HARWELLPHOTO.COM

Mogadore's Grace Reilly gathers in a loose ball in front of Rootstown's Alex Cramer during the Wildcats' 56-50 victory on Wednesday night.

NORTON, Ohio -- It’s what Ravenna coach Sonny Tilden and Norton coach Brian Miller have come to expect when their girls basketball teams meet.  They may call it “spirited”, or even “a war,"  but no matter what they both seem to call it a great game after the final buzzer.

Wednesday night was no different as the Ravens (12-0, 8-0) held off the host Panthers (8-4, 6-2) for a 61-60 victory, in a game where each team had their opportunities.  In the end, Ravenna gave itself a two-game lead in the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division race with six games left.

“I’m just speechless right now. Whoever got in the game really stepped up,” Tilden said.  “We missed a few foul shots at the end of the game that kept them alive, but we’ll take the one-point victory.

“Every time we play them it’s tough, it’s just a great rivalry.  My hat’s off to Brian. I was definitely nervous.”

The Ravens held a 45-35 advantage entering the fourth quarter, but Norton fought and clawed its way back in a period that saw the teams combine to shoot 38 free throws.  The Panthers made 13-of-19 tries from the line, while the Ravens were 12-of-19.

“We stayed tough, that was a wild fourth quarter – as wild as a basketball game can get,” Miller said.  “When you had a chance to beat the fourth-ranked team in the state, what else can you ask for?

“We had two shots to make it at the end and if we make it we are celebrating right now, I’ll take that any time.”

Ravenna sophomore guard Justina Fortson (8 points, 5/8 FT) missed two free throws with 9.9 seconds left in the game. After Norton corralled the rebound, the Panthers raced the length of the court and senior guard Alyssa Kraus missed a 10-footer. Senior guard Erica Paridon tried to get the rebound and put-back at the buzzer, but it rattled out – preserving the Ravens one-point victory.

“We had a lead, but we let that slip away and then we fought back,” Fortson said.  It’s very nerve-wracking, you have so many things going through your head (when Norton came back).”

Norton took an early command of the game using a 10-2 run out of the gate, powered by five points from junior wing Jaclyn Fortner (19 points) in the first four minutes.  After the Ravens closed the margin to 10-8, the Panthers once again sprang out to a 17-10 lead after the first quarter, as Kraus (22 points) accounted for all seven points on the run.

“We took the first quarter, but then they turned around and took the second quarter,” Miller said.  “In the second quarter we couldn’t make shots and had some problems with moving the ball.”

Ravenna altered its defense and clamped down in the second period, as Tilden credited Fortson for her defensive work, and the Ravens only allowed eight points on three field goals in the second period.

“We played team defense and played together (in the second period,” Fortson said.

Ravenna turned its defense into offense as the Ravens went on two seven-point runs in the second period and carried a 30-25 lead into intermission.

“We switched up a little bit and put Di on (Norton's Cara) Cook, she did a very good job, and Justina Fortson - she’s one of my better defenders.  She did a great job, she doesn’t score much, but she does all the little things,” Tilden said.

Norton never held the lead in the second half as the Ravens pushed their lead to as big as 45-31 with less than a minute left in the third quarter. The Panthers did mount enough of a comeback to tie the game at 50 with 4:15 left on a basket by Cook that capped another 7-0 run, but Ravenna would score six of the next seven points to keep Norton at arms’ length.  Ravenna senior standout and University of Akron recruit DiAndra Gibson sank four free throws in that stretch.  Gibson went 11-of-12 from the line and scored a game-high 21 points. 

In other games:

CRESTWOOD 55, COVENTRY 34. At Coventry Township, the visiting Red Devils outscored the host Comets 24-13 in the first half and went on to win.

Dannise Johnson led Crestwood (7-5, 4-4) with 13 points.

Junior Kristi Morisak had 14 points to pace Coventry.

EAST CANTON 54, GARRETTSVILLE GARFIELD 43. At Osnaburg Township, the Wizards got 20 points from Amanda Wolfe en route to the victory.

Hannah Butler dropped in 10 points for East Canton (4-7, 3-5).

