Polar Bears fight off Lady Whippets
Saturday’s game.
Daily Globe Sports Editor
CASTALIA — After trailing by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, Shelby pulled within a basket of Margaretta in the closing minutes before running out of gas and dropping their girls basketball season opener by a 56-48 count Saturday afternoon.
The Polar Bears (2-0) scored nine unanswered points to build a 38-22 advantage midway through quarter No. 3 and they were up 47-34 with six minutes remaining in the game.
Olivia Baker’s three-pointer fueled an 11-0 rampage over the next 2:07 by the Lady Whippets (0-1). A steal by her twin sister, Haylee, was cashed in for a layup and the visitors were down 47-45 with 2:20 left.
Margaretta senior Elliana Schaeffer rescued her team with a three-pointer from the left side to make it 50-45 and SHS never get any closer as the home team cemented the win by hitting six of eight free throws in the final 95 seconds.
“I felt were were headed the right direction after a couple of scrimmages, then quarantined for a little over a week and had three days to practice before playing one of the better teams on our schedule,” said Shelby coach Natalie Lantz. “We focused on defense, trying to get rotations. We finally clicked and found the right unit that was working well. We had them on their heels.
“When Schaeffer hit that three, it hurt. If we come down and execute and get a good shot, we’re still contention.”
Despite the loss, Lantz saw some things to build on.
“We didn’t back down. We were down 16 and got within two. I was pleased with the effort there. We wore down at the end.”
Things didn’t start well as the Whippets were down 5-0 early.
SHS battled back and tied the game twice, the last time being at 9-9 on a bucket by Sydnie Seibert with 1:53 remaining in the opening stanza.
Jaelle Keller’s score broke the deadlock and put the Polar Bears ahead to stay.
The home team led 15-9 at the first break.
Shelby was within four on a number of occasions in quarter No. 2, but a 6-2 finish to the half saw Margaretta on top 29-20 at the intermission.
Olivia Baker led all scorers with 20 in the setback and Audi Albert came off the bench to net 11. Sophia Niese handed out seven assists for the red and gray. Schaeffer totaled 18 in the win while Kylie Leibacher and Devyne Eisenhauer each had 12.
The Whippets didn’t shot the ball well, making 18 of 50 tries.
SHS gathered 32 rebounds, topped by Haylee Baker’s nine. The trio of Niese, Albert and O. Baker each gathered seven misses.
Shelby will look to bounce back Thursday when they begin play in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference at Galion.
Mayer 1 0 2, H. Baker 3 0 7, Niese 2 2 6, Albert 5 1 11, Seibert 1 0 2, O. Baker 6 5 20, Totals 18 8 48.
SHELBY (48)
MARGARETTA (56)
Keller 1 2 4, Schaeffer 7 2 18, Cheek 0 2 2, Leibacher 5 1 12, Eisenhauer 5 2 12, Drescher 4 0 8, Totals 22 9 56,
Shelby ................. 9111216—48 Margaretta ........ 15141413—56
Three-point field goals — H. Baker (S), O. Baker (S) 3, Schaeffer (M) 2, Leibacher (M).