2014 Classic in the Country

Saturday January 18th

Fort Loramie 73, West Branch 64

Fort Loramie weathered a West Branch storm in the first quarter that was named Melinda Trimmer. Trimmer scored 15 points, the same amount as Fort Loramie. Trimmer looked a little tired in the second while committing several of her 6 turnovers. That quarter proved pivotal as Loramie outscored the Warriors 21-6. Outside of the 2nd quarter West branch had a +6 edge. It took Fort Loramie star Darian Rose a bit to get warmed up, but when she did she got the Redskins really moving! Scoreless in the 1st quarter and only 3 points most of the 2nd, Rose hit a three right before the halftime buzzer. She then dropped 16 in the second half. This is a huge win for the Redskins, they played with and beat an excellent team. They also sent a message to the host crowd, Hiland, who they beat last year in the state finals and will be on a collision course with for the title this year. Jessica Boerger gave Loramie 13 points and 5 rebounds while Hallie Benanzer (11) and Kelly Turner (10) both had double figures. Meg Westerheide had 6 assists for the Redskins. West Branch had a career night from Trimmer with 29 points, 4 assists and 4 steals. Pavin Heath had 16 and 6 for the Warriors.

Player of the Game: Darian Shaw (FL) – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals

*****

Columbus Africentric 55 – Twinsburg 39

Africentric came into this one a heavy favorite, and all the through the end Twinsburg gave it all they had, even making a small push late in the 4th. Unfortunately I don’t think Coach Solis and the Tigers are much for moral victories. The best chance they had to steal one was to ugly things up a bit. They certainly did that, sometimes to a fault. In a second quarter stretch when the game was still within reach they had a possession where they collected 3 fouls and a bench warning on the same possession, all in what seemed to be a senseless power struggle with Africentirc’s Alexus Hart. In the 3rd quarter, one that started out rough for both teams the Tigers could have gained ground but instead collected a bench technical. The Nubians had control the entire game and stretched the lead out a few times but Twinsburg never stopped fighting. Twinsburg got another big night from Bayleigh Reid who scored 20, rebounded 5 and helped on 3. Aloneet Durden threw in 10 and Richardson led on the boards with 9. Africentric got 12 and 10 from Harley and Seward, and 6 boards from Stith.

Player of the Game: Alexus Hart (CA) – 18 points, 4 boards, 3 blocks

Committed to Ohio State

*****

Regis Jesuit (CO) 78 – Cincinnati Princeton 56

Regis Jesuit showed why they’re one of the best teams in the country. It’s easy to see why they have 6 players committed to D1 colleges. at every position they are long, athletic (physically and skill), and smart. On the Princeton end it was a flat-out bad night, they shot 36% (17% 3pt, 45% ft) while Regis shot 53% (50% 3pt, 69 ft). Princeton was forced to feed Kelsey Mitchell and try to have her outscore Regis, which wasn’t going to happen. Not today, not any day. Mitchell finished up with 22, shooting 6-22, 1-9 from behind the arc and 9-15 from the line. Jesuit outrebounded Princeton 47-27 and their depth wore on Princeton as they extended the lead as the game grew longer. Mitchell had 6 assists in the game while Jasmyn Hardin led the team with 9 rebounds. Regis was led by Hall with 18, Akigbogum with 17&9, Lidge with 17&8, and Lockley with 10&7. Jessica Lewis drops 9 assists to lead the team, also tying her for 4th most at the Classic.

Player of the Game: Justine Hall (RJ) – 18 pts (4-6 3pt), 3 assists.

Committed to Purdue

Post Game Interview with Kelsey Mitchell

*****

Mason 52 – Canton McKinley 27

We had a very competitive first quarter, McKinley’s pressure usually forces opponents to rush and make bad decisions. Mason only had 9 turnovers, and the Pups only scored 2 points off of those. A team that thrives off of making defense into offense is in trouble when its handles to perfection like Mason did. McKinley also struggled from the floor, going 0-9 from beyond the arc and 30% from the field. McKinley was held to two quarters with only 4 points. the Pups got a solid game out of junior post Tazhia Pettit with 12 points and 4 rebounds. Mason is a pretty solid team, in addition to being very calm and composed they are extremely disciplined and work hard on the defensive end of the floor. They got a really great game out of 6’2″ sophomore Lauren Van Kleunem who recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds. They also got the normal from great game from senior Jenna Gunn.

