Photo by Kim North Martins Ferry’s Gianna Chirpas (3) and Savanna Koller (5) try to trap Indian Creek’s Makenna Scott as she brings the ball up the floor Thursday night on Coach ‘D’ Court inside Indian Creek High School in Wintersville. Scott scored a game-high 26 points as the Redskins won in overtime, 54-50.

WINTERSVILLE — In an early season matchup of 3-1 girls’ high school basketball teams, one team moved to 4-1 while the other suffered two losses on the same night.

Homestanding Indian Creek outscored Martins Ferry 7-3 in the 4-minute overtime session Thursday night to post a 54-50 victory on Coach ‘D’ Court inside Indian Creek High School. The rivals were deadlocked at 11 after one quarter before the Purple Riders held leads of 29-25 at the half and 41-39 after three periods. The Redskins drew even at 47 with 1:02 remaining.

Martins Ferry’s Maddie Lucas knocked down a triple to start the overtime, but the Redskins used a basket by Kaydence Walker and an offensive putback from Camryn Ketron to take the lead for good at 51-50 with 2:04 showing.

Makenna Scott sealed the deal with three late free throws that brought her game-high total to 26.

“It was a really good game,” Indian Creek head coach Steve Eft said. “It was sloppy at times but some of that can be attributed to the hard, aggressive defense each team played. It was up-and-down and I’m sure he (Martins Ferry head coach Dave Reasbeck) will say the same thing.

“I think this was a game both teams can learn and grow from,” he added. “It should help both of us as we move on throughout the season.”

The Purple Riders, who start two freshmen and play four, lost the junior leader Lindsey Best to what head coach Dave Reasbeck termed “a broken wrist.” The injury occurred with 28.3 seconds left in the first quarter. However, the returning Division III returning third team all-stater continued to play through the second quarter before being taken to the hospital at halftime.

“I’m the last dude to ever blame injuries or youth but we lost a 4-year starter (Ella McFarland) in the first summer league game. Then we lost one of the best rebounders in the Ohio Valley (Charlee Roe) before the season even started, and now we lose a girl (Best) that is playing as well as anyone in the state of Ohio,” Reasbeck noted. “And we have four freshmen out there battling their tails off.

“How can I be disappointed? We were one layup away from beating one of the best teams in the Eastern District on their home court. How can I be upset about that? I can’t.

“This is the 10th year out of the 13 that I”ve been here that the girl playing the best and hardest for me goes down with a major injury,” he said while shaking his head. “When does it stop?”

As Eft alluded to earlier, the game was not the best played as the teams combined for 54 turnovers, with Indian Creek holding a slight, 28-26, edge.

The Redskins also held a slim, 31-29, advantage off the glass as Ketron pulled down a game-best 13. Danielle Lude had eight to lead Martins Ferry.

Of Scott’s 26, 10 of them came at the free-throw line. She also charted eight steals and four rebounds. Ketron also donated eight points.

Freshman Gianna Chirpas led Martins Ferry with 16 points, with 12 coming in the second quarter. Lindse Sidon chipped in 11 and Lude 10. Lucas had eight.

“They lost their best player with a hand injury and our best big (Kylie Anderson) was playing with a hand injury, so it was interesting there for a while,” Eft said. “I told Makenna that she was going to have to step up a little more tonight, and boy did she. I was also proud of the way Camryn (Ketron) rebounded the ball. She stepped up, as well.”