Chanel gets off to strong start, rolls past McDonald in regional

The Firebirds scored 20 of the first 22 points en route to a 64-27 semifinal win.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

MASSILLON — A two-point loss to the McDonald High girls basketball team in the 2006 Division IV regional semifinals, plus a trip to state last season, was all the motivation Bedford Chanel needed for a rematch.

Thursday at Perry High, the Firebirds wasted no time jumping on the Blue Devils, scoring 20 of the game’s first 22 points en route to a 64-27 regional semifinal victory.

“We were fortunate to beat them two years ago with a last-second layup,” McDonald coach Rob Hilbun said. “It’s basically the same team — they were sophomores and freshmen then and are juniors and seniors now.

“They’re a great team,” Hilbun said. “I think they can win the state title.”

Katie Bubna’s first two baskets had the Blue Devils (23-2) down 5-0 in the opening seconds.

After McDonald junior Joh’Vonnie Mosley’s basket underneath, the Firebirds (18-7) posted a 15-0 run and started the second quarter with a 14-0 run.

“The girls remember the last time we met here and it kind of left a sour taste in our mouths,” Chanel coach Hugh McMahon said.

Hilbun said the Blue Devils “tried to take away their best shooter outside, but they’ve got five great shooters. They are a phenomenal team — they rebound well, they pass well, they have it all.”

Hilbun said he didn’t think his team came into the game intimidated.

“But when their shots started to fall, we were shell-shocked,” Hilbun said. “And we had never seen that level of [defensive] pressure. But I was proud of out girls because they never backed down.

“But we couldn’t even run a set, that’s how quick they are,” Hilbun said.

Mosley led the Blue Devils with 12 points and eight rebounds. Emily Dolsak ended her varsity career by scoring 10 points and adding three rebounds, a block and a steal.

After four senior starters graduated after the 2006 regional season, Dolsak said she was proud of how last year’s young squad made the district final, triggering this year’s strong run for the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two champions.

“No one thought we would get that far because we lost four starters and five seniors,” said Dolsak, the fifth starter two years ago. “We worked really hard and proved everybody wrong.

“And we came back this year even stronger,” said Dolsak, who added that she has not yet made up her mind about college. “It was tough but we tried our best.”

Courtney Cook and Bubna led the Firebirds with 19 points each. Guard Ashley Davis scored 10 and made four steals.

McMahon said the Firebirds concentrated on keeping the ball out of Dolsak’s hands.

“We knew they were going to feed things through her,” McMahon said. “If we could take her away, the rest might step back a little bit. Aly Sarosy and Ashley Davis did a really great job on her ... and it just got the snowball rolling.”

williams@vindy.com