Staff report

ST. MARYS — Sidney faced a real challenge to its unbeaten record in girls basketball for a couple of reasons Monday night.

One, the opponent, a good St. Marys team with a 4-2 record and playing at home. And two, the Lady Jackets were without senior point guard Kaitlyn Davis, who suffered an ankle sprain in Saturday’s win over Miamisburg.

But behind the long-range shooting of Carrie Nuss in the first half, and Sidney’s inside game getting untracked in the second half, the Lady Jackets pulled out a 46-43 thriller to go to 6-0 on the season heading into a game at Springfield tonight.

The final score was also Sidney’s first lead of the entire night, coming when Sylvia Hudson converted a three-point play with just 18 seconds remaining and the score tied at 43-43.

“They took away our inside game,” said Sidney coach Megan Mummey. “Carrie (Nuss) stepped up for us though and hit three big threes in the first half, and then Sylvia and Celena (Taborn) got going in the second half.”

The 5-foot-10 Hudson, Sidney’s senior scoring leader, was held to just three points in the first half, those coming in the first quarter. But she erupted in the third quarter for 11 points and went on to finish the game with 21.

The 6-2 Taborn, meanwhile, added 11 points, and five of those came in the final period. She also added 12 rebounds for a double-double.

“I’m really proud of the girls for the way they battled,” said Mummey. “You could tell that not having Kaitlyn hurt us. Our offense just wasn’t running as smoothly. But the girls really battled.”

Sidney was just 4-for-17 from behind the three-point line, but Nuss found the mark on three of her six attempts and finished with nine points. St. Marys had to pay attention to her much more in the second half, and held her without a point. But that focus on her opened things up on the inside.

Mummey said Davis’ injury was not serious and that she should return soon. She may not be ready for tonight’s game at 1-5 Springfield, but Mummey said she may work her back in for Saturday’s home game against Vandalia. Then next Monday, the Lady Jackets face one of the toughest opponents on their schedule, Tecumseh, on the road.

Sidney (46) — Nuss 9, Rowland 5, Hudson 21, Taborn 11.

St. Marys (43) — L. Cisco 3, S. Cisco 10, Rable 15, Taylor 6, Angstmann 9.

Score by quarters:

Sidney—6 18 34 46

St. Marys—11 22 35 43

Three-pointers: Sidney 4 (Nuss 3, Rowland); St. Marys 4 (S. Cisco 3, Angstmann).

Records: Sidney 6-0, St. Marys 43.

Reserve score: SM 47, Sidney 28.

——

Sidney, Anna No. 1

In the latest Miami Valley Elite 8 Poll from The Dabbelt Report, both Sidney and Anna are the No. 1-ranked girls basketball teams in their respective Divisions.

Sidney, largely on the strength of its win over Centerville last week, is ranked No. 1 in Division 1. The No. 2 team is Tecumseh and the No. 8 team is Vandalia. Sidney hosts Vandalia Saturday and travels to Tecumseh next Monday.

In Division 3, the Anna Lady Rockets are 5-0 and ranked No. 1. Versailles is No. 7 in that division.

And in Division 4, Fort Loramie’s ranked third, Minster fourth and Marion Local fifth.

Miami Valley Elite 8

According to The Dabbelt Report

Division 1 — 1. SIDNEY, 2. Tecumseh, 3. Beavercreek, 4. Centerville, 5. Wayne, 6. Springboro, 7. Stebbins, 8. Vandalia.

Division 2 — 1. Alter 5-0, 2. Ben Logan 7-1, 3. Thurgood Marshall 3-0, 4. Bellbrook 7-0, 5. Clinton Massie 8-0, 6. Tipp City 6-2, 7. Carroll 3-3, 8. Valley View 3-2.

Division 3 —ANNA 50, 2. West Liberty-Salem 5-2, 3. Greeneview 8-1, 4. Waynesville 5-2, 5. Carlisle 5-1, 6. Northwestern 7-2, 7. VERSAILLES 5-4, 8. Arcanum 5-3.

Division 4 — 1. Tri-Village 6-1, 2. Miami Valley 9-1, 3. FORT LORAMIE 5-1, 4. MINSTER 3-1, 5. Newton 6-1, 6. MARION LOCAL 5-1, 7. Covington 6-2, 8. Fort Recovery 4-1.