WILDCAT CLASSIC Columbiana edges Struthers

The Clippers won the mini-tournament at Struthers Fieldhouse.
By DOUG CHAPIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
STRUTHERS -- The Columbiana High girls basketball team trailed through most of the game, but took the lead in the final minute of the third quarter and went on to post a 40-36 win over Struthers Saturday in the championship game of the Wildcat Holiday Classic.
"In the second half, superior defense made the big difference," Columbiana coach Wayne Johnson said. "We wanted to play in this tournament, in this atmosphere to give our girls experience. To beat a great program like Struthers will help with our confidence.
"The girls really stepped up and played well," said Johnson.
The Clippers (5-2) led 6-5 midway through the first quarter before Struthers (4-2) opened up leads of 13-10 at the quarter break and 20-17 at halftime.
The largest Wildcats lead was 17-10.
Clippers rally
Struthers led 24-18 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but Columbiana's solid zone defense stymied the 'Cats and the Clippers caught up at 26-26 with 1:10 remaining on an inside basket by Katie Douglas.
Her free throw with 33 seconds left gave Columbiana a 27-26 lead.
Douglas, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, scored nine of her 11 points in the second half.
Columbiana's largest lead (38-30) came with just under three minutes remaining in the game. The Clippers defense was able to withstand two 3-pointers down the stretch by the Wildcats. The final score was the closest that Struthers was able to get.
Scoring
In addition to Douglas, Columbiana got 11 points from Krista Johnson and 10 points from Colleen Eisebraun. Kristina Davidson had eight rebounds and Douglas added seven.
For Struthers, Halle Minchin-Skook scored 12 points and Ashley Galbraith added 11.
"We aren't real experienced, but every game we're gaining varsity experience and it was good to play a close game on the opponent's floor," Johnson said. "We have made major strides."
In the consolation game, Mathews defeated Wilson, 63-15.