West Liberty-Salem’s girls basketball team struggled to get its offense going Tuesday as visiting Mechanicsburg pulled away for a 50-28 victory in a key Ohio Heritage Conference North division game.
The Tigers slip to 13-2 overall and 11-1 in the OHC North, while the Indians move to 15-1 and take control of the North division at 11-0.
WL-Salem grabbed the early momentum as the Tigers built a 12-5 lead midway through the opening quarter. M’burg finished on a 6-2 run to end the quarter to get within three at 14-11.
The Indians turned the tide in the second quarter. They outscored the Tigers 20-5 to lead by 12 (31-19) at halftime.
M’burg dominated the third quarter with a 15-3 run to lead 46-22.
The Indians stayed in control in the final period to wrap up their win.
Selena Weaver led the Tigers with 10 points, while Emily Hollar and Grace Estes each had seven points.
Kasey Schipfer led the Indians with a game-high 24 points and Grace Forrest added 13 points.
In the junior varsity game, WL-Salem defeated Mechanicsburg 23-16. Madeline Hutton and Hallie Smith each had five points for the Tigers.
WL-Salem faces another challenge Thursday when it hosts Jonathan Alder in non-league action.
MECHANICSBURG 50, WL-SALEM 28
MECHANICSBURG (15-1, 11-0)
Rausch 2 0-0 4; Forrest 6 0-0 13; K. Schipfer 8 5-6 24; Jones 1 0-0 3; Hamby 3 0-0 6. Totals: 20 5-6 50.
WL-SALEM (13-2, 11-1)
Hollar 2 3-4 7; Cole 1 0-0 2; Estes 2 2-2 7; Weaver 4 2-4 10; Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals: 10 7-12 28.
Indians 11 • 20 • 15 • 4 — 50
Tigers 14 • 5 • 3 • 6 — 28
Three pointers: Mechanicsburg 5 (K. Schipfer 3, Forrest, Jones); WL-Salem 1 (Estes). Team fouls: Mechanicsburg 13; WL-Salem 10.