Columbus — In a game that felt more like a slow-burning thriller than an action-packed blockbuster, the Division IV girls basketball state playoff matchup between Licking Valley and Bishop Ready was a low-scoring affair that remained locked in a grind-it-out struggle, where every basket felt like a breakthrough and every missed opportunity only added to the suspense.
This was exactly the scenario Licking Valley had envisioned—turning the game into a defensive battle while locking in on Bishop Ready’s top offensive threats, Jenna Wolf and Terriauna Daniels. The Panthers stuck to their plan, making every possession a struggle for the Silver Knights.
“The girls executed the defensive game plan to near perfection,” Licking Valley Head Coach Ed Weisgerber said. “Those two were our main focuses in practice.” For the Panthers, it was about making someone else beat them on the floor.
With Wolf and Daniels bottled up, Bishop Ready searched for answers offensively while Licking Valley looked to seize momentum. In the first half, the Panthers did just enough to claim and maintain a lead, fueled by senior guard Avery Williams, who posted nine points and eight rebounds before the break.
Despite Bishop Ready’s struggles, Wolf remained active on the glass, pulling down six rebounds to go with four points. However, Daniels was held to a lone three-pointer, and the Silver Knights couldn’t find their rhythm against Licking Valley’s relentless defense, with the Panthers leading 17-13 at halftime.
An Achillies heel for the Silver Knights were missed free throws and layups, things that Bishop Ready usually has no issues with. “Playoff games come down to free throws and layups,” Bishop Ready Head Coach Tay Tufts said. “Licking Valley capitalized on our missed opportunities and played great defense against us.”
In the second half, Licking Valley found itself on the wrong side of an offensive drought, going over six minutes without a basket in the third quarter. The Panthers’ once-steady control slipped away as their shooting woes opened the door for Bishop Ready to claw back into the game.
While the Silver Knights still struggled to find a consistent rhythm, they did just enough to reclaim the lead. Sophomore Nyah Pegues gave Bishop Ready its first advantage of the game, sinking a free throw to put her team ahead 18-17. By the end of the third quarter, the Silver Knights held a slim 21-19 lead.
This position was nothing new for Licking Valley, a team all too familiar with close finishes after suffering eight losses by five points or fewer this season. But this time, the Panthers were determined to flip the script.
Senior guard Avery Williams believed those past heartbreaks had prepared them for the moment. “We know how to work hard and push towards winning, but we didn’t know how to finish the games,” Williams said. “We learned we can’t give up at the end.”
In a final quarter that featured just 11 combined points, it was clear both teams had a shot at victory. With Bishop Ready trailing 24-23, Nyah Pegues delivered the go-ahead basket, putting the Silver Knights ahead 25-24 with 1:50 remaining. But Licking Valley wasn’t done yet.
With less than 90 seconds left, Williams committed a costly turnover while trailing by a point, handing Bishop Ready possession with the lead. The Panthers were on the ropes, but they wouldn’t stay down for long.
The defense that had carried Licking Valley all game stepped up in the clutch, forcing a turnover. The ball found its way back to Williams, who made no mistake, finishing a layup to give her team the 26-25 lead with 52 seconds remaining.
Williams, who finished with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, said it was a nerve-wracking sequence. “Right after that turnover, we had a timeout. All the players and coaches are telling me that I will score next time or do better my next chance,” she said. “That is really encouraging. I don’t think I would have gotten out of my head without them.”
As the clock wound down, Bishop Ready had one final chance to steal the game. The Silver Knights pushed the ball the length of the floor, looking poised to retake the lead with just seconds remaining. But Williams wasn’t about to let it slip away. With a huge defensive stop, she broke up the play and kept the Panthers’ hopes alive.
With under five seconds left, Bishop Ready had two chances to win it—first with a layup attempt, and then with another—both of which didn’t fall. The Silver Knights’ last-gasp effort fell short, and Licking Valley emerged victorious, pulling off a 26-25 upset in a game that came down to the wire.
For the Panthers, it was a full-circle moment—one where their biggest win of the season came in the very situation they had struggled with all year. The game came down to the final seconds, and Licking Valley, having lost so many close battles, finally found a way to finish.
“I told the girls that all those losses came through tonight,” Coach Ed Weisgerber said. “We play in a tough league, and all of those tough games prepared us for tonight.”
At Bishop Ready, year one under Head Coach Tay Tufts is complete. With the season over, Coach Tufts is looking ahead to next season, “We took over a group of girls who needed a lot of skill work,” he said. “So, this summer we have a deep focus on developing skill work and really learning the game of basketball.”
Licking Valley will face London on Saturday in the next round of the Division IV State Playoffs.
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