GAME-HIGH SCORER … Wauseon’s Hayley Meyer makes a move inside while Harley Phillips of Archbold looks to cut off her drive. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
WHITEHOUSE – Wauseon junior post player Hayley Meyer had 25 points and Marisa Seiler poured in 23 as the Indians led wire-to-wire to beat Archbold 70-47 in a Division III district semifinal game.
Wauseon jumped out to a 20-6 lead after one quarter which grew to a 40-20 halftime advantage.
“We defended well, rebounded really well, and our focus right now is where it needs to be and that’s really good to see”, commented Indians’ mentor Dan Seiler.
“We didn’t think they had an answer for Hayley inside and she stepped up and put the ball in the hoop.”
Meyer didn’t waste anytime with a layup and then a jumper from the baseline for a quick 4-0 lead.
After Leah McQuade got the Bluestreaks on the board, Seiler added a basket and then a triple to push the lead to 9-2.
Ellie Rodriguez would then finish off what became a 10-0 run for Wauseon with two free throws and a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 14-2 at the 3:28 mark.
Seiler added two more field goals and Meyer scored to end the quarter to make it 20-6.
The Indians continued to pour it on in the second quarter with an 8-2 run to make the score 28-8 and after two more buckets by Meyer the lead had grown to 35-12.
Entering the third quarter with a 40-20 lead, the Indians scored the first six points of the quarter for a 46-20 lead.
With the Wauseon lead now 50-25, the Bluestreaks put together an 11-5 spurt to end the quarter as Addi Ziegler and Karsyn Hostetler each connected from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 19 at 55-36.
Wauseon regained momentum though with an 11-3 run to start the final frame as Rodriguez had a triple and Meyer added two more buckets inside to build the lead to 66-39.
“A tough way to end the season, Wauseon was in control from the start and we could never get much going”, said Archbold head coach Brian Ziegler.
“Our seniors will be missed (Addi Ziegler, Karsyn Hostetler, Addison Moyer, Harley Phillips).” “We’ll miss their leadership. We had some ups and downs, but they were a big reason we got our season turned around.”
“I’m proud of this team and how we grew and became a team”, added Ziegler.
Ziegler tallied 16 points to front the Bluestreaks (15-9) and Hostetler added 11.
No. 2 seed Wauseon (21-3) will now face top seeded Elmwood (20-3) in the district final on Saturday afternoon at 3pm at Anthony Wayne High School.
ARCHBOLD 6 14 16 11 – 47
WAUSEON 20 20 15 15 – 70
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com