Player of the Game: Jenna Gunn (Mason) – 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists.

Committed to IUPUI

*****

West Holmes 41 – Centerville 30

This game was quite a surprise. Not that West Holmes won, but that they held Centerville to 30 points! I’d be willing to guess that that is pretty close to half of their season average. They forced a couple really good players into bad nights. Kent State commit Naddiyah Cross and Idaho commit Bethany Krause combined for only 2 points. Cross is recently returning from an injury and she looks like she’s trying to get back in basketball shape. Krause went scoreless and 0-13 from the floor. Lots of credit has to be given to West Holmes for their stingy defense as they held the Oaks to 27% shooting from the floor and 0-7 from behind the arc. West Holmes also did a great job being focused and composed considering the lead was never a comfortable one and any small run would change the complexion of the game. Centerville was led by 6’5″ junior Shannon Coffee with 10 points and Maggie Schutter had 8 rebounds. Laina Snyder had a pretty complete game for the Knights with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Paiten Strother also had a decent night with 9 points and 7 boards. Brittleigh Macauley played a huge role on a night where Molnar spent most of her focus on defense.

Player of the Game: Brittleigh Macauley (WH) – 14 points, 6 rebounds

*****

Kettering Fairmont 63 – Toledo Notre Dame 26

Not much to say about this one, the reigning D1 state champions came to Berlin to send a message, and they did just that! They came down on Toledo Notre Dame with full fury. NDA shot 23% and gave Fairmont almost as many points off turnovers as they scored in the game. Fairmont’s stars flourished and NDA’s did not. The Eagles were already short-handed without Jayda Worthy and Tierra Floyd shot 3-18, and finished with 12 points. Fairmont got 19 from Shafer, 18 points and 10 rebounds from Westbeld and 14 points 9 rebounds from Waterman. Most important of them was probably Shafer. In my mind the biggest question mark was how Fairmont would move forward and replace the production of Chelsea Welch, Shafer is doing just fine!

Player of the Game: Danie Shafer (KF) – 19 points, 5/10 3pt, 4 rebs, 4 assists, 3 stls

Committed to Marysville

Post Game Interview with Notre Dame Head Coach Travis Galloway

*****

Kettering Alter 58 – Berlin Hiland 41

It’s generally going to be a long night for the Hawks when Regina Hochstetler isn’t on. Tonight was one of those nights. Hiland stuck around for a long while but never could close the gap. Their scrappy tough style of defense will always keep them in games but they just weren’t getting any offensive groove going. Hochstetler finished with a team high 15, most of which in the 4th quarter while playing catch up, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Emily Yoder also contributed 10 for the hometown Hawks. Emma Bockrath led Alter with a big night and highly touted freshman Braxtin Miller had 13 points and 6 rebounds in her first Classic experience. Maddie Bazelak also had 10 for Alter.

Player of the Game: Emma Bockrath (KA) – 19 points, 7 rebounds

Sunday January 19th

Upper Arlington 55 – Lakota East 46

Lakota East came hot and played very well, exploding for a 20 point 2nd quarter after ending the first tied at 7. In the second half the Upper Arlington shooters woke up! 6 for 13 from behind the arc along with some solid inside play from Eisenman and the Golden Bears were well on their way. Annika Wachtman had 3 of those treys on her way to 17 points and 5 rebounds. Kyle Croxton also got in the act while piling up 10 points and 5 boards as well. Taylor McGlade threw 5 assists and Andi Norman finished with 10 and 6. Lakota East was led by Kandace Satterwhite who had 11. eight other players got on the board, no one over 6 points.

Player of the Game: Kortney Eisenman (UA) – 15 points, 12 rebounds

*****

Mt. Notre Dame 67 – Clyde 61

These two teams gave us heavyweight battle unlike any we’ve ever seen at the Classic, and we may never see again. The teams were neck and neck, but Naomi Davenport and Amanda Cahill also had their own battle going on. You can be cliché correct all you want, there wasn’t one person in this gym at some point thinking more about the scoring record than the outcome of the game. the current record is 33, held by McKinley’s Ameryst Alston and Columbus Brookhaven’s Da’Keisha Mann. Both players had 21 at half and came out firing. A big 3rd quarter lifted Mt. Notre Dame into the lead after trailing by 5 at half. Mt. Notre Dame won the game and Davenport won her side battle, scoring 33 to tie the record. Cahill ended with 32. Davenports points were more than legit, she only scored 3 from the line, and went 15 for 20 from the field. No three’s and only 3 foul shots, that is working hard for your points. She was helped by Blair Carlin who scored 14 and Maddy South who dished out 5 assists. Clyde got 14 points and 9 rebounds from Kelsey Michaels and another 10 from Hannah Wadsworth on 5 of 5 shooting. Cahill stuffed the stat sheet with 8 rebounds and 5 assists as well. Cahill also piled up the highest turnover total of the weekend so far with 9, her teammate Brianne Michaels followed with 8.

