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Senior moment: Poland rolls past Raiders
By Lowell Spencer
POLAND
After hard-fought battle in the first half, the Poland High girls basketball team, imposed its will in Thursday’s 52-34 victory over South Range.
The win capped Senior Night festivities for six Bulldogs, and it was a good tune-up for the postseason.
“It’s a good win for us going into the tournament,” Poland coach Nick Blanch said. “South Range, [coach] Wayne [Johnson] does a great job over there. It’s a good opponent for us going into tournament. So it’s a good win for us.
“It took us a half to get going,” Blanch said. “We did some dumb things defensively to get some fouls that we normally don’t get. But the girls played hard throughout, and just played better and smarter in the second half.”
Senior guard Abby Brenoel led the Bulldogs (12-8) with 13 points.
“It meant a lot to me,” said Brenoel of the win. “My team really helped me out, and everyone did a great job.
“This night was the most important night all season,” Brenoel said. “We have good momentum going into our tournament.”
Blanch praised Brenoel as “the backbone of the team. She really does a nice job putting ball pressure on the point guard, so quick, does an overall great job.
“Tonight she had a great offensive night too, which is not what we expect from her,” Blanch said. “So tonight was an added bonus from her.”
The seesaw first half saw the Raiders (12-8) twice score baskets in the second quarter for a tie score. The Bulldogs scored the final points of the half for an 18-15 lead.
“I think we were a little bit caught up in the whole senior night thing, and I think we were more into the festivities than we were into the game,” Blanch said of the start.
Johnson liked how the game began.
“The first half was our tempo,” Johnson said. “We played great defense, we did everything we needed to do to hang in with them.”
The Raiders were led by Lexi Naples with 11 points and Kristin Robinson with nine. Robinson also hauled down five rebounds.
However, the second half saw the Bulldogs turn up the pressure, forcing the Raiders into six turnovers. The Bulldogs scored scoring several quick baskets to take charge with a 13-2 run to start the second half. Poland led, 33-19 after the third quarter.
“They caught us off-guard with their pressure,” Johnson said. “We had a couple turnovers and it went from about six points to a 12- or 14-[point] deficit real quick, and took us right out of what we were trying to do.”
Next, Poland will play the winner of the Struthers/Salem contest next Thursday at Austintown Fitch in the Division II tournament.
The Raiders face Grand Valley on Saturday afternoon in the Div. III tournament at Mineral Ridge.