Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — North Adams coach Rob Davis took a deep, relaxing breath ahead of Saturday’s district awards presentation.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Davis, who has been a part of his fair share of fantastic finishes, had just witnessed his Green Devils make one of the more prolific comebacks in recent memories.
After trailing Fairfield by a 41-31 tally with less than seven minutes to play, something clicked on North Adams’ bench. Led by seniors Laney Ruckel and Keetyn Hupp, the Devils made a furious comeback, ending the game with a 12-0 run and winning a district title by a 43-41 final.
As it’s done all season long, North Adams (25-0) simply refused to be beaten — even if it meant defying all odds.
“They’re pretty special, especially after today,” Davis said. “I don’t know how else to explain it. They just don’t quit. We challenged them and said, ‘You’re the one-seed and playing like you’re the eight-seed. I told them the defense was lacking, we weren’t challenging anything and we had to pick it up. They responded. But they’re just special kids. That’s the only way to say it.”
Ruckel and Hupp combined to score eight of the Devils’ final 12 points, spearheading their team to victory.
When Ruckel hit a 3 at the 1:49 mark, it completed the comeback and tied the game at 41-41.
Tatum Grooms hit one of two foul shots to give NA the lead before Hupp rounded out the final with a freebie of her own.
“[Ruckel and Hupp] just keep everyone engaged,” Davis said. “They get along. They don’t think, ‘I’m a senior and I’m more important.’ It’s not like that. They’re unselfish. Keetyn is getting looks from multiple colleges and she could jack up 20 shots, but it’s not that. They’re both leaders. They’re both great, coachable kids.”
Tale of the tape
North Adams took a 4-0 lead early when Katelynn Boerger scored, followed by two free throws from Hupp. Boerger then made it a 6-2 advantage with a bucket at the 4:22 mark in the first quarter.
Fairfield’s Faith Donley answered with a jumper before Grooms made it an 8-4 edge. By the end of the first, the Devils led 10-6.
In the second, the Lions (19-6) made their move.
PHOTOS: Images from North Adams’ district final win over Fairfield
WATCH: View North Adams’ win over Fairfield in a Division III district final
Peyton Magee nailed a triple before Hupp sank back-to-back buckets, making it a 14-9 lead. But Fairfield managed to go on an 8-0 run, one led by Magee and Donley, and one that featured a three-point play the old-fashioned way from Jobey Hattan.
Hannah Hamilton later canned a trifecta with 2:09 left in the second, giving Fairfield a 20-16 lead. At halftime, the Lion had a 22-21 edge and weren’t finished throwing punches yet.
“[Fairfield] held us on our cuts,” Davis said. “If it wasn’t for Katelynn Boerger in the first half … She was big for us. They got better defensively and when we did get good looks, we didn’t hit shots. We knew how good they were. We lost shooters and [Hamilton] can fill it up. We talked about [Peyton] Magee, but we lost Hamilton a couple of times. Everything we prepared for, it was like, where’s our minds at? But we found a switch. I guess they like making it exciting.”
Hamilton hit another 3 to begin the third for a 25-21 advantage before Magee followed suit for a 28-23 lead with 6:27 left. With 3:04 remaining, Donley got a bucket and a foul shot to fall, pushing the edge back to five — after a 3 from NA’s Kenlie Jones — at 33-28.
By the start of the final eight minutes, Fairfield had a 37-31 advantage.
“I think it was when we were down 10 or so where we were really like, ‘We need to really turn it on,’” Ruckel said. “Our balance was huge. It’s what allows us to have the record that we have. It’s what makes us different. If someone’s not having a great night, someone else steps up.”
Ruckel, however, alongside Hupp, was the one that stepped up in the fourth.
After Hamilton bagged her third triple of the day with 6:53 to go, Fairfield led 41-31 — the largest lead of the night.
But after Jones hit the front end of two free throws, Ruckel scored with 4:02 to go for a 41-34 tally. Harlee Brand then scored to make it 41-36, Hupp then made it a 41-38 game and Ruckel nailed an opportunity from downtown at the 1:49 mark to tie the score.
With momentum completely on NA’s side, Grooms and Hupp added a free throw each for the final while the Devils caused havoc on the defensive end, forcing a turnover to seal the deal.
Stat book
Hupp led all scorers with 14 points alongside five rebounds while Boerger had eight points. Ruckel finished with seven points, four rebounds and three assists, Jones had four points, five boards and five dimes, and Grooms and Brand tallied five points each.
For Fairfield, Magee led the way with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists while Hamilton and Hailey Tolle added nine points each. Donley also helped out, tallying seven points and three helpers.
What’s on tap
While an adversity-filled season comes to an end for Fairfield, North Adams advances to the Sweet 16 after winning its second district title in the past four seasons.
The Devils will meet with Portsmouth West, a 51-47 winner over Portsmouth on Saturday, in a Division III regional semifinal at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Logan High School.
“We’ll go back and shoot free throws again and do what we have been doing,” Davis said. “We’ll watch a little bit of this game, watch some other games and prepare. I’ve seen Portsmouth West a couple of times. So we’ll watch game film and get ready.”
BOX SCORE
Fairfield: 6-16-15-4 — 41
North Adams: 10-11-10-12 — 43
Fairfield: 14-35 FG, 7-12 FT, 6-17 3pt., 20 rebounds (Magee 6), 16 turnovers, 8 assists (Hattan 3, Donley 3). Scoring: Magee 13, Tolle 9, Hamilton 9, Donley 7, Hattan 3.
North Adams: 17-47 FG, 5-13 FT, 4-16 3pt., 26 rebounds (Jones 5, Hupp 5, Ruckel 5), 11 turnovers, 10 assists (Jones 5). Scoring: Hupp 14, Boerger 8, Ruckel 7, Grooms 5, Brand 5, Jones 4.
SPONSORED BY PAR MAR STORES