Player of the Game: Naomi Davenport (MND) – 33 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals

Committed to Michigan

*****

North Canton Hoover 56 – Lakota West 49

Great win here for Hoover, Lakota West is a very good team! Hoover got up 33-22 right after half and they fought back. This Lakota team has lost to the #1 team in the state twice by a total of 5 points. Marquia Turner, how has mainly been a facilitator this season really stepped to the front and led her team going 7 for 11 from the field and displaying her jump shot as well as her penetration ability. Lakota just couldn’t put together enough stops. I think the key to Hoovers success is Kelsey Lensman, and we will see that tomorrow against Regis. She gives them a good shooter who is a long defender. Hoover was led by Turner but also got 15 from Worley and 10 from Lensman. Stroemple had a solid game collecting 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Lakota West was led by Nia Staples with 13.

Player of the Game: Marquia Turner (H) – 17 points, 3 steals

Committed to Xavier

*****

Mason 43 – Toledo Notre Dame 33

If there were ever a 10 point loss that was a breath of fresh air, this is it. I’ve heard some this weekend describe it as ‘coming back from the dead’ for the Eagles. After the very public beating on Saturday night in the nightcap, Notre Dame came out and played their tails off! They opened the quarter strong and took a 14-6 lead into the second. Things got a little rocky at that point, being outscored 25-5 in the 2nd and 3rd. Their lack of depth was very obvious and it will continue to hurt them down the road considering Wadsworth may be the most deep talented team in the state. They got back to playing solid basketball in the 4th but it was already out of reach. We seen a more normal Tierra Floyd as she dropped 17 points while shooting 50%, along with 5 boards and 5 steals. Kayla McIntyre had a solid game with 8 points and 7 rebounds. The guards for Notre Dame were a combined 2-20 from the field, 1-11 from three. That has to be a major concern. Mason got another huge game from Van Kleunen, as well as 12 points 3 assists from Jenna Gunn, 10 points from Samari Mowbray. Mason shot 56% from the field and got 12 points off the bench, to Notre Dame’s 1. In two games this weekend Van Kluenen, a 6’2″ sophomore, has 34 points and 18 rebounds.

Player of the Game: Lauren Van Kluenen (M) – 18 points, 11 rebounds

*****

Wadsworth 43 – Toledo Rogers 35

This was another game where people weren’t shocked by a team winning, but how it was done. Wadsworth held Rogers way below their season average. Rogers has 8 D1 recruits on their team, 6 of which are already signed. Rogers is faster, taller and probably more athletic. Wadsworth is more patient, more fundamental, and certainly works better as a team. As a team Wadsworth exerted their will on another very good team. The Grizzlies didn’t allow any Rogers player to score more than 7 points. Tori Easley, a senior headed to Eastern Michigan, led Rogers with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Wadsworth was led by sensational sophomore Jodi Johnson and Taylor Wyatt who scored 12. It was interesting that they played right after Toledo Notre Dame, who Wadsworth has lost to in the regional final the last two years. I think after this weekend people are thinking that streak will end.

Player of the Game: Jodi Johnson – 17 points

*****

Kettering Fairmont 56 – Solon 49 (OT)

