ASHTABULA —
St. John’s girls basketball team had more to battle then the opposing Geauga Grizzles at Mahoney Gymnasium on Wednesday night, but the team was also feeling the effects of the recent flu epidemic that has been present this winter. The virus claimed the Heralds’ leading scorer Mackenzie Stenroos, keeping her out of action.
The Heralds were able to overcome her absence to defeat the Grizzlies, 32-19, in a game that Coach Nick Iarocci felt was an important win for his team. The win locks up a second-place finish in the Lake Effect Conference and more importantly, a bye in the first round of the tournament.
“It was the first time we were without Mackenzie this year and it definitely showed,” Iarocci said. “But on the same token, I challenged the girls to step because of the importance of this game to lock down that bye with the second place finish.”
The Heralds (9-8, 9-3 LEL) took control of the game early by forcing six turnovers and allowing the Grizzlies (2-11) just one field goal in the first period in establishing an 11-2 lead.
“What we prided ourselves on this year has been hanging our hat on our defense. We’re the second or third best team in the county for scoring defense. Tonight, we were in a funk offensively and our defense kept us where we needed to be.”
In the second period Geauga’s Holly Martin score all seven of the Grizzlies points to keep her team within striking distance.
“She’s actually a soccer player,” Geauga coach Chris Hanson said. “We have a very young team. The average age of our girls is about 14 and many nights we’re playing against seniors. Holly is transitioning to the game very well. She’s learned a lot and is going to be a very good player for us for the next few years. I’m really proud of the way the girls played tonight.”
Matin scored her last basket to pull the Grizzlies to within seven and it looked like they might have the momentum headed for the locker room.
St John’s Emily Powers, however, drove the lane at the other end and resembled Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving in delivering an under-handed layup in heavy traffic to push the Heralds lead to 18-9 at intermission.
“She’s our fuel, Emily plays with so much passion,” Iarocci said. “Even when she’s not scoring, she has the ball in her hands 95 percent of the time. (Geauga) were a scrappy bunch tonight and they were really giving her fits, but she kept going at them and controlled the tempo for us.”
St. John’s was led in scoring by Alex Ferrente with 10 points and Powers had eight and controlled the game’s tempo from the point-guard position.
“Alex has really been stepping up for us the last couple of games. She’s a senior and one of our captains. I’m really proud of her stepping up her game.”
Shaffer is a freelance writer from Ashtabula.
Sports
Herald girls claw Grizzlies
Iarocci has players step up when needed
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Jefferson comes up a run short vs. Chagrin Falls
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Edgewood can’t hold off charge of NDCL
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High School Baseball Statistics:
DIVISION II
DISTRICT SEMIFINAL
Chargin Falls 3, Jefferson 2
at Cotton Field, Havens Complex -
Scholastic Statistics:
TUESDAY, MAY 21
Baseball
Division II
at Havens Complex, Jefferson
District championship
(1) Chagrin Falls vs. (2) NDCL -
CLEVELAND MARATHON:
Ashtabula County Finishers
Chris Sopko, Roaming Shores, Male, 34, 2:59:14
Jesse Sharp, Ashtabula, Male, 56, 3:23:26
Erik van't Veer, Ashtabula, Male, 44, 3:28:22
Daniel Loose, Ashtabula, Male, 50, 3:44:05
Benjamin Hawes, Dorset, Male, 27, 3:58:47
Shawn Van Buren, Ashtabula, Male, 28, 4:04:58
Sebastian Ornelas, Ashtabula, Male, 34, 4:10:18
Robert Sapatka, Jefferson, Male, 46, 4:21:26
Samual Spain, Geneva, Male, 44, 4:22:34 -
The next level
In a perfect world, Jefferson and Edgewood would prevail in their respective Division II district semifinal baseball contests tonight and square off Tuesday with a district championship on the line.
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On their own
While Jefferson and Edgewood will be keeping an eye on each other as they enter the district-tournament waters tonight in Division II contests at Havens Complex, the area’s other two sectional-championship squads won’t have to worry about distractions.
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A Don McCormack column: Tributes continue to roll in
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Man of honor
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