Katie Kaiser and Jackie Tabor each scored 13 points to lead the way for Garrettsville Garfield (0-12, 0-8).

KENT ROOSEVELT 61, FIELD 45. At Brimfield Township, the Rough Riders outscored the host Falcons in each quarter to earn the victory.

Courtney Olesh made seven field goals and hit 5-of-6 free throws for 19 points to lead Kent Roosevelt (8-3, 6-2).

Christine Keener added 11 points for Kent, while Abby Wemhoff dropped in 10 points.

Field (5-6, 3-5) was led by senior Jacqueline Ricketson, who had 14 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. Sophomore Tiffany Spaller scored 10 points for the Falcons.

MOGADORE 56, ROOTSTOWN 50. At Mogadore, the host Wildcats outscored the Rovers 34-20 in the second half to improve to 3-10 (3-5 in PTC).

Sophomore Ashley Barker scored 22 points to pace Mogadore, while freshman Grace Reilly added 11 points for the Wildcats.

Rootstown’s Ashleigh Pickens led the Rovers with 31 points.

STREETSBORO 40, SPRINGFIELD 36. At Streetsboro, the Rockets held the visiting Spartans to just three points in the first half and held on for the four-point victory.

Rachel Kolke and Megan Densmore each scored 11 points to lead Streetsboro (4-9, 3-6).

Junior Jamie Alcorn had 14 points to lead Springfield (3-8, 1-7). Senior McKenzie Hedrick put up 11 points.

The Spartans rallied with a 20-7 third quarter, but couldn’t overcome their slow start.

CUYAHOGA FALLS 37, COPLEY 33. At Copley Township, the Black Tigers took at 25-15 lead at halftime and held on for the narrow victory.

Senior Logen Breehl led Cuyahoga Falls (7-3) with 12 points.

Copley (2-9) was paced by Kaela Drake’s 10 points. Meghan Preston added nine points.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 70, FAIRLESS 31. At Navarre, three players scored double digits to lead the Royals in the lopsided victory.

CVCA senior Cassie Wilson led all scorers with 18 points, followed by sophomore Ashley Tyna (17 points) and junior Megan Foley (12 points).

CVCA (9-4, 6-3) led 35-16 at the half and went on to outscore the opposition 35-15 over the final 16 minutes.

MANCHESTER 81, TUSLAW 34. At New Franklin, the Panthers outscored Tuslaw 53-17 in the first half and remained unbeaten.

Junior Angela Durgala scored 16 points to lead Manchester (12-0, 9-0). Freshman Alex Klein scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Emma Kreakbaum had 12 points for the Panthers. Seniors Michelle Noble and Autumn Brown each scored 10 points for Manchester.

MEDINA 60, HIGHLAND 38. At Medina, sophomore Casey Midlik scored 17 points to lead the way for the Bees, who improved to 10-2.

Senior Erin Pacholski and junior Sarah Kinch each scored 14 points for Medina, which outscored the Hornets in each of the four quarters.

Senior Olivia Petek scored 17 to pace Highland (8-3). Senior Karissa Steffas dropped in 11 points for the Hornets.

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 54, YOUNGSTOWN URSULINE 47. At Akron, the Knights used the momentum from a 15-5 third quarter to hold on and remain undefeated.

Emma Horning scored 13 points to lead Hoban (11-0). Janaya Feaster put up 12 points, and Alessandra Dickos added 10 for the Knights, who host Walsh Jesuit on Saturday afternoon.

Sydney Beasley scored 18 to lead Ursuline.

WOODRIDGE 47, WINDHAM 40. At Windham, the visiting Bulldogs remained undefeated with the win over the Bombers.

Senior She’kiera Brooks scored 18 points to lead Woodridge (12-0, 9-0). Junior Lizzie Wilkinson had 11 points.

Caitlyn Isler put up 15 points to lead Windham (6-5, 3-5), followed by Jessica Isler, who scored 12.

BUCKEYE 44, BLACK RIVER 35. At York Township, junior Jessica Banas had 16 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Bucks (5-7, 4-4) to victory over rival Black River (1-9, 1-6) as reported in the Medina County Gazette by Brian Dulik.