Canfield surpasses Salem again

By John Kovach

The Cardinals advanced to play Canton South on Tuesday in a regional semifinal at Barberton.

AUSTINTOWN — Salem High girls basketball coach Jeff Andres says that playing against Canfield choosing your poison.

“They were taking good shots,” Andres said after Canfield’s 53-45 win over Salem in the Division II district final at Fitch High. “We tried to focus on [Jillian] Halfhill, but the other players were scoring also — so pick your own poison.”

Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky, whose Cardinals beat Salem for the second straight year in the district showdown, felt the same way.

Halfhill scored a game-high 22 points while his other players came through with key points.

“Jillian is a wonderful player and leader,” Pavlansky said. “She doesn’t always take great shots but she took great shots today.

“And everyone fed off her,” said Pavlansky of the talented 5-foot-6 junior who scored 15 in the first half to help the Cardinals take a 28-21 lead. “Everyone was scoring and they couldn’t key on just one player.”

Canfield advances to a regional semifinal on Tuesday at Barberton High at 8 p.m. against Canton South, which defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 64-40, in Saturday’s district final at Massillon Washington High.

One of the “everyone” Pavlansky was referring to was Rachael O’Hara, a 5-7 junior whose timely scoring blunted Salem’s late comeback.

The Quakers rallied from a 14-point deficit (35-21) to pull to within five (41-36) behind Amy Scullion and Taylor Sauerwein with about three minutes to go.

O’Hara responded with back-to-back goals about midway through the fourth quarter to lift the Cardinals to temporary safety, 45-36.

Then Halfhill pumped in a 3-pointer to make it 48-36 with 2:50 left, and Salem didn’t have enough firepower down they stretch to overcome the deficit.

Unfortunately for the Cards, O’Hara, who finished with six points, injured her right knee in the waning seconds and had to be carried from the floor. She was on crutches during the awards ceremony.

“We don’t know yet,” said Pavlansky of the extent of O’Hara’s injury. “Hopefully, she will be all right.”

Anokha Padubidri, a 5-11 senior, contributed eight points, including six free throws, and grabbed seven rebounds for Canfield.

Padubidri and Halfhill sank Salem’s last hope.

When the Quakers got to within 48-40 with about a minute left, Padubidri canned two fouls shots at 43.5 seconds and Halfhill two more at 22.3 to seal the verdict.

Meanwhile, Salem couldn’t launch another comeback.

“We were scrapping and crawling back but we failed to take advantage of key possessions,” Andres said.

Scullion, a 6-0 junior, finished with 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Salem, while Britney Ritchie, a 5-9 senior, added 10 points.

Scullion scored 13 points in the second half, including nine during the Quakers’ comeback drive. Sauerwein, a 5-4 junior, had all six of her points in that uprising.

“We were taking good shots. A great majority of our shots were good shots,” said Pavlansky, whose Cardinals made 17-for-37 (45.9 percent) to Salem’s 15-for-49 (30.6 percent).

Canfield also was 16-for-23 from the foul line to Salem’s 9-for-15.

“It was our toughness and taking good shots [that made the difference],” Pavlansky said. “This is our third straight district title. Last year, we got to the regional final.”

Andres conceded that Canfield is a well-balanced team.

“They played very well all-around. They aren’t a one-[person] show. All of their players contributed,” Andres said. “Padubidri was lights out at the foul line. She’s a great player.”

Andres said that Salem also lost to Canfield, 36-30, in last year’s district final.

“It has been a fun rivalry with competitve games,” Andres said.

kovach@vindy.com