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Sixteen and counting as Poland girls win again
Strong D has Poland rolling
By Tom Williams
GIRARD
Every athlete dreams of an unbeaten season. No one appreciates it more than a senior because it’s the final opportunity.
Poland senior basketball players Sarah Bury, Kat Partika, Elena Cammack and Marlie McConnell are enjoying a 16-game unbeaten streak that has the state-ranked Bulldogs in the spotlight.
“This is a blast,” Bury after scoring 14 points in Thursday’s 68-23 win over Girard. “It’s a fun group of girls. We are a very close-knit group. If we’re not at practice, we’re always doing something outside of practice.”
Partika scored 12 points and sophomore Jackie Grisdale 10 for the Bulldogs (16-0, 9-0 Northeast 8).
Nick Blanch, in his 10th season as Poland’s head coach, calls Bury his “coach on the court.
“She’s helped develop the depth that we have,” Blanch said, “She just excels in everything she does.”
Bury said the key is “communicating. No matter if you are a freshman or a senior, you see something, you call it out so we’re helping each other.
“The reason it’s so much fun [watching her success] is because of all the time she’s spent working on her game,” Blanch said. “She works with the younger [players] and brings them along. People don’t see that, obviously, because they’re not at our practices.
“To see a kid work so hard to be such a good role model, to see her have the season she’s having, that’s what makes this season special. Her hard work is paying off.”
In this week’s Associated Press poll, Poland is ranked fifth among Ohio’s Division II programs.
Before the season, Blanch said a lack of varsity experience for his reserves was a concern.
It’s not any longer. Big leads have allowed Blanch to flood the court with backups. Just two of the Bulldogs’ games have been decided by fewer than 10 points (Salem, 52-50; Boardman, 43-36).
“You don’t need 20 scorers, you need people to get rebounds, assists, give other girls breathers and not have a huge drop-off,” Blanch said. “That’s been our focus. We’ve worked very hard on that.”
Other wins were against Howland (37-27) and Cardinal Mooney (67-43).
“We had a tough start to the schedule and I know we were a little bit worried getting through that,” Grisdale said.
Like Poland, Mooney and Howland likely will get a top seed for the Division II district tournament.
Poland’s last district final game was in 2003 and the last regional trip came during the Candace Bates-Maggie Slosser era 20 years ago. Pressure is on, but the players don’t mind.
“It’s great, it shows how much hard work we’ve put in and that we have great leaders on the floor,” said Grisdale, who participates in five varsity sports. “We just really enjoy playing with each other.”
Bury said differences this season are increased “intensity on defense and our unselfishness with the ball.”
Bury set the example against the Indians. In the first quarter, she made four steals and pulled down two rebounds as the Bulldogs raced to a 19-3 lead.
“We always talk about [how making] a steal and then a good pass in my opinion is so much more fun and enjoyable than making a good shot,” the 4.0 student said. “Making that good pass, getting up the floor, I don’t know, it just makes you feel good.”
Earlier this season, Bury scored her 1,000th career point. She plans to attend Kent State University to study finance.
Sophie Griffith led Girard (2-13, 2-8) with eight points.
One difference for Blanch this season is the spotlight that comes from doing so well.
“I love coaching,” Blanch said. “There’s a little bit more hype because of the record and state rankings. It’s a different experience but it’s with kids I love being around. And I have a great staff.
“I’m having fun, I always do,” Blanch said. “This year is a little bit more noteworthy because of all the accolades this team has gotten to this point.
“But we still have a long way to go, we’re definitely not satisfied. We have more goals.”