That being said, there were plenty of positives for coach Mike Logue’s squad.

“I loved our intensity, loved our hustle,” he said. “Our guards are a freshman (Bella Marino), a girl who missed last season with knee surgery (Leah Peterson), a girl who just came back from knee surgery (Delaney Chase) and an exchange student from Spain (Angeles Jareno). I thought they played very well, but were a little rusty. We’re getting there.”

Eisenhower took a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a 9-0 run, only to watch O-E come back and take a 24-21 lead going into halftime.

Lilee Renninger played big underneath for EHS, pouring in a team-high 16 points, while fellow forward Emiley Wheeler had eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Eisenhower's Emily Wheeler defends during the first half.

“I thought Emiley and Lilee did a nice job rebounding,” noted Logue. “They controlled the boards and they (O-E) didn’t get a lot of second shots.”

Jadelynn Spinney hit back-to-back 3’s to put O-E up nine, 36-27 midway through the third quarter, but Eisenhower rallied and got within two, 39-37 on a jumper from Marino, who finished with 11 points in her varsity debut.

That started the O-E run, however, as Kayley Heller, who scored 18 points, had a pair of buckets in the ending surge.

Chase and Renninger each had eight rebounds for EHS, while Peterson dished out six assists.

Spinney had 20 points to lead O-E.

“Our motto is commitment to each other, love each other and serve each other,” Logue said. They have showed that in practice and in tonight’s game. We will move forward and I think we’re going to have a good season.”

– – –

OTTO-ELDRED (53)

K. Sheeler 1-4-5-6, Cousins 2-0-0-6, E. Sheeler 1-0-0-2, Spinney 8-0-0-20, Raught 0-0-0-0, K. Heller 7-4-5-18, B. Heller 0-1-2-1, Dalton 0-0-0-0

EISENHOWER (44)

Marino 5-0-0-11, Peterson 3-0-0-6, Wheeler 4-0-0-8, Renninger 8-0-4-16, Chase 1-0-0-2, Courtney 1-1-2-3, Jareno 0-0-0-0

By Quarters

Otto-Eldred 9 15 15 14 – 53