North Ridgeville’s Grace Kingery did not forget the 2022 Rocky River Travel Basketball Girls Hoops Classic and was determined to redeem the loss that soured her 1,000-point milestone.
On Dec. 28, the Ball State signee scored 25 points in the first half. As Rocky River attempted to rally, the Rangers avoided deja vu to come out with a 44-39 victory in the tournament’s championship game.
“I was very motivated (for this game). I had my 1,000th point, but we lost. I don’t want to say get my revenge, but (rather) get the win,” Kingery said.
Kingery continues to impose her will with 22 PTS
NR leads 27-18 @NR_Rangers @rrhsgirlsbball1 @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/SRkbzjGCCB
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) December 28, 2023
Kingery finished with 32 points, along with 10 rebounds, four blocks, four assists and two steals. She was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“She is the type of player that can go off like that. That is how good she is. Inside and outside. I don’t know how to explain it. She is rare. You don’t find gifts like that in the game of basketball anymore,” North Ridgeville Coach Amy Esser said.
The game still had to be won. Rocky River’s ball pressure helped cut a 30-20 halftime deficit to 36-34 to start the fourth quarter.
Rocky River turns on the pressure in Q3
Cuts lead to 36-34 to start Q4@NR_Rangers @rrhsgirlsbball1 @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/ut38SLX8Sj
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) December 28, 2023
“I felt like we got content on defense. We stopped talking, we stopped moving on offense. We got content and we settled instead of playing our game and playing our level,” Esser said.
Kingery was face-guarded the full length of the court and scored four of North Ridgeville’s eight fourth quarter points. However, Brooke Lime came through at the free-throw line to score her only two points of the game and ice the game.
“(Rocky River) was taking me away. My team was stepping up and I know that they are capable of doing it and made big shots at the end,” Kingery said.
Rocky River matched Kingery with forward Mackenzie Russell (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals). Her soccer and lacrosse backgrounds, combined with her tall frame made her an ideal player to guard Kingery.
Pirate Coach Jamey Pfahl thought Russell played well defensively but the Rangers’ all-time leading scorer made difficult shots.
Kingery comes out of the gates on fire 🔥
She has 11 of North Ridgeville’s 13 PTS to lead 13-5 in Q1@NR_Rangers @rrhsgirlsbball1 @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/wTcwNGuiFb
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) December 28, 2023
“What made (Kingery’s) performance so great was that I thought we were playing great defense. Mackenzie (Russell) was all over her and she kept hitting shots and she was playing great,” he said.
Kingery scored 16 of North Ridgeville’s 18 first-quarter points. She also made four 3-pointers, as North Ridgeville led, 18-12.
Rocky River gets some offense going, but trails North Ridgeville 18-12 at the end of Q1
Kingery has 16 PTS@NR_Rangers @rrhsgirlsbball1 @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/UdBRMhJ0kB
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) December 28, 2023
“We felt with the effort and energy, Mackenzie (Russell) was making (Kingery) work for everything. She couldn’t stay that hot the whole game,” Pfahl said.
Rocky River All-Ohio forward Ava Patti scored 30 points in last year’s matchup. She was held to six points, but also recorded two steals and five rebounds.
Freshman Elizabeth Lang was Rocky River’s leading scorer with 10 points. She is one of two starting freshmen, along with teammate Olivia Dewey (9 points).
Rocky River and North Ridgeville split Rocky River Travel Basketball Hoops Classic Championship Games over two years. Both teams reached as far as Division I district semifinals.
North Ridgeville improved to 8-3 as Rocky River dropped to 5-4. The Rangers have won two straight games after they dropped back-to-back games against Olmsted Falls (55-41) and Strongsville (62-50).
