping us to grow to where we are now.”
Delphos was 4-11 entering Thursday’s game, and simply no match for the size, speed, and aggressiveness of Versailles. In fact, just four Blue Jays would score, led by Emma Will’s 7 points. And at the end of the first quarter it looked doubtful that they would score in double figures.
But leading 35-9 at halftime, Versailles quickly built the lead to 35 points midway through the third quarter, kicked in the running clock, and played most of their subs for the final quarter when Aubrey Fairchild hit the lone 3-pointer of the game for Delphos…and their only 3 points of the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays would finish with just six field goals.
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Versailles, by contrast, had ten different players to score, led by Allison Schwartz’s 18 points. Jenna Dirksen and Sarah Stammen each had 9, Elli Stammen, Heidi Stammen, and Brooke Bergman each had 5, Isabel Barga, Katey Litten, Taylor Wagner and Jenna Heitkamp split up the remaining 11 points. The Tigers shot 55% (33% from 3 point), and the percentage was greatly helped by 20 points in transitions, and their domination of the offensive and defensive boards.
“We’re playing with pace,” adds White. “Unfortunately, we’re turning the ball over more because of the pace. We’re just now getting comfortable with playing faster, but we’re athletic, both guards and frontcourt, so we’re trying to push the ball more and it takes some time to get used to that. We’re still careless with the ball sometimes, but I think that’s a matter of getting used to the way we’re playing now, compared to the way we played early in the season.”
Delphos St. John’s Emma Will (above) drives for two of her 7 points…and scored nearly half the Blue Jays’ total of 17.
To get back to the regional round, no team in area Division III will have a tougher road, or teams more familiar – Waynesville, Miami East, Alter, and Africentric.
“But our girls are hungry,” reminds White. “They still taste that loss to Africentric last year. I think we’re beginning to peak, every day they’re coming into practice with good questions, they’re pushing themselves, and that’s what you’ve got to do at this point. Then you hope to get the best draw we can get and make a run.”
Of the teams mentioned, Miami East is ranked #1 in the state, Kettering Alter is #3, Waynesville is #4, and Africentric is #7, illustrating just how hard their path will be, regardless of seed.
“And at some point you consider Summit Country Day,” adds White.
Summit is currently tied for #9th.
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“We’re going to have the toughest road, but it’s going to be one game at a time, and us continuing to pull together as a team. We have to continue to grow, and I truly believe in them that they can do it. We just have to fix a few things.”
Just the way they like it, right?
“Exactly,” White says, with a laugh.
But, a confident laugh.
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