Game of the weekend so far, and its going to be extremely tough to top! Kettering Fairmont was coming off of the big win over Toledo Notre Dame and some thought they would be flat. I think that would be taking too much credit away from Solon. Fairmont got out to a 9-3 lead, they weren’t flat. Solon just kicked it into gear and gave Fairmont a level of play the Firebirds didn’t figure they’d be facing. The Firebirds weren’t helped by having Waterman on the bench in foul trouble but the Comets just flat-out came to play. Kristen Confroy was old reliable, scoring 17 points. Although she was 0-7 from beyond the arc she was 8-12 inside of it and down the stretch she was deadly. She also led the team in rebounds along with Alexis gray with 7. The big story for Solon was how well the freshman played, Alexis Stover and Dee Bekelja both start as freshman and combined for 23 big points. Dee handled the Fairmont pressure very well, playing over 30 minutes without a turnover. Junior Jordan Bekelja stepped up as well going 2 for 2 behind the three-point line and scoring 12 points to go with 3 assists and 5 steals. Jordan also played over 32 minutes without a turnover. Fairmont got a career game from Westbeld who tied the Classic scoring record with 33 points. That was the second time today the record was reached. Danie Shafer continued to supplement the leading scorers very well with 12 points while Alyssa Clemente came through with three big 3-pointers. Shafer and Clemente really came up big tonight while Waterman sat with some foul trouble. She still managed to score 8, rebound 6 and assist on 4. Even when the game was locked up and the surprises were not done. With 10 seconds left and Solon pressing Westbeld found herself with a wide open layup that would give her 35 points and the lone high scoring game in Classic history…she dribbled right past the basket…I’m still taken back by this and my brain can’t even wrap itself around how much integrity, selflessness and self-control that it would take to pass on that shot. Not to mention the amount of respect for Solon, a team that just pushed them to the limit! I just can’t imagine, but Kathryn Westbeld you are a bigger person than most. Your parents and have done a great job and you should be extremely proud of the person you are!

Video Below – Inside the last minute of regulation – Solon ties the game to send it OT

Player of the Game: Kathryn Westbeld (KF) – 33 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals

Committed to Notre Dame

Post Game Interview with Solon Coach Trish Kruse

Post Game Interview with Solon Players Kristen Confroy and Dee Bekelja

Monday, January 20th

Newark Catholic 54 – Bellevue 44

Tough picking the POG for this one. Both of Newarks 6’2″ junior bigs, Jill Blackstein and Ashleigh Parkinson, combined for 36 points and 23 rebounds. Together they eventually controlled the game. Early Bellevue did exactly what was needed to win, playing effectively on the perimeter, knocking down long jumpers. When that stopped happening the tide quickly changed. Newark outscored Bellevue 32-12 in the middle quarters, cruising to a win. Newark got 12 points from Jenna Bourne. Bellevue star Carly Santoro, who scored her 1000th point last year as a sophomore, had a rough day shooting 6 for 22, 0-7 from behind the arc. She still finished with a team high 12 points and 6 rebounds. Shelby Stamm through in 11 for Bellevue and Makala Daniel led the team with 9 rebounds. Whitney Schalk had a decent game with 5 assists and 3 steals.

Player of the Game: Jill Blacksten (NC) – 20 points, 12 rebounds

*****

Wintersville Indian Creek 34 – Chagrin Falls 33

Second game in a row that showed height isn’t everything, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Second game in a row that the height also persisted and won out the longer the game went on. Indian Creek features 6’3″ senior Kiarra Kamarec and 6’5″ junior Bre Berryman. Between the two of them they combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds. Defensively they held Chargin Falls 6’1″ junior Hannah Thome to 6 points on 1-16 shooting, Thome also collected 10 rebounds. Chagrin Falls was able to hit some shots early as Kelly Dishong, Amy Dishong and Jessica Tull combined for 25 in the game. Eventually the shots weren’t falling as much and the Indian Valley inside dominance shined a little brighter. Kelly Dishong also pulled down 9 boards to go with 4 steals. Kelsey Owen had 5 steals for Chagrin Falls. Indian Creek got no productions from anyone besides their bigs and guard Bethany Davis committed a weekend high 10 turnovers.

Player of the Game: Bre Berryman (IC) – 16 points, 13 rebounds

*****

Regis Jesuit (CO) 52 – North Canton Hoover 38

Hoover had only three player sin the scoring column…Worley and Turner with 13 and Lensman with 12. Worley led the team with 7 rebounds. Regis was led by Jessica Lewis with 14 and Justine Hall with 13 points and 4 assists

Player of the Game: Justine Hall (RJ) – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

ARTICLE COMING SOON

Committed to Purdue

*****

Westerville North 48 – Eaton 39

*****

Lakota West 51 – Toledo Rogers 42

*****

West Holmes 44 – Reynoldsburg 40

*****

Berlin Hiland 48 – Wooster 38