Pink was the color of the evening at the Schaefer Performing Arts and Athletic Center at Our Lady of the Elms High School.
Both teams wore pink socks, pink warmups, pink hair ribbons and both coaching staffs wore pink T-shirts as part of “Box Out Cancer” Thursday night, and the Panthers defeated Barberton 56-43.
“It was a great game, great competition ... a good night all around,” Elms coach Heather Giel said.
Both teams struggled to get into an offensive flow until the fourth quarter, when the defense turned the game into a combination of free-throw shooting and race-horse basketball coming off turnovers and breaking presses.
Behind 33-20 going into the fourth quarter, the Magics went to a full-court press that forced five turnovers in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. Barberton cut its deficit to 37-34 on a basket by Jessie Frost, who finished with 11 points.
The Panthers (3-1) weathered the storm with better passing in the backcourt that freed up players for easy layups and forcing the Magics to foul.
Elms made 17-of-25 free throws, including 13-of-19 in the lengthy fourth quarter in which the teams scored 23 points each.
“My teammates are good at reminding me to visualize foul shots going in. They say, ‘We know it’s going in so you know it’s going in.’ Our defense was able to get a couple steals and our offense was able to capitalize with baskets,” said Elms senior Tessa Haneline, who had a game-high 18 points. “They were all over our guards and we had to change it up and get them running.
“We got them a little confused on who they were guarding. Coach always says the best way to beat the press is crisp, hard passes.”
Jessica Frew, who had 13 points, gave credit to her teammates on the floor and those who were on the bench.
“We picked up our game and stopped it. Our bench gave us energy and we fed off that,” Frew said.
Kaitlin Morse was another Panther who delivered when it counted most. A senior, Morse had 15 points. She made all four of her foul shots and scored six points in the fourth quarter.
Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half as both teams were very physical. The Panthers went into the locker room with a 23-13 lead and by the end of the third quarter Elms seemed to be in command.
Give the Magics (1-3) credit for hustling on a night when shots just were not dropping. Senior Megan Jerome, who finished with nine points, scored eight in the fourth quarter, including a 5-of-7 effort at the foul line, to give Barberton a shot.
The Magics’ top scorer was junior Emma Nilsson with 15 points.
Before the game, both teams took a group picture as both schools worked hard to raise money for Stewart’s Caring Place Cancer Wellness Center.
Barberton coach Kevin Pletcher presented a $500 check on behalf of the school. The Magics will host next year’s game.
“It was nice to do it with Kevin. I could not have done it with a better team,” Giel said. “The girls took ownership of this. The nice part is not only does an event like this make the community aware of the work they do at Stewart’s Caring Place, which is not profit, but it teaches something more than basketball.”
For more information visit www.stewartscaringplace.org.
