TROY — The Piqua girls basketball team knew what they were up against Monday night when the Indians faced second seed Springboro in Troy D-I sectional action.

And first-year coach Bruce Vanover said the 57-11 loss did not reflect on the progress his young team has made.

“Not to be critical of other teams, but that Springboro team is going to be around for awhile,” Vanover said. “They are going to be one of the teams that comes out of the sectional.

Piqua trailed 25-0, 42-3 and 53-7 at the quarter breaks.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” Vanover said. “I think this team made a lot of progress that doesn’t always show up. If you look at the stats from a year ago — and that is all I have to go on, we got better. Our defensive average was better — we gave up 10 less points a game. We had more steals, things like that. We started a junior and four sophomores.”

And Vanover knows the work is not done.

“We still have work to do,” he said. “We need to understand the basketball season doesn’t start again in October. But, we definitely got better.”

Aubree Caroll led the Lady Indians with five points Monday night.

Saturday

D-III

Miami East 53,

Northeastern 12

COVINGTON — In Covington D-III first round action, second seed Miami East cruised to an easy win.

The Vikings, 18-5, will 15 seed Carlisle at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in second round action.

East jumped out to a 25-0 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back.

Jacqueline Kadel was a perfect 3-for-3 from long range in the opening quarter and Maryn Gross scored six points on steals.

Camryn Francis added the first four points of the second quarter to make it 25-0.

It was 34-7 at half and 41-10 after three quarters.

McKayah Musselman led the way with 14 points.

Kadel had nine points.

Francis had eight points and four assists and Gross had eight points, seven assists and four steals.

Logan Phillips added six points and Lauren Barnes added five points.

Rachel Haak had four steals off the bench.

D-IV

Troy Christian 48,

Ansonia 46

SIDNEY — In a wild finish that included a technical foul on Ansonia, Troy Christian advanced in Sidney D-IV sectional action.

The Eagles, 7-16, will play top seed Fort Loramie at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in second-round action.

Troy Christian led 7-6 after one quarter and 24-21 at halftime.

Ansonia took a 36-29 lead after three quarters, before Troy Christian rallied.

Brooklyn Lavy led Troy Christian with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

Riley Orange scored 12 points and Jocey Hill added eight points.

Reign Wilkens had six points, four steals and two blocks and Hope Carroll grabbed five rebounds.

Jackson Center 37,

Lehman 20

SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic girls lost a defensive battle Saturday in Sidney D-IV sectional action.

The Cavaliers close the season with a 5-17 record.

Friday

D-III

Bethel 63,

Dunbar 28

DAYTON — The Bethel girls basketball team opened Northridge D-III play with a win Friday night.

Bethel, 19-4 and the top seed, will play Dayton Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday night in second-round action.

Bethel led 16-7, 34-15 and 53-18 at the quarter breaks.

Karley Moore had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five steals and Kerigan Calhoun added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Maddie Montgomery had nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

Rhyan Reittinger dished out four assists.