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Moore, a graduate of Preble Shawnee High School and now a senior, helped MUM win a second straight Ohio Regional Campus state title last weekend with a 53-40 win over Ohio University Lancaster in the championship. The Hawks (19-5) had recently wrapped up their fifth consecutive Ohio Regional Campus Conference title — their seventh in nine years.
“I wasn’t expecting we would be this successful,” said Moore, who was the state tournament MVP with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the state final. “Looking back we’ve really accomplished a lot. It was crazy and a lot of fun to be a part of.”
Moore finishes as the program’s all-time leading rebounder with 905 and a 1,070-point scorer, despite playing just three years. She averaged 17.4 points and 12.5 rebounds as a senior and was one of three players on the team who have been a part of three straight unbeaten seasons in ORCC play — something no other MUM women’s basketball squad had done even once. MUM is on a 42-game win streak in league regular-season play.
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Beavercreek’s Jaelyn Bean and Braelyn Bean, both juniors, also have been a part of that stretch.
“Going undefeated three straight years in the league, it’s all these girls,” coach Dave Hall said. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of great talent.”
Rounding out this year’s team were Northeastern (Ind.) graduate Madison Clay, Madison’s Kelli Bush and Lily Campbell, and Waynesville’s Taylor Ritter, who were all freshmen, and a pair of sophomores in Middletown graduate Julia Current and Monroe’s Karley Gescuk. Hall is joined on staff by former Monroe coach Tim Kellis, who is in his ninth year, and former Preble Shawnee coach Joe Webster, a third-year assistant.
Hall expected to be competing for a state title again this season with the players he had returning and the recruits coming in, but midway through the year injuries took a toll and he wasn’t sure how the young team would respond,
That was the surprise, especially seeing how well the Hawks played even after losing guard Braelyn Bean to an ACL tear. Campbell replaced her and MUM didn’t see a dropoff. Jaelyn Bean also played much of the year with a dislocated shoulder.
“They pulled together and didn’t miss a beat,” Hall said. “They just kept going. That was pretty rewarding. Nothing changed with this team. It was just like, ‘Next one up.’ Lily Campbell stepped in and did a phenomenal job. The good thing is they are both coming back next year.”
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Campbell’s defense in particular played a big role in the state tournament.
MUM beat OSU Mansfield 73-39 in the state semifinals, then held Lancaster to its lowest points total this season with Campbell shutting down the team’s top scorer in the first half. She limited Arjanna Knull, who was averaging 24 points a game, to 11 points total.
No other Cougars players reached double digits.
Jaelyn Bean and Bush each contributed 10 points to go along with Moore’s game-leading 18. Campbell had seven points and Bush also added 11 rebounds.
“We had a great blend of players, they worked hard, and they got rewarded for it,” Hall said.
Current joined the team late after finishing up the volleyball season, but the Hawks were down to seven players before she came on board. Moore said conditioning was a big focus and made a difference down the stretch to help MUM overcome the lack of depth. They started the year with 10 players.
Moore also credited the team chemistry for the team’s success. This year’s group was especially enjoyable to play with, and she said she will look back fondly on the experience once she has time to reflect a little more.
Hall said Moore will be missed, but fortunately she’s the lone starter graduating. The team returns Clay, Bush, Campbell, Ritter and both the Bean girls, and next year MUM will be gunning for the program record of three straight titles.
“We have a good nucleus coming back and some good recruits coming in so if we can get the new girls to blend in with the veterans like this past year, we should be pretty good,” Hall said.
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