Poland turns the tables

Steffi Graf and Lauren Umble played different roles in the Bulldogs' victory over Canfield.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Steffi Graf and Lauren Umbel couldn't have played more different roles, but they reveled in this game just the same.
The only two seniors on the Poland High girls basketball team were all smiles Wednesday after a 45-37 win over Metro Athletic Conference rival Canfield.
Graf was in uniform; Umbel, nursing an ankle injury, was not.
Still, on Canfield's Senior Night, it was the Bulldogs' two seniors who had something to celebrate: a much-needed victory in the teams' rematch.
In control
Graf scored a game-high 16 points, 12 of which came in the first half when Poland (12-6, 8-3 MAC) established control that it never relinquished.
"I'll never have another player like her," Poland coach Jamie Dunn said of Graf. "Talk about the all-around student-athlete; you couldn't ask for a more positive role model for all of our younger girls than Steffi Graf."
As Poland settled into a comfort zone, Umbel simply watched with satisfaction.
"We really wanted to get back at them," said Umbel, referring to Poland's 47-32 loss to Canfield in January. "It was an adrenaline rush the whole game."
In perhaps its most complete performance of the season, Poland built commanding leads to start the game and after halftime, then hung on in a frantic finish.
"We played hard pretty much the whole game," Graf said. "Before, we were kind of going in spurts."
Off and running
Most games aren't decided in the opening minutes. This one could have been.
"We got off to a good start; that helped us," Dunn said, "and we built on that."
Poland's 9-0 lead, in which Graf scored seven points, had the Cardinals (13-6, 9-3) searching for answers.
"You need to come out shooting well," Graf said. "It kind of gives you momentum for the rest of the game."
The Bulldogs finished the first half with a flurry, highlighted by sophomore Jessica Toth's 3-pointer to provide a 30-20 advantage. Toth finished with 13 points.
"We didn't make them break away from their habits," Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said. "We let Graf take the ball to the hoop and we let Toth just stand there and shoot the ball."
Poland only compounded Canfield's problems minutes into the second half when the Bulldogs built a 19-point lead (39-20), capped by another Toth 3-pointer.
"We dug ourselves a big, old hole," Pavlansky said, "and we almost got out of it."
Closing the gap
Over the next 10 minutes, bridging the third and fourth quarters, the Cardinals outscored Poland 17-2.
"They made runs at us all night long," Dunn said, "and we just hung in there."
Canfield trailed 41-37 with two minutes to play, but couldn't get any closer.
"You have to play perfect when you're down that many points," Pavlansky said. "It's tough to play perfect basketball."
Sophomore Danielle Pavlansky scored 13 points to lead Canfield.
richesson@vindy.com