The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria Catholic opens with victory over Cornerstone
The last time Elyria Catholic played a game that mattered was in March, in the earliest stages of the coronavirus pandemic. In that game, the Panthers beat South Range in Division III regional final, securing a spot in a state semifinal.
They never played in that state semifinal as the girls basketball final four was canceled, alongside every other winter sports championship.
Eight months later, eight of the seniors from that state-bound team have graduated and Elyria Catholic’s journey back began once again with a 52-36 win over another state final four team from 2020, Division IV Cornerstone Christian.
“It was nice to get out there and be able to play with real uniforms on and officials and everything,” Elyria Catholic head coach
Eric Rothgery said. “We felt like that we’re moving in the right direction here, but it’s nice to get out on the court and see it in action.”
The Panthers’ new-look starting lineup featured two returning players from 201920, junior Annika Bredel and senior Emily Rapacz. Bredel led all Elyria Catholic scorers with 13 points, and Rapacz added 11.
“It’s fun. That group of girls that graduated last year were awesome and were great kids,” Rothgery said. “But once it was over, I was looking forward to this season. Not really starting over because we have some good pieces and parts, but just to be able to get back in the gym and see if we can get better.”
Bredel and Rapacz were key members of the Panthers’ final four team. Both played major roles in the
Panthers’ regional semifinal and final victories.
Senior Lexi Hall was the other Elyria Catholic player in double digits with 11. Hall led the Panthers with 45 made three-pointers in 2019-20.
The lone true new face in the Panthers’ starting five was freshman Emily Niederst, who scored eight points in her first varsity action. Niederst garnered praise from her head coach for handling the pressure that Cornerstone threw at her.
“Cornerstone, they’re going to bring a lot of pressure and play fast. We started a freshman at the point. So this was her first big test. She did very well,” Rothgery said.
Next up for Elyria Catholic is a Great Lakes Conference tilt with Rocky River, barring any postponements. Rothgery admits he was unsure if his team would even play their game against the Patriots until they got on the bus to Willoughby Hills.
“Until we got on the bus today at around four o’clock I wasn’t sure that I wasn’t going to get a call. The girls really wanted to play a game and I wanted to get at least one game in just to see where we’re at.”