Gaining experience takes time.
West Liberty-Salem defeated host Benjamin Logan 57-27 in nonleague competition on Monday night.
The Tigers got off to a big start, thanks to good shooting on offense and defensive pressure that led to a number of turnovers.
The lead was over 20 points by halftime. Both sides lit things up in the third quarter, but WL-S kept its cushion throughout.
West Liberty-Salem moves to 6-2 on the season, while the Lady Raiders are now 1-7.
“We shot the ball really well to start the game,” said Lady Tigers coach Dennis McIntosh. “I thought our defense in the first quarter was really good and forced them into some tough shots.”
He added that “when Ava (Astorino) and Addi (Wallen) get going, the rest of them know to get them the ball. They can light it up. It was fun to watch.”
Astorino had a game-high 21 points and Wallen made four 3-pointers plus one other basket for 14.
Ben Logan coach Greg Saylor said, “We can’t overcome shooting less than 20 percent from the floor and turning the ball over. We might have had a shot if we did one or the other, but both is the kiss of death.”
He noted that the starters are one senior and one junior, with the others sophomores and freshmen.
He praised the team’s effort. “They’re hungry, they’re athletic, they get after it and they don’t ever quit. You would just like to see the ball go through the basket a few more times.”
Kylie Harner finished with 10 points and Lahna Cook scored seven for Ben Logan.
West Liberty-Salem opened with a three by Wallen and a two by Maddie McGill. Ben Logan finally got a shot to fall with 5:10 to go on a jumper by Harner.
WL-S then went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes. That included 3-pointers by Astorino and Ava Johnson. Ben Logan called timeout with just over a minute and a half to go in the first.
The rest of the period saw only free throws, with two by Joplin Schneider for Ben Logan and one by Ava Poppe. That left the margin at 18-4 in favor of the Lady Tigers.
Neither side was able to score for the first three minutes of the second period. Johnson was knocked down on a three-point attempt and made two shots at the line. Astorino then nailed two from long range, one from the side of the arc and one from near the top.
The Lady Raiders got a three-pointer by Cook with 30 seconds left, though Poppe got the last score of the half at the other end. The teams headed off with WL-S ahead 28-7.
The teams traded scores to open the third quarter, then WL-S got baskets by McGill and Wallen.
Both sides turned to their outside game, with Wallen hitting two more, and Harner connecting in between for Ben Logan near the midway point.
After a pair of free throws by Elliott Butler, WL-S got answers with a three by Astorino and a layup from Belle Sarver.
Harner and Astorino kept up the long distance exchanges about a minute apart as time wound down. Cook then made a free throw for the hosts. Astorino closed out the scoring in the frame to make it 51-19.
Scoring in the final eight minutes was light on both ends. Both Ben Logan and West Liberty-Salem made three shots from the floor, and the Lady Raiders also got a pair of free throws by Adilynne Gregg.
Ben Logan defeated Madison Plains in the junior varsity contest.
West Liberty-Salem (3-1 Ohio Heritage Conference, 6-2 overall) will play its final game of 2024 on Saturday at Madison Plains.
The Lady Raiders (0-3 Central Buckeye Conference, 1-7 overall) also has one contest left this month, with a trip to Graham Saturday.