CANFIELD VS. WALSH JESUIT Girls basketball preview

Who: Canfield (18-6) vs. Walsh Jesuit (15-9).
What: Division II regional semifinal.
When: 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Barberton High School.
At stake: The winner advances to the regional final at 7:30 p.m. Friday to face the winner of the Avon Lake-Conneaut regional semifinal.
Canfield Coach: Pat Pavlansky (100-40 in his sixth season).
So far: The third-seeded Cardinals finished the regular season at 14-6 and closed by winning nine of their last 11 games. Canfield won the Austintown Fitch district title by defeating Southeast, 77-42; Mooney, 54-35; Salem, 63-54; and Niles, 49-32. The Cardinals advanced to the regional semifinal by holding Niles to four points in the fourth quarter as part of a 21-4 run from a 28-28 tie late in the third period.
Probable starters: Jenny Miller, senior guard, 5-5; Julie Playforth, senior forward, 5-9; Nicole Vlajkovich, junior forward, 5-9; Erin Martin, junior guard, 5-8; Kelly Williams, sophomore guard, 5-4.
Walsh Jesuit coach: Don Smith (94-46 in his eighth season).
So far: The fourth-seeded Warriors won the Brecksville district by defeating Kenmore, 52-32; Revere, 55-32; No. 3-seed Tallmadge, 42-34; and No. 1-seed Copley, 53-42 in the district final. The Warriors won their first district championship by using a small, quick lineup to intensify its defense. Walsh Jesuit limited Copley to just 24 percent shooting from the field, and were led by junior center Joyce Dindo's 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Warriors struggled heading into the tournament, finishing the regular season 5-5 over their last 10 games.
Roster: Meg Gladstone, junior guard, 5-4; Sarah Nairne, junior guard, 5-2; Mary Hladky, junior forward, 5-8; Kelli Bowers, junior forward, 5-9; Janine Soloman, junior guard, 5-6; Robin Thurman, junior center, 5-10; Jessica Clarke, senior center, 5-8; Joyce Dindo, junior center, 5-10.