Smithville wanted a challenge and traveled north to the Coliseum at Elyria Catholic.
In a back-and-forth game, the Panthers and Smithies went wire-to-wire. The heroics of Smithville’s senior class came through to hand Elyria Catholic a 60-54 loss.
The Smithies found a way, even as their point guard Madi Singer fouled out in the fourth quarter. The Panthers trailed, 53-52, when Smithville guard Cammi Wickens (21 points) extended the lead with a 3-point shot.
Wickens made it a two-possession game again with a pair of free throws, then stole the ball on Elyria Catholic’s final possession to seal it.
Wickens makes her free throws to make it a two possession game.
She steals the ball to put the cherry on top for a 60-54 win over EC@smithiesports @ECHSAthletics @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/Y9vrIPKsK1
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) January 9, 2024
“I thought our seniors stepped up. Naomi (Keib) and Cammi (Wickens) both had 21 points. I thought our seniors made plays when they needed to,” Smithville coach Eric Nickles said.
Smithville keyed on Tiffin signee Isabelle Niederst (13 points), who was held to a pair of made free throws in the second half.
“(Elyria Catholic) is a really good team offensively. I think Niederst is one of the toughest guards that we are going to go against. I thought that we got stops in the last minutes of the game and we rebounded,” Nickles said.
Smithville’s entire starting lineup had players who stood at least 5-foot-9 or taller, which posed a challenge for Elyria Catholic. Despite the size disadvantage, Elyria Catholic grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.
“I felt good with the effort that we had. Those are the kind of teams that you have to beat if you want to get deep in the tournament,” Elyria Catholic coach Eric Rothgery said.
Smithville made three 3-point shots to jump to an 11-2 lead from the opening tip. Elyria Catholic’s fortune changed to cut the lead to 19-14 at the end of the first quarter and a 25-22 lead in the second quarter.
Panthers come out of a time out to cut Smithville’s lead to 19-14 at the end of Q1@smithiesports @ECHSAthletics @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/uFUyhDrH2B
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) January 9, 2024
Elyria Catholic quickly reverted from its zone defense back to tight man. The ball pressure assisted in 25 Smithville turnovers.
“We got out of the zone (defense) …” Rothgery said. “The thing about these girls is that they are not going to give up. They are not going to say that we are getting beat and this game is over. I was proud of the way the girls play. (Smithville) is going to make a really deep run in Division III.”
A back and forth second quarter but Ogltree gets steal for Niederst to go coast to coast for a 29-28@smithiesports @ECHSAthletics @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/uXxfvTqHoE
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) January 9, 2024
According to Rothgery, the 6-of-12 free-throw shooting in the second half became the difference, as the Smithies were 11-of-13 in that span.
“I told the girls that it’s a bad recipe when you are missing free throws and the other team is making them, too. In a close game, you have to be able to knock down those free throws,” he said.
Even as Smithville tried to force other Panthers to make plays, Gabby Rodriguez (eight points), Lexi Rodriguez (eight) were some of the many teammates to keep up with Smithville.
Ogletree hits a mid range shot as time expires for EC to lead 43-40 going into Q4@smithiesports @ECHSAthletics @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/ooU4yPQJSo
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) January 9, 2024
Smithville improved to 7-4, and Elyria Catholic dropped to 8-4.
PHOTOS: Elyria Catholic vs. Smithville girls basketball, Jan. 8, 2024
THE SCORE (JAN. 8)
Smithville 60, Elyria Catholic 54
