Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — There are some teams that don’t know what it’s like to win a district title.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Then, there’s Wheelersburg, and the Pirates don’t understand what it’s like to not win one.
For the sixth consecutive season, coach Allen Perry’s group claimed a district championship on Saturday with a 25-15, 25-21, 25-15 win over Southeastern.
And the beat goes on.
“We’re excited,” Perry said. “And, how blessed have I been to have great players over that time? Our girls are excited and we’re hoping to keep this going.”
While Wheelersburg (24-1) used a mix of hitters to frustrate Southeastern’s defense, Madie Mays and Gracie Perkins did the heavy lifting.
That duo combined for 21 kills and consistently provided a big block at the net. When they put a good swing on the ball, the Panthers rarely had an answer on the other end.
“You can’t coach height and those two have the athletic ability to go on top of that. It’s invaluable,” Perry said. Gracie is starting to play smarter every day and they’re just like sponges, absorbing everything. They both work really hard.”
PHOTOS: Images from Wheelersburg’s district final win over Southeastern
VIDEO: Watch Wheelersburg and Southeastern’s Division III district final meeting
Meanwhile, defensively, Kiera Kennard led the charge as usual.
“She’s as solid as they come,” Perry said. “She’s maybe the smartest player I’ve ever had. Her intelligence is beyond what you can imagine. She’s all the time thinking about where she needs to be. And if someone else is out of place, she’ll direct them. She doesn’t get overly excited or down at all. She’s just a gamer.”
Mays and Perkins gave the Pirates a 7-3 lead in the first set before Makenna Walker and Lexie Rucker got in on the action, extending the lead to 13-6. Throughout the rest of the game, Wheelersburg managed to keep at least a five-point lead en route to a 25-15 victory.
In the second, the Panthers (16-9) gave Wheelersburg everything they could handle.
After the Pirates got out to another 7-3 lead, Ware started to make her mark and helped Southeastern tie the game at 9-9 before they took a 13-12 lead.
However, after Walker put Wheelersburg back on top at 16-15, Grace Woodward extended that advantage to 20-17 before Mays made it a 23-21 lead. Perkins then logged a block for a three-point lead before the Pirates were able to stymie a valiant effort by a 25-21 final.
The third was never close with momentum solely on Wheelersburg’s bench.
Perry’s crew held leads of 9-3, 16-5 and 21-7 before putting a bow on a sixth straight district crown.
Perkins finished the game with 11 kills while Mays ended with 10 kills and a pair of aces. Rucker also had 10 kills alongside 10 digs, Kennard logged a team-high 16 digs and Walker tallied 27 assists.
While Southeastern’s season comes to an end, Wheelersburg advances to a Division III regional semifinal. The Pirates will match up with Adena, which was a three-set winner over Zane Trace on Saturday.
That game is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday at Logan High School.
“We have a lot to work on. We haven’t seen Adena since the summer,” Perry said. “We need to sit down and [Wheelersburg assistant] coach Kelsey Glockner is one of the best gameplanners around. I’m glad she’s on my team. We’ll sit down and see what seems to work best for us.”
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