Hoover ousts Canfield girls again

February 27, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Hoover’s pressure frustrates Cardinals

By Curtis Pulliam

Canfield

Senior Savannah Barko was obviously disappointed with the Canfield girls basketball team’s 54-35 loss to North Canton Hoover on Thursday night.

But the loss couldn’t take away the pride in her team.

“I’m just happy that me and my team got this far and we just give it our all,” Barko said.

The game — a Division I sectional final — was a rematch of last year’s district final, which the Vikings won 76-34.

“Every loss is going to hurt,” Barko said.

The Vikings used their pressure defense to shut down the Cardinals (19-4, 9-1 All-American Conference Red Division).

Barko knew what the Cardinals had to do against the Vikings.

“They were really aggressive and they stay out of the lane so it made it hard to shoot,” Barko said. “We knew that if we could attack the hoop, we could get to the foul line and put up some points there.”

After a 13-12 first-quarter lead, the Vikings (12-12, 5-5 Federal League) went on a 13-2 run before half time and held the Cardinals to just four points in the second quarter.

“They do a good real job pressuring guards,” said Canfield head coach Matt Reel. “And I think that bothered us a little bit.”

Vikings head coach Abbey Allerding was proud of her team’s defensive effort.

“I think our defense sparked that run,” Allerding said. “That’s where the kids get their energy from.”

The Vikings’ pressure defense bsuffocated the Cardinals most of the game, but it was not the only problem.

“I think we missed some shots, too,” Reel said. “The girls started pressing a little bit and we missed some key free throws at key times.”

Senior Rachel Tinkey averages 13.8 points, but was held to just four points. Lynnae Whitehead led the Cardinals with eight.

“Coming into the game we thought the team that played better was going to win,” Reel said. “For whatever reason it just wasn’t our night and that happens sometimes. We tried to get them to understand that they had a great season.”

“They had a lot of experienced players we knew of,” Allerding said. “We knew No 21 [Tinkey] was going to be a power for them.”

The Vikings took away opportunities for the Cardinals, which led to transition baskets on the other end.

Junior Lexi Manos had seven points during Hoover’s second-quarter run.

“We try to tell the girls to make sure we are a team on offense,” Allerding said.

Midway through the third, the Cardinals pulled within 11 on an Ashley Kaleel jumper, but they got no closer.

Vikings forward Allie Farina made her presence felt by scoring all 14 of her points in the second half.

“I always work on just posting up hard,” Farina said. “That’s my biggest thing.”

The Vikings advance to a district semifinal against New Philadelphia.

Reel took out his starters out with 1:55 left and they received an ovation from the crowd.

“It was hard for me to keep it together,” Reel said about the moment. “I’ve been with those guys since they were in seventh grade and that senior class is really special to me.”

The class includes Barko, Whitehead, Tinkey, Erin Risner and Emily Ellis.

“They are really good players but even better people,” Reel said.

Barko was happy with the Cardinals’ season as a whole.

“We improved and grew closer as a team,” Barko said. “We learned something new every single game.”