Season Recap

The girls’ basketball team enjoyed a banner 2017-2018 season that saw them bring home the IVC North title and saw them finish with 19 wins, the fourth most in school history.

As has become tradition, the girls got a late start on the season as several members of the team were also members of the volleyball team that advanced to the state tournament. The Trojans were able to overcome the lack of practice time in the season opener as they defeated Dover for the fourth year in a row.  However, the team was sloppy in their second game, a 47-38 loss to long-time nemesis Garaway.

Following the loss to the Pirates, the Trojans opened play in the newly joined IVC North as they traveled to Strasburg.  The Trojans would easily defeat the Tigers by a score of 78-28. The game would foreshadow the league race as the Trojans would dominate IVC North opponents with ease throughout the season.  The Trojans completed the first round of IVC North play on January 3rd with a perfect 6-0 league record following a 89-16 dismantling of TCC.

The Trojans hammered Malvern in an early season IVC North showdown.

Three days later the team would make history as they hosted Newcomerstown in an IVC crossover game.  The Trojans enjoyed a record setting day as they scored a school record 110 points on their way to the 110-20 victory.  The 90 point margin of victory also set a school record for the largest margin of victory in a game in school history. However, the highlight of the day belonged to senior guard Boston McKinney as she recorded six assists and became Tusky Valley’s career assist leader surpassing the mark set by Kim Quillen in 1975.

Following the Newcomerstown game the girls defeated Indian Valley and had a record of 11-1 heading into a showdown with undefeated Loudonville at the Classic in the Country.  The Trojans controlled play early and built a 38-25 lead midway through the third quarter. Unfortunately the girls couldn’t sustain the momentum as the Redbirds fought back to pull off the comeback victory 53-52 and hand the Trojans their second loss of the season.

Following the loss to Loudonville, the Trojans would win three of their next four games before hosting Conotton Valley on January 31st.  The game was not particularly exciting as the Trojans dominated play on their way to a 70-33 victory. However, the significance of the game was the play of Boston McKinney as she set a new school record for 3-pointers in a game with 8.  Her final 3-pointer of the night not only set a new school record, but it also made McKinney just the fourth member of the Tusky Valley 1000 point club.

McKinney wouldn’t have to wait long for company as teammate Kierrah Stewart would become the fifth member of the 1000 point club just 10 days later during the IVC Showcase game vs. Hiland.  Stewart would end her career with 1076 points while McKinney would finish with 1057.

The Trojans wrapped up the IVC North title with a 64-42 victory at East Canton on February 3rd.  The girls then completed a perfect IVC North regular season with a victory at TCC on February 7th.  The Trojans were so dominate in the IVC North that they had only one league game where the margin of victory was less 22 points.  The girls defeated their IVC North opponents by an average margin of 41 points per game.

The Trojans routed East Canton on February 3rd to wrap up the IVC North championship.

While the Trojans were dominating the North, a similar story was happening in the South as the defending Division IV Hiland Hawks finished IVC South play undefeated.  The two teams would match up for the finale of the IVC Girls’ Basketball Showcase on February 10th. The Trojans entered the game as heavy underdogs but stayed close throughout the first half.  Unfortunately, the Hawks put together a dominant third quarter and took control of the game on their way to a 50-35 victory over the Trojans.

Tusky Valley entered tournament play with a record of 18-4 and were prepared for a deep tournament run.  The Trojans opened tourney play at home with an impressive 63-26 victory over Martins Ferry.

The girls then traveled to Bellaire to face the Big Reds.  The Trojans found themselves in deep foul trouble throughout the game and played with several key players on the bench.  The team hung tough and when Abbey Dillon connected on a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter the score was tied at 59 and it looked like the Trojans might survive. Unfortunately, the Trojans were unable to pull the game out and fell by a score of 70-63 to bring the season to a sudden end.

