By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
With her right hand or left hand, Peyton Ward can fill up the stat sheet.
Marshfield’s ambidextrous star has added something else to her game this season: Producing while seeing extra attention.
“She’s had to step up and be one of our go-to players,” said Marshfield coach Trish Marsh. “I need a double-double from her every night if I can get it. Last year, she had the third- or fourth-best defender on her. This year, she’s being targeted as our No. 1.”
Coming off a final four season, Ward and the new-look Lady Jays continue to stack up wins.
Marshfield notched its ninth straight win with a hard-fought 54-51 road victory at Hillcrest on Thursday night.
In a matchup of teams ranked in the Top 5 of the Class 5 state poll, Ward’s go-ahead bucket with 48 seconds left and two free throws from Quinn Aldridge in the final seconds helped Marshfield prevail.
Ward finished with a game-high 28 points. She scored 11 of those in the first quarter, where she flashed her advanced repertoire with multiple left-handed finishes in traffic.
“It opens up new things on my drives and everything,” Ward said. “I prefer to go left than right. Everybody knows that at this point.
“I just naturally like going to my left hand more, but I’ve always worked on both.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Lady Jays (19-4 overall, 3-0 Ozark Mountain Conference) have continued their winning ways despite graduating four senior starters that led the team to its first final four in 10 years.
Youth is a major theme this season. Ward, Aldridge and guard/forward Tilly Greenfield are the lone returnees who played full-time on varsity last season. A talented freshmen class has filled in the production gaps.
Ward, a 6’2 sophomore, was Marshfield’s top reserve last season but still finished second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.4 rpg).
“I always knew we could do it,” Ward said. “I saw our talent. At the beginning of the season, we were looking really good for this year.”
Marsh, a former Marshfield star herself, is in her first season as the team’s head coach.
“Our kids have really bought into a new system, and new roles. Everyone’s learning a new role,” Marsh said. “Our seniors were great leaders last year. To have our (current) players step up, they’re learning what it takes every week to be a leader.”
Like Marshfield, Hillcrest (16-6 overall, 1-2 OMC) is also entering the stretch run of an exceptional season. Despite the loss, the Lady Hornets passed a key test on Thursday night.
“What we wanted to find out was, ‘Is what we do good enough to beat a team like Marshfield?’” said Hillcrest coach Justin Gerald. “After the game, I talked to my team, and we feel like what we do is good enough. That team is not unbeatable.
“We feel like we can compete with that team and give ourselves a chance at the end. That’s what we wanted to find out tonight, because Marshfield is on a hot streak.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
In a back-and-forth second half that saw several lead changes, Hillcrest was in position to pull out a victory.
Turnovers in crunch time and free throw struggles – the Lady Hornets were 8-for-17 at the line overall – were too much to overcome.
Senior Jamyra Parlette led Hillcrest with 20 points. Lillie Moore (13) and Nevaeh Shockley (12) also reached double figures.
“We always talk about getting the best shot possible,” Gerald said. “Right now, Jamyra is shooting 65 percent. Until somebody shoots better than that, this is what we need to be looking for. That really worked for us. We do a good job of penetrating and getting shots inside the paint.”
Marshfield and Hillcrest could meet again in a few weeks. Both teams will compete in the Class 5 District 6 Tournament at Willard High School in early March. The field includes perennial postseason contenders Webb City (13-8 overall) and West Plains (13-8 overall).
Marshfield closes out the regular season with three more OMC games: at West Plains (Feb. 17), then home tilts versus Logan-Rogersville (Feb. 20) and Carl Junction (Feb. 24).
Hillcrest will play at Logan-Rogersville next Tuesday (Feb. 18), then host Branson (Feb. 20) and West Plains (Feb. 24).
Marshfield 54, Hillcrest 51
Marshfield 16 9 18 11 — 54
Hillcrest 11 15 14 11 —- 51
Marshfield (19-4 overall, 3-0 OMC) – Peyton Ward 28, Miley Austin 8, Quinn Aldridge 7, Kendyl Dolan 5, Quinn Aldridge 4, Izzy Cherne 2
Hillcrest (16-6 overall, 1-2 OMC) – Jamyra Parlette 20, Lillie Moore 13, Nevaeh Shockley 12, Sa’Niya Johnson 3, Camryn Summers 3
