Wildcats hold on to defeat Tigers

Struthers blew a big fourth quarter lead but held off Springfield, 52-48.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

NEW MIDDLETOWN — There certainly are lessons to be learned in Saturday afternoon’s Struthers-Springfield girls high school basketball game at the Tigers’ gym.

The Wildcats learned that whenever you build a lead in the game, you better not stop doing what put you ahead.

The Tigers learned — again — that even though you trail in the game, you can get back into the thick of the battle with grit and determination and a confident attitude.

“I made a coaching mistake and tried to slow it down,” said Struthers coach John Grandy, whose Wildcats enjoyed a 40-29 lead early in the fourth quarter. “I pulled the plug too early on our offense.”

Springfield coach Sandi Kohler complained, “At every game this year we dug a hole and had to get back into the game. But we are able to come back from slow starts.”

The final result of this learning experience: After Springfield rallied to tie the score at 46, Struthers rejuvenated its attack and spurted away. Halle Minchin-Skook plugged back-to-back goals, her second basket being a 3-pointer, and Dana Mathews added an insurance bucket, to enable the Wildcats to escape with a 52-48 win.

Minchin-Skook, a 5-9 senior, finished with eight points for Struthers (6-1), while Mathews, a 5-6 sophomore, had 14, but the Wildcats’ leader was Ashley Galbraith, a 5-9 senior, with 15 points.

Grandy said Galbraith is a special athlete.

“Galbraith has a lot of athleticism,” said Grandy, noting that she is a high-jumper in track and qualified to the state track meet three straight years, earning state runner-up last season.

And, “Mathews is good at the point [guard]. She understands the game and can hit the open man.”

Springfield (4-6) was led by Ashley Davis, a 5-10 sophomore, with 13 points including three 3-point goals, while Rachael Kennedy, a 6-0 junior, added 11 points and nine rebounds. Brittany Chamberlain, a 6-3 senior, contributed eight points while Carrie Ritzler, a 5-6 senior, had six points and three steals.

“Ashley Davis is a good player with sound fundamentals,” said Kohler. “She is very competitive and she would do anything that I ask her to do.”

Kohler said her big challenge is getting her players to stay confident. “We have the capability to win. We just have to stay focused. We know that we are a good team, but we have to instill confidence in [our players].”

Grandy was magnanimous in victory.

“Congratulate Springfield for a hard-fought game. They kept the intensity up and never lost it,” said Grandy, whose Wildcats were able to overcome their premature slowdown with a strong offensive flurry, outscoring the Tigers down the stretch by 7-2.

Galbraith had eight points and Mathews six to help Struthers take a 19-11 lead after the first period. But Springfield surged back with balanced scoring to pull within 27-23. before Mathews plugged back-to-back goals for the Wildcats’ 31-23 lead at the half

Struthers built its lead to 40-29 late in the third on Helen Hird’s three straight foul shots, before Springfield launched its comeback behind Davis’ three 3-point goals, and then tied the score at 46-46 on Ritzler’s basket.

But then Minchin-Skook countered with her two baskets, the last one being her trey with 1:51 left that pushed Struthers ahead, 51-46.

“Minchin-Skook hit a big 3. She is a good shooter and had the [game-] winner,” said Grandy.

But Springfield forced a turnover and Kennedy found the net with 15 seconds left to pull the Tigers within 51-48, before Mathews’ foul shot topped off the Struthers spurt ito make it 52-48.

Then Martino stole an in-bounds pass to seal the decision.

Grandy lauded the off-the-bench play from Dominique Martino and Kaitlyn Opritza. “Martino had a big steal at the end,” he pointed out.