Springfield, Ursuline victorious

The Tigers and Irish will collide in a district semifinal next Thursday
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HANOVERTON -- Highly motivated by a triple-overtime loss to East Palestine two weekends ago, the Springfield High girls basketball team used their size and depth to capture the rematch.
Powered by 21 points by Samantha Cavalier, 14 by Mindy Ritzler and 12 from Chelsea Quimby, the Tigers extended their season for another week by defeating East Palestine, 69-54, Thursday in the Division III tournament at United High.
The reward for Springfield (14-8) is a district semifinal date next Thursday against Ursuline (17-4), a team described by Tigers coach Sandi Kohler as being strong enough to "beat most of the Division III college teams in this area. It's definitely going to be a David and Goliath."
In the first game of Thursday's sectional final doubleheader, the Irish, propelled by senior Tyra Grant's 37 points, overwhelmed Pymatuning Valley, 78-36.
"She's got some good muscle on her," said Kohler of Grant, a Penn State recruit.
Springfield-East Palestine
Last Saturday, the Tigers bounced fourth-seeded Rootstown to earn their third game against the Bulldogs. "We knew we shouldn't have lost it," Ritzler said of the Feb. 14 game. "We usually come out strong in the fourth quarter."
They did Thursday, opening the final frame with a 6-0 run for a 54-47 lead.
Two baskets by Samantha DiCello cut the lead to three, but another 6-0 run on buckets by Quimby, Joanna Dick and Cavalier secured the victory.
"They are deeper than we are, they won the physical battle, no doubt about it," East Palestine coach Bob Wright said. "Their depth hurt us, their size hurt us -- and in tournaments you know they're going to be more physical."
The Tigers jumped out to a 15-9 lead in the first quarter, the watched the Bulldogs spurt to a 24-19 lead. Chelsea Peterson scored two 3-pointers and Logan Guy one during East Palestine's 15-4 run.
But two baskets by Brittany Chamberlain late in the second quarter helped the Tigers reduce the Bulldogs' halftime lead to 30-28.
Fouls help Tigers
East Palestine's foul trouble in the third quarter helped trigger Springfield's second-half dominance. The Tigers made 20 of 28 free throws.
Peterson, a junior, led the Bulldogs with 18 points. DiCello finished her varsity career with 15 points while classmate Michelle Haggerty has 13.
About playing Ursuline, Ritzler said, "It's exciting and a challenge. It's not every day that you get to play someone that good."
Kohler said the Tigers haven't looked ahead because they've had their hands full with Rootstown and East Palestine.
"We haven't really thought too much about Ursuline, we were just trying to win these games and beat the teams we knew we could play with," Kohler said.
Ursuline-Pymatuning Valley
The Irish, the six-time defending district champion, started slowly against the Lakers, turning the ball over four times in the first four minutes while they nursed a 6-4 lead.
Then Grant took charge, scoring nine of Ursuline's next 10 points for a 17-6 lead.
"I wasn't very happy with our defensive effort in the first half," said Ursuline coach Sean Durkin, who added that the joy of defeating arch-rival Boardman on Sunday was probably a factor. "We looked a little bit sluggish -- I think there was a little bit of a hangover from the Boardman game but we battled through it."
In the three quarters she played, Grant finished with 37 points, one behind the United tournament record of 38 set by Mooney's Amber Bodrick last year against South Range. Two years ago, Grant scored 37 against South Range.
Asked if he pulled Grant to give her extra motivation next week, Durkin laughed then admitted he didn't realize she was one point away from the record.