Odessa girls cruise to easy win

ODESSA - Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures in their 57-29 win over Chesterton Academy on Senior Night, Saturday, Jan 27. It was their second win in two days, having defeated Mary Walker 58-35 the previous night.

Odessa's recipe for success this season has been the early aggressive play of senior Hayden Schuh. Against the Knights, she took the ball to the basket, and either scored baskets or drew fouls.

In the first half, she made five of seven free throws and scored 13 points. Melloney Deife, the other senior on the squad, scored seven points in the half.

Mackenzie Lutz and Reegan Carstensen each scored five points.

Behind its balanced scoring, the Tigers cruised to a 33-10 halftime lead.

Odessa head coach Travis Schuh substituted freely in the second half, which saw his team outscore the Knights 24-18 en route to the 57-29 victory.

Based on the crowds' enthusiastic reaction, two of the high points in the second half were baskets scored by freshman Katie May Williams and sophomore Lexi Eden.

Eight Tigers' players scored in the game, but it was Hayden Schuh who took top honors in scoring and rebounding. She had 18 and 12, respectively. Lutz scored 11 points, followed by Carstensen who had 10. Deife and Ashley Zagelow scored seven and five points, respectively. Williams, Eden and Leah Beth Claassen each scored two.

Freshman Annelise Curran led Chesterton in scoring with 10 points.

"We did a good job of shutting down their best player and played really good defense tonight," Deife said.

She praised fellow senior Hayden Schuh for her play.

"I love Hayden," Drive said. "She is a rock star on the basketball court."

"We took care of the ball tonight," Travis Schuh said. "Everybody kind of played a role tonight, which is what we've been looking for. I'm glad some of the other girls are getting playing time as we head into the playoffs."

The win improved the Tigers' record to 9-6. The loss was Chesterton's ninth straight and dropped them to 2-9 on the season.

Odessa then rolled past Cusick 54-25 Tuesday, Jan. 30 before wrapping up the regular season against Valley Christian in a game that tipped after press time Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Tigers will open the District 7 1B Tournament against the Selkirk Rangers in a loser-out game at Wilbur or Wellpinit High School at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. The winner advances to the district quarterfinals against Curlew Tuesday, Feb. 6.