The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria Catholic headed to state tournament
Panthers eliminate South Range in ‘redemption game’ to win region
Using a strong second half performance, Elyria Catholic punched its ticket to the Division III state final four.
CUYAHOGA FALLS » Unfinished business has been the motto for Elyria Catholic all season, and with a chance to finish that business on the line in a regional final showdown with South Range, there was going to be no denying the Panthers.
Using a strong second-half performance Elyria Catholic punched its ticket to the Division III state final four, defeating the Raiders, 51-37.
Awaiting the Panthers is a 121-mile drive to St. John Arena on March 13, where they will take on the top-ranked DIII team in Ohio, Berlin Hiland. The Hawks won their
regional final over North Adams, 54-17.
A year ago, Ally Winnen and her seven senior teammates fell to Doylestown Chippewa in a regional final. Ever since then, it’s been the goal for Elyria Catholic to return, and this time to walk away victorious.
“Probably 99.9 percent of it,” Winnen said when asked how much the loss last season had to do with this win. “It definitely was a redemption game. Last year we came here and it was just utter heartbreak and we were not letting that happen again.”
“... We weren’t hitting shots and we turned the ball over a couple of times, but we’ve been there and done that. So it’s nothing new to us, to start out slow.” — Elyria Catholic’s Ally Winnen
Things didn’t start the way the Panthers wanted, falling behind, 11-9, after one quarter. South Range was able to hold Winnen in check, bringing double and triple teams every time she touched the ball in the post.
As a result the senior was forced to defer to Emily Rapacz and Stephanie Griffin, who were major factors for the Panthers as they tried to stay within striking distance. Both Griffin and Rapacz scored six first-half points, to lead Elyria Catholic heading into the break.
“We didn’t freak out at all. We got a little nervous,” Winnen said of the slow start. “We weren’t hitting shots and we turned the ball over a couple of times, but we’ve been there and done that. So it’s nothing new to us, to start out slow.”
Sophomore Annika Bredel gave her team its first lead of the game with just under three minutes to go in the second quarter, sinking two free throws. The Panthers held on for the rest of the game, as South Range pulled even twice, but could never get over the hump.
After scoring 11 first half points, on three 3-pointers, Raiders sophomore Lexi Giles was shadowed and completely neutralized by Julia Allegretto and Shaniya Jackson. The two split time face guarding the sophomore, holding her to one second-half point.
“She hit three 3s in the first half, and you look up at the scoreboard and you think if we can keep her from scoring in the second half we should have a pretty good chance to put this thing away,” Elyria Catholic coach Eric Rothgery said. “So we threw (Julia) up on her and said as soon as she gives it up, don’t let her get it back.”
Junior Izzy Lamparty led the Raiders with 13 points in their first-ever regional final appearance.
Winnen finally found success in the post midway through the third quarter, scoring 12 of her team high 14 points in the second half.
Elyria Catholic finished the regular season as the fourth-ranked D-III team in the state in the final AP poll of the year.