Wildcats wrap up 9-0 MAC season

MINSTER - Minster put the finishing touches on the school's 16th Midwest Athletic Conference girls basketball title with a 54-25 victory over Coldwater on Thursday night at Wildcat Gymnasium.

Extending their winning streak to 18, the Wildcats finished with a perfect 9-0 MAC record and head into postseason play at 21-1 overall.

Coldwater stayed within striking distance for 21/2 quarters, but Minster closed out the third quarter with a 13-3 run and never looked back.

For Minster coach Mike Wiss, it was all about a big senior class of eight girls, who were honored in ceremonies prior to the start of their last regular season game.

"It was obviously emotional," Wiss said. "The number of wins these girls have accounted for is one thing. But the number of memories and relationships they've had in their four years here probably had a big part in what went on throughout the course of the game."

Senior Ivy Wolf scored eight first-quarter points to push the Wildcats out to a 14-5 lead after the first eight minutes. However, some aggressive defense allowed the Cavaliers to creep to within five at 16-11 midway through the second quarter.

"Defensively, we were doing a couple things with Ivy (Wolf) and Janae (Hoying), trying to deny them the ball and doing some switching things," Coldwater coach Keenan Leichty said. "I thought some of the young girls did a nice job and our seniors battled, being their last MAC game, so I was proud of the girls."

Five unanswered points at the charity stripe kept the Cavs within single digits midway through the third quarter, but Minster finished the period with a flurry of points off turnovers.

Hoying hit a 3-pointer and Wolf added a layup in the closing seconds of the third quarter to give the Wildcats a 39-21 lead heading into the fourth.

"Offense comes and goes, but your defense never leaves you," Wiss said.

Minster forced 26 turnovers and held Coldwater to just two field goals in the second half.

"With their quickness, they put you in situations where you have to make good passes and be in the right spots, and we just didn't consistently do that," Leichty said. "And on top of that we just didn't shoot well."

Wolf finished with 23 points to lead all scorers, while Hoying netted 12 of her 14 points in the second half.

"Coldwater played well, pat on the back to them," Wiss said. "I thought we handled their guards pretty well, and we adjusted to their inside game with the high-low stuff.

"It's like I told the girls, close games are coming soon," the Minster coach added. "You're not going to get out of the Wapak District without playing close games against other MAC schools."

Minster, the top seed in the Division IV Wapakoneta District, took a first-round bye and hosts the winner of next Thursday's Ridgemont-Lima Central Catholic game on Feb. 20.

Last year Minster was still alive when tournament play was canceled due to the pandemic.

"I think we're ready for the second season," Wiss added. "We thank God every day that we were able to play 22 games, and I think with the mindset of the girls, after last year was taken from them, they're ready for the challenge."

Coldwater (8-11, 4-5 MAC) hosts Allen East in the opening round of the Division III tournament on Thursday, two days before Minster's postseason opener, which will begin its pursuit of a third state title in the last four years.