43
Scullion reaches a milestone, but Canfield captures the game
Photo
1,000 POINT MILESTONE: Salem’s Amy Scullion (35) drives to the hoop as Canfield’s Kendal Malsch (12) defends during Wednesday’s game at Salem High School. The Cardinals’ 58-48 victory spoiled an historic night for Scullion, an Ohio State recruit, who passed 1,000 career points.
Salem senior Amy Scullion passed 1,000 career points but Cardinal senior guard Jillian Halfhill scored 31 to lift Canfield to the AAC win.
By JOE SCALZO
Vindicator sports staff
SALEM — Before Wednesday’s game at Salem, Canfield High girls basketball coach Pat Pavlansky had just one goal.
“The only thing I want people to say when they leave the gym tonight is, ‘How is that team 4-6?’ ” Pavlansky said.
Over the next 32 minutes, the Cardinals achieved that goal and took a big step forward in their development, outplaying the Quakers for a 58-48 victory in an All-American Conference Red Tier game.
“We’re starting a whole new season,” Pavlansky said. “We’re 1-0 and we’re moving on from here.
“This was a nice win.”
The Cardinals’ win spoiled a historic night for Salem senior Amy Scullion, an Ohio State recruit who passed 1,000 career points.
Canfield senior point guard Jillian Halfhill sat the first quarter for disciplinary reasons — Pavlansky declined comment — and gave Salem a golden opportunity to take control of the game early.
Instead, the Quakers seemed to be trying too hard, committing eight turnovers in the first quarter (several of them unforced), while Canfield’s lineup stayed composed and played good defense to take a 12-10 lead.
“I think the girls just wanted to win this game so bad,” Quakers coach Jeff Andres said. “We made a lot of unforced errors and obviously got in a hole in the first half.
“When you get behind against Canfield, it’s tough to come back.”
Halfhill entered the game to start the second quarter and immediately made an impact, scoring 11 of her 31 points over that stretch to give the Cardinals a 28-19 halftime lead.
The Bowling Green recruit scored the final three points of the half on a bank-shot 3-pointer just before the buzzer that was coaxed in by Pavlansky, who yelled out “C’mon Jill, one time!” as it left her hand and “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!” as he walked toward the locker room.
Canfield (5-6, 1-1) seemingly put the game out of the reach in the third quarter as Halfhill scored nine points to give the Cardinals a 42-29 lead.
But in the fourth quarter, Scullion started to solve some of Canfield’s double teams. (And, when she held the ball for more than a split-second, triple teams).
Scullion entered the game needing 19 points to reach the milestone and got it midway through the fourth quarter when she broke on a pass near half-court, stole it and drove in for a right-handed layup that made it 47-36 with 3:34 left. The game was stopped, she waved to both sides and barely smiled.
“It’s a cool accomplishment,” she said after the game. “I give a lot of credit to my coaches and teammates, but I’d give it all back for a win.”
Scullion made things interesting at the end, converting a three-point play and dishing to senior guard Taylor Sauerwein for a 3-pointer at the two-minute mark that cut Canfield’s lead to five, 53-48. But they could get no closer, as Halfhill made four free throws down the stretch to close it out.
As the clock ticked toward zero, Pavlansky turned to an assistant and quipped, “She’s sitting out the first quarter for the rest of the season.”
Halfhill made 14 of 16 free throws and also had five steals as the Cardinals forced 18 turnovers and committed just nine.
Pavlansky’s goal each game is to hold his opponent to 44 points or fewer — his teams have won 90 percent of those games — but he wasn’t complaining about 48.
“We’ve gone through a lot of adversity this year,” said Pavlansky, who plays three freshmen and has had a difficult schedule so far. “We’re extremely young and I think we really grew up tonight.
“I’m not saying we’re where we want to be, but we’re a little closer than when the game started.”
Freshman Sabrina Mangapora scored 11 points — all in the first 10 minutes — and grabbed seven rebounds as the Cardinals held a 30-24 edge on the boards.
Scullion led Salem (8-2, 1-1) with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists — all game-highs — and earned a hug afterward from Ohio State assistant coach Debbie Black, who watched the game from the stands.
“It’s a great milestone; only a handful have done that here,” Andres said of 1,000 points. “I’m sure she would have rather had it along with a victory.”
scalzo@vindy.com