Clippers, Rebels set to renew rivalry

By Tom Williams

MINERAL RIDGE — In limiting Springfield to seven points in the second and third quarters, the Columbiana High girls basketball team displayed some of its finest defense of the season.

After defeating Springfield 48-37 in Wednesday’s Division IV tournament game at Mineral Ridge High, the Clippers (13-8) will need to surpass that effort on Saturday when they face a familiar nemesis, Crestview senior Chelsea Bowker.

In the Rebels’ two wins against the Clippers this season, Bowker scored 42 and 35 points.

In Wednesday’s other game, Bowker scored 29 points, including 10 free throws and three 3-pointers, as the Rebels (17-4) ousted Waterloo (8-13), 66-48.

Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Columbiana and Crestview will meet again with a sectional title at stake.

“I love playing Columbiana,” Bowker said. “Columbiana hates me.”

Asked why, Bowker said, “I guess I’m a bad player, I don’t know. It’s a crosstown rival and you just want to put it to them every time. It’s not even about the win, it’s just about your pride.”

Columbiana senior Ashley Shea laughed when she was told what Bowker said about a lack of love.

“I can’t say that we’ve ever hated her,” Shea said. “She’s tough — we’ll have to step up and play our ‘A’ game.”

Crestview coach Tanja Simione said what happened the first two times matters little.

“Sure, I’m glad that we beat them twice but we’re not going to rely on that, no way,” Simione said.

Columbiana coach Jeff Hammond looks forward to facing his Inter Tri-County League Tier One rival a third time.

“We’re all excited,” Hammond said. “Nobody is scared. Crestview is a big rival for us. We’re going to come out and give it everything we’ve got.”

Against the Vikings, the Rebels got off to a slow start, trailing 16-14 after a quarter.

“We weren’t worried,” said Bowker after the Vikings overcame a 12-2 deficit for a brief lead. “We usually ease up a bit and then kick it in.”

Bowker’s 15 points in the second quarter spurred a 25-14 run put Crestview in control. She finished with 17 rebounds, two steals and a block.

“I think the guards did an excellent job of getting her the ball,” Simione said. “The seniors kept it together.”

Minus sophomore post player Shannelle Davner (ankle injury), senior Marissa Newbauer contributed 23 points including three 3-pointers, for Crestview.

“With Shannelle gone, it’s going to be rough,” said Bowker, who praised Newbauer’s scoring. “She made the points, she made defensive plays.”

Simione said it’s possible that Danver could be healthy enough to play next week should the Rebels advance.

Waterloo’s Sarah Wojciechowski scored 21 points.

After falling behind 6-0, Springfield scored 14 consecutive points against the Clippers, with senior Rachael Kennedy netting five.

But the Clippers took control in the second quarter, limiting the Tigers (10-11) to a free throw. Freshman Meredith Tirpak scored five points as the Clippers took a 15-14 lead to the locker room.

“The guards had a lot of pressure which helped create a lot of steals and made it easy to get defensive [rebounds],” Shea said.

Columbiana junior Katie Witmer scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Senior guard Kaylee Couchenour also scored 12 while Hayley Goist scored nine and Shea made 11 rebounds.

“We found something that started working,” Hammond said of his defense. “We started to pick up on their tendencies and the girls were able to get some deflections and steals to create some offense.”

Junior Andria Lyons led the Tigers with 16 points while Kennedy had eight and Ashley Davis made 10 rebounds.

williams@vindy.com