UNION CITY – The Mississinwa Valley Lady Blackhawks clinched a share of the 2025 WOAC basketball title, the first since 1988, with a convincing senior night 69-10 win over the visiting Preble Shawnee Lady Arrows.
Seniors wearing the Black and White for their final career home game were No. 1 Emily Byram, No. 5 Taylee Woodbury, No. 13 Caeden Fritz, No. 21 Syenna Purdin, No. 23 Stephany De La Torre, and No. 45 Lupe Couchot.
“These seniors are special,” said Mississinawa coach Michael Paige. “I have had all of them for all four years so it means a lot more to us, the seniors are special. The things they’ve done the last four years with the records they’ve set, with the games we’ve won, WOAC Champs, District Champs.”
“They are all like daughters to us,” continued Paige. “We have a great relationship with the girls and it shows on the floor, it shows on the sideline. They will always be a part of our lives.”
The Lady Hawks jumped out to a 17-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back in securing the Friday night win.
Mississinawa Valley’s smothering defense held the Lady Arrows scoreless in the second while putting 14 points on the board, led by seven Purdin points, including a triple and 4-4 at the free throw line, sending the teams to the break, with the Lady Hawks leading 31-4.
Period No. 3 was no better for the Arrows, with Mississinawa outscoring the visitors 22-1. Purdin led the quarter with eight points, including 2-2 at the line, and Taylee Woodbury chipped in seven points, including a 3-pointer.
Mississinawa Valley closed out the night with a running clock and a 16-5 fourth quarter led by seven Taylee Woodbury points, including her second three of the night, giving the Lady Blackhawks an impressive 59-point win.
The game’s leading scorers, Syenna Purdin and Taylee Woodbury, are four-year starters for the Lady Hawks varsity basketball program.
“Taylee and Syenna have been four-year starters, so for the last four years, I have always had them,” Coach Paige stated. “We’re going to miss them. Taylee meant so much to our team. Her leadership this year has been tremendous; just seeing her mature and grow. The rest of the girls have always been their support staff, our support staff, and they’ve always stepped up when we needed them, so we’re going to miss all of them.”
Ten Lady Hawks got in the scoring column, led by Syenna Purdin’s 19 points, followed closely by 17 Taylee Woodbury points.
BOXSCORE:
MISSISSINAWA VALLEY 69, PREBLE SHAWNEE 10
MISSISSINAWA VALLEY – S. Purdin 19, Taylee Woodbury 17, Tenlee Woodbury 7, S. De La Torre 7, B. Seubert 6, P. Emrick 4, M. Hoggatt 3, E. Byram 2, C. Fritz 2, L. Couchot 2 – TOTALS 15 13-20 69
PREBLE SHAWNEE – J. Mondello-Garrett 4, A. Apking 3, C. Hatmaker 3 – TOTALS 1 2-4 2 10
3-POINTERS
Mississinawa Valley 8 (Taylee Woodbury 2, S. De La Torre 2, Tenlee Woodbury 1, M. Hoggatt 1. S. Purdin 1, P. Emerick 1)
Preble Shawnee 2 (C. Hatmaker 1, J. Mondello-Garrett 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
17-14-22-16 69 Mississinawa Valley
04-00-01-05 10 Preble Shawnee
