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Warriors, ’Cats one step away
Special to the Vindicator
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Stuthers' Hannah Dubec (13) is trapped by Maura Bobby (30) during their game Thursday night in Austintown.
W. BRANCH 53
LIBERTY 47
STRUTHERS 38
POLAND 31
Special to the Vindicator
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Liberty's Bianca Rozenbland (34) plays defense as Rebekah Zets (24) tries to drive to the hoop during their game Thursday night in Austintown.
West Branch, Struthers to play for district title in Division II
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Last March, the Struthers Wildcats denied West Branch a shot at a district title when they eliminated the Warriors in the girls Division II semifinals.
On Thursday night at Fitch, the No. 1-seeded Wildcats stopped Poland, 38-31, while the No. 2 Warriors eliminated Liberty, 53-47, to set up a rematch for this year’s district championship on Saturday.
Struthers (19-4) defends its district crown while the Warriors will play for their first regional berth since winning the state championship in 2004.
Both coaches refuse to say whether they have the advantage.
“We lost five seniors from last season’s team so unless I can bring them back, there’s really no advantage for us,” said Struthers coach John Grandy.
“This year’s team has been very special and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Both teams will be prepared come Saturday, you can be sure of that,” he added.
Katelyn Ardale scored 12 points as the Wildcats raced to the early 15-3 lead, then settled for a 17-14 halftime advantage while never trailing in the contest.
The only returning starter this season for the Wildcats, Grandy called Ardale a very special player.
“I honestly feel that she willed us to this title game,” he said. “She’s an excellent player who seems to make everyone around her that much better.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am to be able to defend our district title. Losing five seniors to graduation, not too many people would have given us a chance to be here again this year,” Grandy said.
The Bulldogs (14-8) got a game-high 15 points from Kelsey Malenic, all on 3-pointers, as she helped Poland pull to within 28-27 with 16 seconds remaining in the third period.
That was the closest Poland could get, however, as a 3 by Marissa Hird stretched the lead to 31-27 heading to the fourth quarter.
“I know that we have a target on our backs, but we’re a blessed team; a lot like a family and the closest right now that we have ever been all season,” said Ardale.
“We were a little slow offensively tonight so our defense had to kick it up a notch. Defense was definitely the key to this victory,” she added.
Struthers won for the fifth consecutive time and the 13th time in their last 14 outings.
WEST BRANCH-LIBERTY
In the opening game Andrea Wingett and Tia King each scored 16 points to pace the Warriors as West Branch (18-5) won their seventh straight game.
“Offensively, we have a lot of different players who step up which is why we are so hard to guard,” said West Branch coach Walt DeShields.
“Liberty’s athleticism created problems for us at both ends of the court, but we had a nice balance from Andrea underneath and Tia from the outside,” he said.
King scored 11 of her 16 points in the first half as West Branch led from the opening tip to the final gun, building a 29-19 halftime advantage.
Wingett added 10 of her points in the third period for a 43-31 margin.
“Getting to the district title game was one of our goals this season. On Saturday, we need to be the hungrier team if we expect to win,” King said.
“Our guards set me up inside with great passes all night,” Wingett added.
The Leopards, who entered the game having won three of their previous four outings, finished the season with a 13-9 mark.