DIVISION I GIRLS Canfield hangs in against Hoover

But the Federal League champions were too tough, dropping the Cards 43-29.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- One of Ohio's best Division I girls basketball teams couldn't have begun tournament play with a worse start.
Against a pesky Canfield defense, North Canton Hoover missed its first 12 shots to fall behind, 8-2. In the first quarter, they committed eight turnovers.
Then the Vikings got rolling. Their 12-2 run in the first 2 minutes, 14 seconds of the second quarter created a 20-13 lead against the Metro Athletic Conference champions.
The Federal League champions, who were ranked fifth in the final state poll, dominated the second half to cruise to a 43-29 victory Saturday in the sectional final at Alliance High.
Thursday, Hoover (19-2) will take on Massillon Perry in the district semifinals. Canfield's season ended at 16-6.
Keeping close
"It's obviously really hard to see your draw has North Canton Hoover in the second round, but we believed the entire time that we could beat them," Canfield senior Danielle Pavlansky said. "I still do believe that on a given day we could be the better team, but they are very talented.
"I hope they win the state title because that will show how close we were," Pavlansky said.
Early on, the Cardinals had the Vikings' full attention. Sophomores Kate Popovec and Bryanne Halfhill scored two baskets as the Cards jumped ahead 8-2. Pavlansky's 3-pointer produced Canfield's biggest lead, 11-4.
"We played our absolute hardest, we had so much intensity," Pavlansky said. "Unfortunately, it lasted eight minutes instead of 32."
The difference in the game, according to Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky, was Vikings' guard Stephanie Gibson.
"She had a phenomenal game," Pavlansky said. "She hadn't done that against us before."
Gibson, who scored 18 points, connected on the Vikings' 13th shot then hit a 3-pointer to reduce Canfield's lead to 11-8.
Moments later, the Vikings surged into the lead as Amber Witt and Brittany Orban hit 3-pointers while Gibson scored a basket and two free throws.
"We held Witt to eight and Orban wasn't the monster that she's been against us, but someone else stepped up," Pavlansky said. "That's what great teams do."
Orban scored 10 points.
Overcame start
Hoover coach Paul Wackerly was pleased how his team overcame its sluggish start.
"We just weren't moving the ball and we were shooting too many 3s in the first quarter," Wackerly said. "Then Gibson started hitting."
Pavlansky saw his players were gassed so the Cardinals held the ball for four minutes to keep Hoover's halftime edge at seven.
The lead grew to 30-20 after three quarters before Canfield made a final surge. Baskets by Halfhill and Melissa West cut the gap to 34-27 but the Vikings went on a 7-0 run to seal the victory.
"They're pretty good [but] I still think we're pretty good," Pat Pavlansky said. "I thought we played as hard as we could possibly play. They set such a great example for our young kids."
For Canfield, Popovec and Halfhill each scored nine points.
williams@vindy.com