WARREN Solid defense leads Canfield to victory

Stephanie Zunic's defensive play helped the Cardinals defeat Warren Harding.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- The Canfield High girls basketball team always seems to do whatever it takes to earn a victory.
The Cardinals' season opener against Warren Harding was no different, as Canfield won 48-44 with a solid defensive effort and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch.
"We have to use smoke and mirrors this year defensively because we don't have big bodies inside," Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said. "We try to mix and match our defenses and make things happen out there."
Stephanie Zunic, the Cardinals' junior guard, made a key defensive play to thwart a potential game-tying shot by Warren Harding in the final seconds.
Zunic raced down court and swiped the ball away from behind from Raiders sophomore Janine McDonald with less than 10 seconds remaining and Canfield nursing a 46-44 lead.
Zunic ended up with the ball and was fouled with just 4.8 seconds to go and she sank both free throws.
Foul-line edge
Canfield (1-0) made 4-of-5 at the foul line in the final period and 13-of-17 overall to overcome Warren Harding's 19-16 edge in baskets.
"That was outstanding free-throw shooting," Pavlansky said. "We'll take that every time. You have to make foul shots at the end if you hope to win close games."
Much to the chagrin of coach David Jenkins, the Raiders' foul woes were too much to overcome.
"We had both of our big girls in foul trouble in the first half," Jenkins said, "so then we started playing tentatively on defense."
Canfield played aggressively from the first quarter on and attacked the basket with Warren Harding's post players on the bench.
Wollet nets 14
Emily Wollet, who scored 14 points for the Cardinals, had 10 in the first half, including six at the foul line.
Canfield led 22-15 at halftime and the margin grew to as many as 12 points, 44-32, midway through the final quarter before Warren Harding (0-1) made a comeback.
Junior Desirae Jenkins scored 10 of her game-high 19 points in the final quarter to lead the Raiders.
Her basket with 52 seconds remaining cut Canfield's lead to two points and when Zunic missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 17 seconds to play, Warren Harding had its chance to win before Zunic swiped the ball away.
"We played a hard game and never quit," Jenkins said. "We overcame a great disadvantage at the foul line and had a chance to tie or win."
Zunic finished with nine points while senior Nikki Garrett scored 11.
LaBrea Crawford grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds as Harding outrebounded Canfield, 51-39.