ELIDA – Recording that first victory doesn’t always come easy.
When 0-2 Elida went up against Spencerville Tuesday night at the Elida Fieldhouse, Elida girls basketball coach Chrissy Billiter knew her squad needed to stick to the basics.
When the game was on the line Tuesday night, especially in the second half, Billiter’s team did just that.
After claiming its first lead since the opening bucket of the game, in the third quarter, Elida fought off Spencerville down the stretch for a thrilling 49-48 nonconference victory.
Shyah Wheeler led the way for the Bulldogs (1-2), scoring 20 points, pulling down 14 rebounds and making two steals at the defensive end. Teammate Mallory Etzler was strong inside, scoring eight points and coming away with 10 boards.
“For one, any program needs a win. … They always need their first win,” Billiter said. “So, now I just hope we realize that when we’re basic and we’re not trying to make ESPN plays every time down the floor, we could be good. But we have to be basic first. We just have to do the basic things.”
Spencerville (1-1) jumped out early on Elida, forcing six turnovers in the first quarter, en route to a 17-10 lead at the first stop. The Bulldogs struggled at the offensive end, making just 2-of-13 of their field goal attempts.
However, Billiter’s squad settled down in the second quarter and closed the gap. By halftime, the Spencerville lead was just 3, 30-27.
Then, midway through the third quarter, Elida took a 32-31 lead, on an inside move by Wheeler. Elida’s defense began to cause havoc on Spencerville, as the Bearcats committed five turnovers in the third quarter.
At the end of the third frame, Elida led 40-39.
The Bearcats struggled in the fourth quarter, making just 2-of-10 of its shots from the floor.
In the final two minutes of the game, the score was knotted twice.
Then, with 27.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Wheeler scored inside and drew the foul. She went on to sink the free throw, to complete the three-point play and give the Bulldogs a 49-46 lead.
Tiffany Work scored inside for the Bearcats with 1.4 seconds remaining to draw her team within one point. However, Elida managed to get the ball inbounds and run off the final second-plus to secure the win.
“The first quarter, Spencerville came out on fire,” Billiter said. “They just came out and dominated the first quarter. But, we calmed down, and I thought the girls did a good job of looking for Shyah. She (Wheeler) had a hard time finishing at times, but she finished when we needed her to do it. That’s what good players do.”
Work led Spencerville with 13 points and seven rebounds. Teammate Jayden Smith added 12 points, five boards and two steals.
“We got into some foul trouble,” Spencerville coach Greg Ekis said. “Give credit to them. They made some free throws. They’re a very nice team. Shyah Wheeler is a great player. She made some incredible step-back threes.
“Our effort was great, but our execution wasn’t 100 percent all the way there.
And when you lose by one, each play really, really matters.”
For the game, Elida shot 30 percent from the floor. Spencerville connected on 38-percent of its field goal attempts.
Elida, after committing six first-quarter turnovers, the Bulldogs ended the night with 15 miscues. Spencerville turned the ball over 17 times.
“I have to give kudos to Spencerville, because watching them on tape and then watching their defense in person – their defense is pretty impressive,” Billiter said. “Just the way they hound, they deny and pressure. Our guards grew up a lot tonight, just because we’re not used to that pressure.”
Billiter was pleased at her team’s defensive effort.
“Honestly, I thought the difference in the game was how Hope Carter (4 points, 3 steals) shut down their guards on defense. That’s what she’s known for. She’s known for her defense,” she said.
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