By Sam Vine

Junior Taylor Scohy leads the Bellbrook Women’s Basketball team to the next level with a decisive win over Waynesville for their third straight league title on Thursday, February 2.

This is the second time that the team has met the Waynesville Spartans on the basketball court this season. The first game marked one of only two losses that the Golden Eagles have received this year, barely defeated by a buzzer-beater.

This game was highly anticipated since the winner would be crowned the SWBL Champions, and it didn’t disappoint.

The Spartans started off with a quick 7-2 lead, but this didn’t last.

Through the leadership of senior point guard Kelly Griffin, the Eagles were able to fight their way back into the game.

“We called a timeout to get the shakes and rattles out,” Jason Tincher, head basketball coach for the Bellbrook Golden Eagles, said. “We came into this game with the mindset that we were not going to leave this gym without a win.”

The women started gaining a lead, and once they got into a rhythm, it was Taylor Scohy who scored 29 points to take complete control of the game.

“Reigning player of the league as a sophomore, and in my opinion, the best player in the league as a junior,” Tincher said, “In big games, great players step up and want the ball in their hands, and that’s what Taylor did tonight.”

The Bellbrook Eagles prevailed over the Waynesville Spartans in a 52–40 game.

Although Scohy stood out in the points column, the entire team played important roles in winning their third straight SWBL Championship.

“The majority of the team and I felt terrible and sick the entire day leading up to the game,” senior Olivia Trusty said. “But the adrenaline and excitement we had for the game and the big win pushed us through the game and the night.”

Trusty’s dominance under the hoop and Griffin’s facilitation of the ball and vision on the court were both instrumental in this particular win.

They celebrated their win that night, but their eyes stayed fixed on the future.

“Last year we made it to the district championship,” Griffin said. “This year we are looking to win it.”

Last year, the Eagles were thoroughly defeated 67–27 by Mount Notre Dame during the district championship. This year, they plan to take that next step as a program and start consistently dominating at the Division 1 level.

They are well on their way to achieving this, as they have earned the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 South West District bracket. 

The Bellbrook women advanced from D2 to D1 competition four years ago and have met the required number of female students by only three girls. Although they have been playing teams from bigger schools and harder teams, they continue to find success.

“Tincher has said all season he doesn’t schedule wins,” senior starter Ashley Frantz said. “And when we get put into those tough games against big D1 schools, that is what prepares us for success.”