Mackenzie Suprano reaches milestone in Waterford victory over South Gallia

WATERFORD -- Senior night here Thursday inside the Harry Cooper Annex turned out quite nicely for the Waterford Wildcats of head coach Jerry Close.

Mackenzie Suprano, who was honored prior to tip alongside fellow seniors Cara Taylor, Lilly Franchino and Kaylor Offenberger, surpassed 1,000 career points and the Wildcats never trailed in securing a key 54-43 Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division triumph versus South Gallia.

Taylor, who had seven rebounds, led the way with game-highs of 17 points and five steals. Freshman Avery Wagner added 15 points, nine rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots. Suprano finished with 11 counters and a game-high six assists.

"I didn't know how many I had," admitted Suprano, who eclipsed the mark when she drained a 3 for a 13-4 lead at 3:53 of the first. "We kind of gave up on it a little bit so I guess I was closer than I thought.

"I wasn't sure because I've had a couple injuries that's kept me out quite a few games. It's very exciting. Our team, we try to work day in and day out at practice to try and make ourselves better and we're just trying to take it one game at a time."

Taylor actually put the hosts ahead for good 1:15 into the affair when she ripped the ball away from Jessie Rutt and raced to the other end of the floor for a layup and the 2-0 cushion.

Still leading 4-3 after Emma Clary drained a 3 for the Rebels (13-5, 7-3), Wildcat Laykyn Jones drew a charge, which led to a deuce by Wagner. The WHS pivot then assisted on a Suprano jumper and following two charity stripe makes by Jones, Suprano canned her triple to get to 1,001 career points.

Clary, who scored a baker's dozen while grabbing a game-high 10 caroms to go along with four assists and a trio of swats, scored the final basket of the first as the Rebels only trailed 16-10.

South Gallia proceeded to have three consecutive turnovers to open the second quarter, which allowed the Wildcats to push ahead 22-10 as Wagner scored twice and Taylor recorded a putback.

Waterford, which improved to 14-3 overall and 8-1 in the TVC Hocking, held a 28-16 lead at the half and the margin was still a dozen at 42-30 entering the final eight minutes.

Madison Hiener's run-out lay-in from a Suprano dime opened the scoring in the fourth. When Franchino converted to make it 47-33 with 4:56 remaining, it looked like the game was over.

However, the Rebels scored six straight points thanks to deuces by Rutt, Macie Sanders and Clary, but it wasn't enough. Tori Triplett led the visitors with 15 points and Wildcat Kendall Sury pulled down six boards.

Suprano also had the weirdest play of the contest when she was inbounding the ball under her own basket with less than three minutes to play in the first half. She attempted to make a pass to the other wing, but the ball went off the side of the glass and right into the awaiting hands of Taylor, who converted the short jumper for a 24-13 advantage.

"I didn't realize I was that far under the basket," admitted Suprano. "I'm curious if that counts as an assist."

Waterford returns to action on Monday at Trimble. The Rebels play the same evening at Belpre.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com