The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Late run pushes Cardinals past Hilltoppers
Keep pounding a rock with a hammer, and eventually the rock is going to crack.
That was the Mentor girls basketball team’s defensive mentality in a Division I sectional final against visiting Chardon on Feb. 20.
For 3 ½ quarters, the Cardinals pressured the Hilltoppers in a half-court, trapping set — and still found themselves tied with 3 ½ minutes left in the game.
But spurred on by a few late turnovers, the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run and pulled away for a 56-45 victory.
Fourth-seeded Mentor (16-8) moves on to a district semifinal in Perry on Feb. 25 against top-seeded North. The Rangers (20-3) beat South, 83-42, in another sectional final on Feb. 20.
“Give Chardon all the credit.
They played hard and they hit shots,” said Mentor coach James Hrusovsky. “We were able to create a little pressure. It was a little bit of a gamble on our part, but at this time of the year it’s won or go home. We went with a little more of a full-court press.
“The press did it, and that was the difference in the game.
Chardon tied the game, 4444, on a free throw by Lexi Paros-Gaser with just under three minutes remaining.
But Mentor’s Carolyn Wochele hit a running bank shot, then followed it up with a steal and a bucket to open a 48-44 lead.
After Bella Carcioppolo made a jumper to give the Cardinals a 50-44 lead with two minute remaining, Wochele made a putback off another Mentor steal.
A Brooke Hickman basket off a feed from Wochele completed the 10-0 run — and the game was all but over with a minute left to play.
“It came down to two or three possessions,” said Chardon coach Cullen Harris. “We made some unwise decisions with the basketball and Mentor capitalized on them. That was the difference.
“Carolyne Wochele had a great game. She made shots when she needed to. That’s a testament to a senior who has been there and done that.” Wochele had a gamehigh 23 points. Not only did she score eight of her team’s final 12 points in the game — including two free throws with only a few ticks left — but she scored 16 of her 23 after intermission.
She hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth to help her team rebound from a 37-31 deficit, then caught fire again at the end of the game.
“We knew we had to get some big shots,” she said. “My teammates knew where to find me and were getting me open with great screens to get me open for shots.
“(The win) feels awesome. I have my whole family here and the way we went out was awesome, a great feeling.”
Chardon lost to Mentor, 54-31, in January. But the Hilltoppers were a much different team this time around, primarily because they didn’t turn the ball over as much and shot better, according to Harris’ assessment.
Ashley Hoenigman buried a pair of 3-pointers late in the third quarter, which along with a Jo Janda basket in transition off a feed from Hoenigman gave Chardon a 37-31.
Back-to-back baskets by Clare Myeroff gave Chardon a 43-41 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
But not long afterward, Mentor’s 10-0 run changed the game for good.
“I loved our energy. I loved our effort,” Harris said. “We executed really well and did what we wanted to do. It was just one of those nights.” Hoenigman and Kayla Noerr led Chardon (13-11) with 10 points each.
Aside from Wochele’s 23, Mentor got 14 from Hickman and eight from Tori Lanese.
Next comes a showdown with the defending district champion North Rangers.
“We’ve been tested all year — Solon, Medina, Strongsville, Massillon Jackson,” said Hrusovsky, listing some of his team’s regular-season contests. “These girls have played at a high level all year. It’s going to be a nice atmosphere against a quality team again. We’re excited.”