Canfield runs away in Div. II regional win

The Cardinals rolled over Canal
Fulton Northwest 80-45.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BARBERTON — Depending on which bench you were sitting on, Canfield High’s girls basketball team either played an OK game or a great game in its Division II regional semifinal Wednesday night at Barberton High School.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead and then coasted to an easy 80-45 victory over Canal Fulton Northwest to move into Friday’s championship game against Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown at 7:30 p.m. here.

Canfield (21-2) shot a blistering 56.7 percent from the field, dominated the boards and led by as many as 40 over the Indians (21-3).

“I thought we played well tonight, but I know we can do better,” said winning head coach Pat Pavlansky.

“We felt coming in that we had the better team and our height advantage was going to be the difference and it was,” he added.

The main height advantage the Cardinals had was 6-3 senior Kate Popovec. The Pitt-bound standout scored 23 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots to lead the way.

Senior Bryanne Halfhill also cashed in with 23 points including five 3-point goals and was 8-of-11 from the field, while her sophomore sister, Jillian, added 17 points and six assists and directed the attack at the point.

“I don’t think that they made a mistake the entire game,” said Northwest coach John Martin. “Our intention was to come out aggressively and take it to the hoop and they just rammed it down our throats.”

“If they play the way they played tonight the rest of the way they’ll win the state championship,” he said.

“We tried to take it inside and they blocked everything, we put pressure on them and their guards took it right past us and then got it inside and the big girl made everything,” Martin said. “And they shot lights out from the outside.”

Popovec, who was 9-of-14 from the field, said her teammates made everything possible.

“I’m so fortunate to have the teammates that I have,” she said. “They make every effort to get the ball inside to me. Without them I don’t know what I’d do.

“When you get this far you know that you have to be at your best because each and every game could be your last one and we don’t want it to end until we have a shot at the state championship,” Popovec said.

The contest was close for just a few minutes as Northwest took a 4-2 lead, but Bryanne Halfhill tied the score at 4-4 with two free throws and then followed with another basket to give the Cardinals the lead they never relinquished. Her four points began a 14-0 run that put the Cardinals in command and it only got worse as the game went on.

After a 20-6 first quarter lead, the Cardinals opened it up to 38-17 at halftime. They reached the 30 point margin with just under three minutes left in the third quarter 55-24 and were up by 40 points 74-34 with 4:14 left in the game when Pavlansky emptied his bench.