HANNIBAL — Monroe Central coach Troy Baker was quick to point out the reason his Lady Seminoles’ nearly folded down the stretch in a 42-40 rematch win at the R.L. Potts gym.

“(River’s) 1-2-2 pressure gave us some trouble late and we weren’t getting any backside rebounds,” he noted, as the Lady Pilots climbed back from 11 down to force deadlocks on two occasions only to see a 3-point attempt at the final horn misfire.

“We missed some bounces and were a little too aggressive at times, but (River) didn’t quit.”

The 11-6 record Lady ‘Noles, who wrapped up a second straight Mid-Ohio Valley League title, won the first meeting 37-30.

Junior Mayzie Emery swished four-of-five 3’s to lead the winners with 14 points, while sophomore Jadyn Miller added 11, including nine in the opening round when Baker’s squad took advantage of frigid River shooting (1-of-11) to lead 12-4 at the break.

Sophomore Brylee McFrederick, whose low post hoop with 1:33 to play broke a 40-all deadlock, led all rebounders with 13.

Despite playing without senior standout Reese Hobbs over the final three quarters after a scramble for a loose ball resulted in an ankle injury as the first quarter ended, River coach Rick Isaly saw some positives.

“We hung in there and had two chances to take the lead at the end. It was the hardest we’ve played all season and Zoey (Fox) and Maci (Isaly) were all over the floor.”

Miller fueled Central’s strong start with nine points in round one, converting a steal to give her club a 4-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was 12-4 at the break.

Isaly dished to Fox to open the second and cashed in a steal, but MC would benefit from River’s icy four-of-24 shooting to take a 20-11 lead at the half.

The hosts closed to 22-18 on a ‘3’ from Isaly, and later, senior stalwart Kaylee Hagan drove the paint and Fox canned 2-of-2 at the line for a 24-22 count.

The momentum swing was temporarily denied as junior Jacey English sank two fouls and an Emery ‘trey’ made it a 29-24 cushion after three.

Zoey McGarry’s goal started the fourth for MC, but Fox and 5-11 frosh Mallory Maddy added four points each, while Isaly’s ‘trey’ pulled River even at 36 at the 3:54 mark.

Miller and McFrederick scored in the next minute, but Fox drew a foul and canned both chances at 2:31. A Monroe turnover led to Hagan’s shot in the lane for a 40-all tie at 1:37.

Baker’s senior-less squad worked the ball inside to the 5-11 McFrederick, whose low post swish put MC up for keeps. River saw two possessions come up empty and a ‘3’ at the horn was off the rim.

The Noles, with 33 rebounds, return home Thursday against Union Local, while River hosts Barnesville on the same night.