43
Brookfield in title game
Photo
Youngstown East’s Hydaisha Duval grabs a rebound over Sharon’s Janayia Chester. The Tigers defeated the Panthers 63-47 in the Brookfield Holiday Tournament on Wednesday and will face the hosts at 7:30 today.
By Doug Chapin
BROOKFIELD
The host team and Sharon High will meet tonight in the championship game of the 18th annual Lady Warrior Holiday Tournament at Brookfield High. Both used strong defensive performances in the second quarter of their opening round wins on Wednesday.
Sharon (4-2) outscored East High 17-6 in the second quarter, opening a 31-18 halftime advantage on the way to a 63-47 triumph over the Panthers (2-6). Brookfield (6-1) blanked Campbell (0-8), 10-0 in the second quarter, for a 27-6 halftime lead. The Warriors coasted to a 51-17 triumph.
“They’ve got a lot more size than us and, hopefully, speed-wise we match up there pretty well,” Brookfield coach Shawn Hammond said when assessing the Tigers. “It looks like they’re playing some zone so we’ll have to make some shots from the outside. We’d like to push the tempo and we just want to play our game. We’re getting comfortable with our style and we just want to get better at that.”
Sharon’s inside duo of Marketta Jackson and Tanayja Sanders dominated against East. Jackson had 23 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots, while Sanders scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The pair combined to shoot 14-for-21 from the foul line where the Tigers shot 25-for-41 for the game.
Kendra Ham added seven points and 10 rebounds and Mallory Torr had seven points and four assists. Jamayia Chester chipped in with five assists.
A 17-10 advantage in the third quarter left Sharon on top 48-28 heading into the final eight minutes. East battled back as Chimicka Kennedy scored all 15 of her points in the period but the Panthers could get no closer than 15 points.
Ashlyn Baker added nine points and nine rebounds, Maujanette Feagins had 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, Lexis Dabney scored nine points and Kennedy had four steals.
Tori Thompson led Brookfield with 12 points and Danielle DiCristofaro and Amy Rasoul scored 10 each.
Hammond said the Warriors are playing well about a quarter of the way through the season.
“Earlier in the season we were playing up and down. We’ve talked about consistency and we’re getting there,” he said. “Getting a few more games under our belt has helped and we’re getting a little bit healthier. For the most part people are understanding their roles pretty well.
“Last year we had a hard time doing any kind of game-planning because we were so young. Now we’re more consistent with our lineup, the kids know where to be so we can do more things. For the most part we know what we want to be and that’s not going to alter.”
The consolation game tonight between East and Campbell is scheduled to start at 6, followed by the championship. East defeated the Red Devils 52-18 earlier this month.