Mangapora, Kaleel power Canfield victory

By John Bassetti

bassetti@vindy.com

LIBERTY

While some couples were getting engaged on Valentine’s Day evening, Canfield and Liberty were engaged in another way: a one-sided game.

The two teams went through their motions mildly in the first half before Canfield came out with a strong second half that put away the Leopards, 60-34, in an All-American Conference non-tier contest.

Sophomore Sabrina Mangapora had 22 points and Kaitlin Kaleel added 18 for the Cardinals (13-5), who held Liberty (12-7) to two points in the third quarter.

“They came out and played great defense, a man-to-man type with great intensity,” Liberty coach John Hritz said. “You’ve got to take your hats off to them.

“They shut us down. We had no offense. I think we were a little flat after winning the [AAC White Tier] championship,” Hritz said of tying Struthers for the tier crown.

“Maybe because it didn’t count for anything — not for a league title or anything — we just played flat.”

Vakeyla Merriweather scored the first points of the game on a driving layup. Then Ja’Nate Byrd tied the game at 4-4 before Kellie Kesner’s layup with an assist from Abby Baker via a bounce pass put Canfield in the lead for good, 6-4.

Liberty stayed within striking distance at 24-19 at the half, before the distance between the teams became a rift that Cupid couldn’t close.

Canfield managed a hand here and there to throw off the flow of Liberty’s offense.

Canfield’s defensive rebounding and holding Liberty to one shot were keys.

“It was one-and-done,” Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said. “A big part of their game is going to the offensive glass. We’ve seen them 3-4 times against different teams and one of the things they do extremely well is rebound on the offensive end.”

He explained that a driving dribbler is likely to get past a defender en route to the basket, which forces the defense to bring in help, which opens a space on the floor on the weak side of the basket.

“We did a much better job staying in front of them most of the game,” Pavlansky saif of not letting the Leopards penetrate, especially in the third quarter. “That makes them take tough shots and then we’re in position for the rebound.

Kesner added 10 for Canfield, while Mangapora and Sarah Vrabel got a majority of the Cards’ 38 rebounds.

Hritz said that his girls didn’t play with the intensity they’re capable of.

“We’ve got to start playing with more intensity or else it’s going to be one-and-out in the tournament.”

Merriweather’s 10 points led Liberty, which plays LaBrae on Thursday before its tournament opener against Crestwood the following Wednesday. The Leopards are seeded fourth while Crestwood is fifth.

Canfield has a makeup game against Beaver Local on Friday before starting tournament play as the No. 4 seed at Alliance against the Fitch-Massillon Washington winner.