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Poland girls outlast Boardman in OT
Gajdos’ 3-pointer in overtime helps
Bulldogs get past Spartans on road
By Ryan Buck
BOARDMAN
Poland girls basketball coach Nick Blanch towers over his players as he carefully strolls the sidelines during games. He also outweighs them — conservatively — by at least 100 pounds.
Blanch has to be careful not to hurt anyone.
That didn’t stop him from recklessly rushing the court in his Bulldogs’ victory celebration inside the Boardman High School gymnasium Thursday night.
Bella Gajdos’ 3-point jumper gave Poland a 42-39 lead over Boardman with less than 10 seconds remaining in the overtime period and Emily Melnek’s steal and layup as time expired set off a wild celebration that even included the otherwise relaxed head coach.
“No stopping me at all,” said an exhausted Blanch, whose team sits at 4-0. “You have no idea how hard these kids work. This is such a platform win for us. Coming here and winning on their floor against this program is huge for these kids and I am so excited for them.
“I know I may have looked like a fool, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. These kids deserve this tonight.”
The Spartans took a 37-35 lead on a Krista Johnson basket with 2:55 left in the overtime. A frantic final quarter and error-ridden overtime fortuitously led to an exciting conclusion.
Melnek, who tied the game with two clutch free throws with 29 seconds left in regulation, again came up big when her team trailed.
After an errant Boardman pass, she set up from just outside the lane and buried a short jump shot to tie the score at 39.
She did miss two ensuing free throws as the Bulldogs’ rebounding rush late overpowered the Spartans’ height advantage.
Jillian Penman came away with the rebound on the second miss and the Bulldogs bled the clock from the 1:15 mark, playing a four corners offensive system.
Sarah Bury came away with a rebound off a Juliana Blangero miss and fed Melnek. Melnek spotted Gajdos wide open at the top of the key with the ball and the game in her hands.
“We just played our hearts out,” said Gajdos, a sophomore. “It’s all hustle. [Melnek] hit me at the top of the key and I just let it go. I was waiting for one to drop. I had a rough game in the beginning, but eventually it fell for me.”
The Spartans, minus standout guard Jenna Vivo after she left with an injury in overtime, were outrebounded in the final moments, leading to Gajdos’ wide-open position.
“You’ve got to credit Poland there,” said Boardman coach Jeff Hammerton. “They got four shots in that last possession.
“Our girls were battling to get the ball, but they just, for whatever reason, out-hustled us for those four shots and you can’t give a team like Poland four shots.”
After the make, the Spartans rushed upcourt, but Melnek stepped in front of a pass and made a layup as time expired.
The Spartans (4-1) were led by Johnson’s 29 points. The second half saw seven lead changes and five ties.
This is the only meeting between the two teams this season as the Spartans play in the All- American Conference’s Red Tier and the Bulldogs are in the White.