2022 Classic in the Country

Saturday, January 15th

Gilmour Academy 53 – Tuslaw 35 (BOX SCORE)

The Mustangs started hot, taking a 15-9 lead into the first break. Gilmour closed that gap and raised Tuslaw 3 by halftime. In a game that seen both teams show full court pressure most of the game, the Lancers guards rose to the occasion. Senior Lauryn Stover and sophomore Nicci Finazzo led the way for Gilmour, they combined for 30 points in the game. Stover added 5 rebounds and 5 assists

Tuslaw was led by senior Jada Weaver who scored 12 on 5 of 6 shooting. The Mustangs got 7 boards from Bethany commit Vanessa Frascone and 6 from Abigail Hoiles.

I had Gilmour to win the game, but I talked myself into changing it 10 minutes before tip. Gilmour’s pressure and superior guard play dictated this one as they forced Tuslaw’s top ballhandlers into 17 turnovers.

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New Philadelphia 44 – Margaretta 42 OT (BOX SCORE)

A quick, but slow and uneventful half, was nothing but in the second. Margaretta took a solid 21-13 lead into the half, but New Philly picked up the pace to start the third and before you knew it the Quakers led 26-24.

After going down 33-26 the Polar Bears weren’t going away though! They cut it to within a point with just over 2 minutes left. The Quakers stretched the lead back to 5 before Margaretta made one last push to go up 40-38 with a pair of free throws. Thats when Alyssa Miller hit Ajia Schreffler with a deep pass the likes of which us Browns fans haven’t seen in quite some time. Ajia collected it and finished as the horn went off to force OT!

In an OT with few possessions and points, the Quakers held on, in part by a timely block by Alyssa Miller. The uncommitted senior had 9 points, but also added 5 assists, 4 boards and 4 blocks. Another unsigned senior Ajia Schreffler dominated the paint with 10 points and 13 rebounds, none more important than the tying layup in regulation. Audrey Harr added 10 points for for the T-County crew.

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Lakota West 38 – Medina 35 (BOX SCORE)

Medina was not intimidated by the prestige of a program like Lakota West. However, Lakota West did just enough to pull out a win, the hard way the whole way. The Bees jumped out to a quick 11-0 run to start the game, but Lakota responded with a 5 point run of their own. Medina owned a 14-5 lead after the first quarter.

The ole ball coach Andy Fishman and his squad never felt out of the game despite only scoring 9 points in the first half. The Firebirds put together a second half that covered the deficit and left them on the winning end of a 38-35 game.

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Copley 40 – Toledo Start 39 – OT (BOX SCORE)

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Tri-Valley 51 – Ottawa Glandorf 49 (OT) (BOX SCORE)

LISTEN TO THE GAME BROADCAST WITH MYSELF AND MICHAEL HIRN

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Akron Hoban 62 – Westerville North 27 (BOX SCORE)

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Mount Notre Dame 52 – North Canton Hoover 21 (BOX SCORE)

Classic example of having a game plan and executing it. At least for the better part of a half for Hoover. Coach Mason had the Vikings playing deliberately slow and methodical. The ladies from North Canton ran it almost perfectly. They passed up good shots to eat up clock and get better ones. For the most part MND showed little resistance to that game plan and went into the locker room up 21-15.

What most people in the building thought was an incredibly impressive half by Hoover quickly went down hill. Some increased impatience and forcing the ball up floor resulted in more turnovers and MND buckets.

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Reynoldsburg 63 – Regis Jesuit (CO) 28 (BOX SCORE)

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South Bend Washington (IN) 40 – Berlin Hiland 25 (BOX SCORE)

Sunday, January 16th

Waterford 49 – Margaretta 37 (BOX SCORE)

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Canton GlenOak 53 – Lakota West 48 – OT (BOX SCORE)

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Marlington 51 – Toledo Notre Dame 31 (BOX SCORE)

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Mason 37 – Laurel 30 (BOX SCORE)

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Mount Notre Dame 53 – Olmsted Falls 49 (BOX SCORE)

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Eastern Brown 58 – Magnificat 54 (BOX SCORE)

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Solon 56 – Toledo Christian 53 (BOX SCORE)

It’s tough to decide if Solon came out playing better on the defensive end or the defensive end. Sophomore Mackenzie Blackford knocked down four three’s in the half to get the Comets off to a quick start. They also defended Toledo Christian’s top player with a host of players that held her to a single point. That defense held Braden without a field goal until the 2 minute mark on the 3rd.