“This season was an exciting season,” said Trojan head coach Matt Ward. “We reached a goal of winning the conference and had the opportunity to play in the Classic in the Country which was a huge honor. We had two girls reach the 1000 point club and had all 3 seniors finish out very good careers.  Unfortunately we fell short of goals in the tournament but I am still proud of the season we had overall.”

Following the tournament loss, many questioned whether winning the IVC North so easily had hurt the Trojans come tournament time. “We enjoyed playing the teams we did in the PAC-7 and that was a good conference for us but overall I am happy we are playing in the IVC,” noted Ward.  “I know it hurt us a little with the competition level but these things go in cycles and there will be improvements from the other programs into the future. It is our job to make our non league as tough as possible to help challenge us more.”

The end of the season also brought an end to three outstanding careers as the Trojans will lose Boston McKinney, Kierrah Stewart, and Jenna Franks to graduation.  McKinney will leave Tusky Valley as the school’s all-time leader in assists and 3-point field goals. “ Our three seniors meant a lot to the program. They were part of a lot of wins for us. They won a conference title, a district title as well as a lot of other accomplishments,” stated Ward. “They were dedicated and put a lot into the program.”

Boston McKinney ended her Trojan career as the school's all-time leader in assists and 3-point field goals.

While the Trojans lose three decorated seniors, they will also return a solid group of girls who made a big impact on the floor this past season and Coach Ward expects the Trojans to continue to excel. “We have built a strong culture of expectations that lead to success and that will continue,” noted Ward. “The future will be different but very bright!”

“This offseason will be so vital to our next step,” continued Ward. “We are focusing on getting stronger and becoming better shooters.  We obviously want to improve in all areas but those will be our two main areas of focus.”

How would you summarize the 2017-2018 season?

Jenna Franks - This year's season was very memorable.

Kierrah Stewart - I had some everlasting memories with some amazing girls. Although we didn’t get the goal we strived for each and every one worked their butts off the whole season.

Boston McKinney - My most memorable season yet. I got close with girls I wasn't very close with last year and I had fun the whole time while doing it

What was your team’s biggest strength? What was the biggest weakness?

Jenna Franks - I honestly think our teams biggest strength was the friendship and trust we all had with each other.

Kierrah Stewart - Biggest strength would be our athletic ability. Biggest weakness would be too many turnovers and we weren’t very big.

Boston McKinney - Our biggest strength was our ball movement, running the floor and outside shots. Ouriggest weaknesses were not boxing out, hustling on defense, & going after 50/50 balls.

What was your most memorable moment from the 2017 season (on or off the court)?

Jenna Franks - My most memorable moment was singing on the bus rides.

Kierrah Stewart - When we waited on the bus at Hiland just to hear a part of a song that was taking forever. Jadyn was in the center and she recorded everyone screaming.

Boston McKinney - Jamming out to some throwback songs on the way to our game against Hiland.

What was the best thing about being a member of this year’s team?

Jenna Franks - The best about being part of this team was making lifelong friends who you can always trust.

Kierrah Stewart - Getting to see my friends.

Boston McKinney - We grew a lot, got closer with each other, and made memories that we will have forever. I pushed the girls and helped them out. Training the next leaders on the team!

If you could only use one word to describe the season, what would it be and why?

Jenna Franks - Sad because I finally have to graduate out of the program.

Kierrah Stewart - Memorable because it was my last.

Boston McKinney - Amazing.

How tough was it for the season to end without being able to advance in tournament play like last season?

Jenna Franks - It was very tough with it being my senior year and having to end so early.

Kierrah Stewart - It was frustrating and sad to end on a note like this.

Boston McKinney - It was rough, I was very upset with myself because I felt I could've done more to help my team out.

There is a lot of young talent in the program, what advice would you give the younger players so they can be successful individually and as a team?

Jenna Franks - The only advice I would give the younger players is to always play hard, but have fun while doing it!

Kierrah Stewart - Be a team memeber and listen to the coaches.

Boston McKinney - Play every game like it is your last. Don't take it for granted. Practice hard and play harder.

Season Results