(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools, December 4, 2019)
There’s little doubt that Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot junior Allison Meador holds the record for longest span between varsity game action in the 45 years of Lady Patriot basketball. Meador played 10 minutes as an eighth grader in the final game of the 2017 season---a lost to Monroe County in the first round of the District 15 basketball tournament. Little did she realize at the time, it would be two years, nine months, and 13 days until she would wear the Lady Patriot uniform again in an actual game.
Projected to be a starter for the
2017-18 season, Meador suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a scrimmage game in
early November of 2017. Following months or rehab, Meador looked solid heading
into the 2018-19 season. Once again, a torn ACL in a preseason scrimmage dashed
her hopes and cost her a second season of playing the game she had enjoyed
since early childhood.
On Tuesday, December 2, 2019, Meador was back on the court, a starter in the opening game of the 19-20 season. She would see almost 29 minutes of playing time, score 15 points and grab seven rebounds in her return. However, her efforts---alongside a 14-point, nine rebound game from sophomore Chloe Cook---were not enough as AC-S dropped a 62-43 decision at South Warren.
Meador and Cook led the way as the scrappy Lady Patriots battled for most of the night. Down 13-8 after the first quarter, the Lady Patriots watched the Spartans build a 10-point lead by the 5:00 minute mark. However, buckets from Meador and Cook ignited a 10-2 run in the final four minutes. By halftime, AC-S had outscored South Warren 16-13 in the frame and trailed by two, 26-24.
The difference in the game would come to start the third quarter. The hosts opened the third with an 11-0 run to build a 15-point lead at the 5:32 mark of the third. Back-to-back field goals from Kaylee Bullington, a pair of free throws from Cook, and a three-point play by Meador to close the frame enabled AC-S to close to within 11, 46-35.
Picking up the defensive tempo, AC-S continued to slice away at South Warren’s lead. Down 13 early in the fourth, Meador drained a 3-point basket, Bullington and Cook sank foul shots, to bring the Lady patriots to within seven, 48-41, with 3:49 remaining. However, a quick 3-point basket by Spartan Emily Reynolds and another 3-pointer by Lexi Burton pushed the South Warren lead to double digits. An 11-0 run by the hosts to close the game upped the final margin to 19.
AC-S (0-1) struggled from the floor, making 15 of 49 shots (30.6%). At the line, AC-S was 12-17 (70.6%). South Warren went 21-49 (42.9%) from the floor and 11-12 (91.7%) at the line. AC-S outrebounded South Warren 34-32.
The Lady Patriots will face the Greenwood Lady Gators at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 7 at Bowling Green High School in the first game of the State Farm 14th/15th District Challenge. Tuesday at 6, AC-S hosts Adair County for the home opener. The game will be a first round regional game in the 2A Championships. A win will move the Lady Patriots into a second round 2A game in January at Warren Central.