Mackenzie Royal-Davis really gave the Comets fits though all night. Not only as a dominant inside presence against a Solon team without a true post presence, but also her ability to move in transition. The Eagles went on a 8-0 run after Solon opened up their biggest lead of 16, then continued to chip away to down the stretch to make it tight.

Solon don’t have any D1 standouts like the past, but some things never change. They have several scrappy kids that defend, and spot up shooters. Mackenzie Blackford led the Comets with an efficient 21 points on 50% shooting, and her sister Morgan added 15 points and 5 boards. Chyanne Hatcher-Tuberville also scored 12 points for Solon.

Royal-Davis led Toledo Christian with a monster double-double with 29 points and 15 boards. The smothers Comet perimeter defense held Kendall Braden to 10 points on 20 shot attempts.

Monday, January 17th

Northwest 56 – Hathaway Brown 50 (2OT) (BOX SCORE)

A slow start to a snowy morning got really hot in the second half! The Indians kept chipping away at a 24-18 halftime deficit and it took all of 31 and a half minutes to complete the comeback. It took an additional eight minutes to seal the deal! The Indians withstood a 15 point performance from Hathaway’s Jermani Jones and a big second half from Gia Piscitelli who had 12 in the second half.

Junior Ashley Cudnik got knocked out of the game after a collision early in the 4th, but when she came back in with 2 minutes left she came in to win! Down seven the Indians benefitted from a backcourt turnover and a missed free throw, but got the baskets they needed to force OT.

The Indians connected on a beautiful backdoor layup out of timeout on a sideline inbound, then Cudnik’s triple tied it the next possession. Hathaway Brown jumped out earl in OT but Northwest stayed the course and forced another OT. This time the Indians would leave no doubt, dominating all four minutes of the final OT.

Cudnik, a junior, led Northwest with 19 points. Lily Bottomley, also a junior, had a huge double double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Carly Spradling added seven points and eight rebounds for the Indians while another junior, Gianna Kuhn, had 8 points and 7 assists. Gia Piscatelli led Hathaway Brown with 19 points on only nine shot attempts. Molly Castellanos added 7 points and 9 rebounds for the Blazers.

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Tri-Village 52 – Waterford 30 (BOX SCORE)

Tri-Village has a three headed monster, and they all showed up today. Marshall commit Rylee Sagester was pretty efficient in her 22 point day, 8 for 19 from the field and 5 for 11 from three. Senior Meghan Downing added 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Morgan Hunt tacked on 15 points for the Patriots. MacKenzie Suprano led Waterford with 11 points.

The Patriots came off a huge win over D1 Bellbrook, a Top 10 team in Ohio, and head back southwest with another huge D4 win over last years state semifinalist.

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South Bend Washington (IN) 38 – Mason 37 (BOX SCORE)

Just a good ole fashioned slugfest here. half a dozen high major recruits, commits and signees. Every possession mattered in this one. For my money Kyla Oldacre is the most impressive post thats come through the Classic. she’s a legit 6’5″ and very physical. She has some guard skills and is comfortable in the open court with the ball. She blocks a ton of shots, with authority. She’s the one of the few girls I’ve seen over the years that isnt afraid of contact, and punishing defenders.

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Regis Jesuit (CO) 50 – Shaker Heights Laurel 49 (BOX SCORE)

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Warrensville Heights 53 – Toledo Notre Dame 49 (BOX SCORE)

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Akron Hoban 68 – Fremont Ross 46 (BOX SCORE)

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Sheridan 33 – Berlin Hiland 27 (BOX SCORE)

Defensive battle here as both teams know how to defend and key in on the opponents key scorers so well. Jamisyn Stenson kept the Generals alive with a couple treys while Mallory Stutzman led the Hawks with 7 points. A 6 point run to end the half helped Hiland grab the momentum heading into the halftime although they trailed 14-12.