O’Donnell has stellar game
By George Starks

TIPP CITY- Arcanum senior Abbey O’Donnell came up with one of her best games on the season Tuesday at Tipp City High School in sectional action.

O’Donnell poured in a game high 24 points and yanked down 12 rebounds as the Trojans advanced to the sectional final, 64-51.

“It was a great game for her,” said Arcanum coach Rachel Fearon. “Abbey knows this is her senior year and when that buzzer goes off and we’re not up, it’s the end of her high school career. Tonight, it came out and she showed she was not ready for it to be over.”

Not since the win over Tri-Village, January 25, has the Trojans played with the fire they did on that night.

Tuesday, the fire was back.

“We just have not had that spark since the Patriots game,” said Fearon. “As a coach, you just want to see it come back. I think we had it tonight. I don’t feel we played to that caliber that we played against Tri-Village.”

With time running out in the opening half and Arcanum holding a 25-19 lead, sophomore Stevie Johnting (11 points) unloaded one from downtown Tipp City at the buzzer.

The ball found the bottom of the net, giving the Trojans a 28-19 advantages at the break.

“That shot, going into halftime, was big for us and it put us up by nine,” Fearon said. “The momentum that carried up into the locker room so that was a great momentum changer for us.”

Holding a slim 10-8 lead after one, the Trojans defense came to life in the second frame, creating havoc for the Greyhounds offense.

“We really stepped it up in the second quarter,” admitted Fearon. “I was proud of the girls the way they came out and played defense. We were a little lax in the third quarter but we were still able to put points up on the board.”

Arcanum opened up a comfortable 14 point lead in the third but allowed the Hounds to climb back into the game, trailing 48-41.

“That third quarter was really starting to worry me,” said Fearon. “We weathered the storm, now we move on.”

It was also a stellar night for sophomore Rebecca Deao.

While only putting up four points, Deao controlled things in the paint for the Trojans.

“She was pushing people around and was handling the paint tonight,” said Fearon. “Her points will come but it just didn’t happen tonight.”

Arcanum, the four seed, will battle the top seeded, Versailles Tigers in a county head to head match-up tonight at Tipp City in a scheduled 7:30 tip.

“We have to take tomorrow (Wednesday) and get ready for them,” exclaimed Fearon. “If we are going to be successful against Versailles, we have to be careful and protect the ball. We can handle the ball well but throwing over the top does not work against Versailles.”