Utica 61, Granville Christian Academy 23
Utica (6-10, 2-6) brought their “A” game in a 61-23 win over Granville Christian Academy (8-7, 5-3) on Jan. 23.
Granville Christian was up 2-0, but with 6:22 on the clock, Utica center Delaney Kerstetter made her presence known in the paint with a big block, followed by a block by Riley Thompson. Thompson came away with a steal on a loose ball just 10 seconds later, showing that the Utica defense was playing hungry out of the gate. Down 6-0, Utica got on the board after a steal by Bridgette Posey at the 3:17 mark. Utica battled the rest of the quarter and overtook GCA 13-9 off a Bella Coulter 3-pointer with 45 seconds to go, and after one quarter the Redskins were up 17-9.
Just seconds into the second quarter, Coulter hit a three for Utica to go up 20-9. Utica was up 33-11 and Granville Christian needed a bucket, but Makena Wilson showed authority with a block under the basket to keep it a 22-point game with 1:30 left in the half and Utica finished the quarter ahead 35-16.
The Redskins ended up cruising the rest of the way to victory.
Loudonville 64, East Knox 30
East Knox (6-11, 4-5) had the tough task of taking on Mid-Buckeye Conference-leading Loudonville (13-3, 4-0), and the Redbirds showed why they were on top in a 64-30 rout over the Bulldogs on Jan. 23.
The first quarter remained fairly close with East Knox down 17-8 with Ella Divan leading the charge with four points and a block. EK's Molly Totten recorded a steal in the quarter.
The Redbirds took a 35-14 lead into the half and East Knox found themselves down 47-24 after three. In th fourth, Shanda Melick showed defensive toughness with a blocked shot and a steal, while Kayla Salyers and Totten added a steal as well. Sydney Opfer had a powerful blocked shot toward the end of the quarter.
Leading the Bulldogs was Smith with 11 points.
“Tough night for us,” EK coach Mandy Todd said. “Just one of those games where we couldn’t get into a rhythm. Our girls fought to the end and definitely brought the grit. We talk a lot about attitude and effort and tonight, regardless of the outcome, I’m proud of how our girls didn’t give up.”
Highland 49, Galion 9
Highland (2-13, 1-9) put it all together in an incredible display of defense against Galion (2-13, 1-9), holding the Tigers to single digits and scoring the game’s first 25 points in a 49-9 road win on Jan. 24.
Highland started the game firing on all cylinders defensively and offensively, leading 15-0 after one quarter. In the second quarter, Lady Scot Shelby Conley buried a three to go up 20-0, and at the 5:30 mark, Abby Jordan came away with a steal, leading to Kate Clements' 3-pointer to make it 23-0. At halftime, the score was 33-5.
The Lady Scots continued to press Galion in the third quarter with a 13-2 advantage.
“A balanced scoring attack paved the way for Highland,” coach Matt Bradley said.
Leading the offense was Woods with nine points, while Conley, Aubree Bellamy and Amarie Morgan had eight points apiece.
