Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Allie Baker is already in midseason form.
Huntington’s All-Ohio guard instructed a clinic on Saturday, scoring 29 points and bringing down eight rebounds to lead her team to a season-opening 52-35 win at Chillicothe.
She was effective in drives to the bucket, nailed three triples and was 12-for-13 at the charity stripe.
“It was probably the quietest 29 points I’ve seen,” Huntington coach Kyle Uhrig said. “She only had eight at halftime and then scored 21. She got the ball to the hole a lot more tonight and got her some easy scores. And, if she can get to the line that many times, that’s only good for us. Everybody is going to trap her and jump on ball screens. But she had a heck of a night for the defenses they were throwing at her. When it’s a quiet 29 points, that’s always a good thing.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Through the first quarter, Chillicothe hung right with Uhrig’s group.
The Cavaliers’ physicality gave Huntington’s offense struggles and, at one point, helped cut what was once a six-point deficit to 11-10 after the first eight minutes.
“I thought [Chillicothe’s] kids played really hard,” Uhrig said. “They were physical and that’s something we’ve not done in scrimmages and it’s kind of hurt us. So coming out and seeing us take on a team that played like that was good for us. But all in all, I thought we did a really nice job and it was a great effort. Tori [Smith] did a nice job of handling the basketball for us, Allie had a nice nice shooting and getting to the rim, and Brailee [Hauswirth] did a nice job inside. It was just a great team win.”
Down 11-7 late in the first, Chillicothe got an old-fashioned three-point play from Savannah Knapp to make it 11-10 after one. However, that’s when the tides started to turn.
Hauswirth sank back-to-back buckets to put Huntington (1-0) ahead 17-10 with 6:20 to go in the second before Baker then got in on the action with two free throws. When Hauswirth scored again with 4:58 left, it gave the Huntsmen a 21-10 advantage and capped a 10-0 run.
Leah McCloskey then joined the party with a score of her own before Baker nailed a corner 3 with 2:47 remaining, extending the lead to 26-11. Before the half ended, the Cavaliers (0-1) finally broke through with a bucket and two free throws for a 26-15 count.
But Huntington was all smiles heading to the locker room after allowing just five points in the quarter.
“I felt like we did a little better job of chesting the basketball. We only gave up five points in the second quarter and I challenged our kids to play better on the defensive end,” Uhrig said. “Our physicality was better in the second, third and fourth quarters. But I didn’t think we finished well. So I’m proud of our girls, proud of their effort, but we’ve got some things to work on. It’s a good double-sided coin.”
In the third, Baker grabbed her lunch pail and went to work.
After a quick lay-in just eight seconds into the quarter, she hit a bucket plus the foul as the lead swelled to 31-15. When she swished another 3-ball with 5:47 to go, the Huntsmen had a 36-18 lead. By the start of the fourth, that advantage was well intact at 43-24.
Cruise control was enabled in the final eight minutes as Huntington put the finishing touches on a season-opening victory.
Statistically, alongside her 29 points and eight rebounds, Baker added three assists. Hauswirth totaled 12 points and six boards, and Leah McCloskey added four points and five rebounds.
“Brailee is very key for us. You always talk about how you don’t know what you have in a freshman until Christmas. It’s tough sometimes,” Uhrig said. “She’s gone through some growing pains in some scrimmages and even did tonight. But she played great over the summer and the upside for her is unlimited. She does a nice job inside for us. We have to rebound a little better but again, she gives us a big presence in the paint on both ends of the floor.”
Chillicothe was led by Miranda McCloy, who had 16 points alongside four rebounds. Mallory McCloy also helped out, adding 10 points and eight boards.
The Cavaliers will try to bounce back on Dec. 4 at Hillsboro in FAC play. Meanwhile, Huntington will make back-to-back road trips for early, yet important SVC matchups — going to Unioto on Wednesday and to Adena on Saturday.
“They’re easy bus trips but not easy games,” Uhrig said. “They’re very physical teams, so it was good to get this one tonight. We know what we have to expect. Our kids will step up to the challenge. Both Unioto and Adena will be well-prepared and they’re well-coached. We’ll be ready to see what we can do and, hopefully, be able to do some good things.”
BOX SCORE
Huntington: 11-15-17-9 — 52
Chillicothe: 10-5-9-11 — 35
Huntington: 15-53 FG, 19-27 FT, 3-17 3pt., 29 rebounds (McCullough 7), 11 turnovers, 11 assists (Baker 3, T. Smith 3). Scoring: Baker 29, Hauswirth 12, Bushatz 4, McCloskey 4, A. Smith 2, T. Smith 1.
Chillicothe: 11-42 FG, 11-19 FT, 2-13 3pt., 22 rebounds (Ma. McCloy 8), 20 turnovers, 2 assists (Mi. McCloy 1, McAllister 1). Scoring: Mi. McCloy 16, Ma. McCloy 9, Clark 4, Knapp 3, Mendel 3.
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