Foul-prone Ursuline eases up to post 1st win

By Tom Williams

Lucia Petrus and Chase Connors led Ursuline to a 66-54 victory over East.

YOUNGSTOWN — With a rotation that runs 10 deep, Ursuline High girls basketball coach Sean Durkin’s strategy against East was to keep the clock moving.

So when the Irish went to the locker room at halftime of Saturday’s game after committing 16 fouls, Durkin reminded his players of the game plan.

“He really laid it on us for fouling so much,” Irish junior forward Chase Connors said. “Once we were able to cut the fouls down and play some smart defense, we were able to open it up.”

Ahead by one early in the third quarter, the Irish posted a 10-0 run to seize control in their 66-54 victory in their gym.

East coach Tanisha Franklin said the difference was Ursuline’s clutch baskets down the stretch.

“They just capitalized — they made shots when they needed them,” Franklin said.

Because the Panthers rely on their top six players, Durkin said, “Our goal was to wear them down but we continued to stop the clock by putting them on the foul line. The majority of their points in the first half were from the stripe.”

Fifteen of East’s first 27 points came on free throws.

The Panthers were in foul trouble by the end of the third quarter, with Chelsea Bennett, Monet Oliver and Reshayla Taylor carrying four each.

Franklin was pleased that her players managed to keep the heat on, trailing 43-35 going to the final quarter.

“I told them regardless of being in foul trouble, that they still had to play aggressive with the same intensity,” Franklin said.

She was not happy with her team’s missed opportunities.

“Free throws have been a weakness — it broke us tonight,” Franklin said. “It’s a mental thing — they’ve got to get themselves mentally stronger. If we make [some of the missed] free throws and some of the layups we missed, it’s a different ball game.”

Instead, Ursuline surged, with Connors scoring 11 and junior point guard Lucia Petrus contributing 13, including 11 free throws. Senior Victoria Miles scored eight points and pulled down nine rebounds.

“She had a couple of big buckets when it was tight early,” said Durkin of Miles. “Our scoring was very balanced today and that’s kind of what we’re shooting for.”

The win was Ursuline’s first after losing to Massillon Perry and Regina.

“It’s a relief because we’ve been working so hard every day,” said Miles, who added that the Irish (1-2) took charge because “we slowed it down and were smarter with our passes.”

Dawson and point guard Bethany Hines each scored 13 points for the Panthers (1-2). Dawson had six rebounds plus a block. Bennett contributed 11 points, five rebounds and a block.

“They gutted it out because I think they were pretty tired,” said Durkin of the Panthers.

williams@vindy.com