CINCINNATI- The second annual Holiday Hardwood Classic tipped off from the Cintas Center at Xavier University this morning and the first game saw West Clermont take down Mount Healthy 47-29.
After a wonderful rendition of the national anthem from the West Clermont pep band, the showcase officially tipped off at 11:00am with West Clermont out of the ECC taking on Mount Healthy from the SWOC. The opening bucket was a two-pointer by West Clermont's Taylor Schmidt, and Mount Healthy got on the scoreboard with a layup by Ma'Ziyah Hunter. At the end of the first quarter, the Wolves held a 9-5 lead.
Schmidt continued her hot shooting early in the second quarter with another triple to push the West Clermont lead to 14-5, before an and-one by Ladasia Carter finally stopped the run. After two more Carter free throws, West Clermont ended the half on a 11-0 stretch to take a 25-10 lead into the locker room. Schmidt led all first-half scorers with 10 points.
The third quarter was a slight Mount Healthy advantage, with the Owls winning the frame 10-7. The score at the end of three was 32-20 West Clermont.
Sophomore West Clermont guard Meagyn Riffle scored seven straight points in the fourth quarter to keep the Wolves ahead. West Clermont ultimately took the victory 47-29 to improve to 9-2 on the season. With the loss, Mount Healthy fell to 6-7.
West Clermont sophomore guard Layla Hale was named the LaRosa's game MVP.