Cornerstone’s perfection brings end to Sebring’s run

By Karl Henkel

khenkel@vindy.com

ROOTSTOWN

Perfection lives another day.

Cornerstone Christian Academy’s Cinderella season hit a new high with its 55-44 victory over Sebring in a Division IV district title game Saturday afternoon at Rootstown High School.

“I couldn’t imagine anything more than this,” said Patriots senior Courtney Reese, who scored 16 and had seven rebounds. “We’re undefeated, we’re district champs. It’s so overwhelming.”

Reese was a big part of a second-half Cornerstone surge, where she and guard Macie Malone, who scored 17, helped lead the Patriots to their first ever district title.

“I’ve been playing basketball my entire life, and finally something amazing happens,” Malone said. “It’s a blessing.”

One of big differences in the game was in the paint, a place Sebring never established itself. The Trojans didn’t even attempt a free-throw until midway through the fourth quarter, while Cornerstone scored a quarter of its points from the charity stripe.

“I guess it’s just how it fell,” Sebring coach Sam Mathias said. “They just got more foul shots than we did.”

Malone credited the overwhelming free-throw discrepancy to good defense.

“It’s really surprising because last game four of our five starters had four fouls and then two of us fouled out,” she said. “Today, we just played straight up.”

While Cornerstone’s unblemished record moved to 17-0, the game itself — like many this season — was anything but perfect.

The Patriots had a miserable first quarter, turning the ball over seven times. They watched Sebring (14-10) shoot 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, including Maggie Householder, who was a perfect 4 of 4.

“We identified who those shooters were,” second-year Cornerstone coach Dave Malone said. “We knew who they were. We just gave them too much space.”

The Patriots, though, rallied quickly in the second quarter, rattled off an 18-6 swing and lead by six at halftime. They cruised in the second half, thanks in part to Reese, who scored 13 after the intermission, nearly all on fast-break opportunities.

“Courtney’s very athletic,” Malone said. “I don’t know how she squirms through and makes some of her baskets. She’s very gifted when it comes to attacking the basket.”

Kayla Weber added 15 points for Cornerstone, which got all its scoring from its starters. Householder led Sebring with 15 points.

The Patriots next play Dalton on Thursday in the regional round at Perry High School, still with its perfect record intact.

“It’s great to be unbeaten,” Malone said. “We know that there’s a day coming where we won’t be on this side.

“We’re enjoying each one.”