ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY

Green point guard Erika Rector, guarding Tallmadge's Kelsey Rice, scored six points with five rebounds and six assists Wednesday as the Bulldogs hammered the Blue Devils, 52-26, in a Suburban League girls basketball game.

GREEN, Ohio – It may have happened 46 days ago, but it might as well have been yesterday for how fresh the Bulldogs' one-point loss at Tallmadge was in the Green girls basketball team’s mind.  That memory fueled a fast and furious effort on both ends of the court  that led to a 52-26 Bulldogs (10-4, 8-2) victory on Wednesday night.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling," Green point guard Erika Rector said. "Coach has been talking about it every day in practice since we lost. It was definitely about revenge.”

With thoughts of the loss to the Blue Devils (10-5, 5-5) fresh in their minds, Green was determined to come out the aggressor, and did so with an 11-2 run that spanned the better part of the first five minutes of the game.  The run set the Bulldogs up to never trail in the game.

“We really got up on them this game and everyone came out sharp, because we knew with the results of last time that anything could happen so we had to come out hard and not let up,” said senior forward Lydia Corle, who scored seven of the team’s first 11 points.

Corle scored a game-high 17 points.

Green’s defense played a major part in the run as its full-court press forced Tallmadge into seven first-quarter turnovers, and the Bulldogs took a 20-8 lead after the first period.  The team decreased its point allowance in the next two periods building a 47-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“We went over there the first time and played sloppy, didn’t play good defense,” Green coach Tracy Miller said.  “The kids are buying into the system. The kids are focusing more on defense in practice.

“I was very pleased with the way we played defense tonight.  We held them to single-digit points in each quarter.  We’ve been getting after it in practice.”

Green certainly seems to be buying into its defensive strategy, as the Bulldogs picked up their aggressiveness as the game went on – forcing 26 turnovers with five minutes remaining in the game when Miller emptied his bench with a 52-21 lead.  The 31-point advantage was their largest lead of the night.

“Defense is our No. 1 thing,” Rector said.  “Coach (Miller) likes to coach teams that are hard-nosed defensive players, and if we don’t play good defense we’ll never win a game.”

Tallmadge coach Bill Johnson was frustrated with how the game went, particularly how his team handled the ball.

“For whatever reason we came out sluggish and they made us pay for it," Johnson said.  "They were ready to play and obviously had some fuel from what happened at our place and took it to us in the first quarter. 

"It was very deflating for us when they made some shots.”

Green has now won seven of its last eight games. The previous loss to the Blue Devils was the first of back-to-back losses that also included a 54-42 setback against Suburban League powerhouse Wadsworth.

The Bulldogs will try to saddle the Grizzlies with their first conference loss on the season and attempt to keep their own hopes of an SL title in sight.

“(Wadsworth is) going to come at you with 13, 14, 15 kids,” Miller said.  “We’ve got to stay up-tempo, take care of the ball on offense and play great halfcourt defense. 

“Wadsworth is a program that’s been built for the last 15 years, strong, quick, aggressive, and that’s where we want our program to be in the two, three, four years.”

Green currently sits two games back of Wadsworth with four league games remaining.

In other girls basketball games:

CUYAHOGA VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 72, TUSCARAWAS VALLEY 52. At Zoarville, the Royals (12-4, 9-3) outscored Tusky Valley 41-25 in the second half to seal the victory.

Sophomore Ashley Tyna led CVCA with 25 points. Senior Cassie Wilson was close behind with a 21-point effort. Junior Megan Foley and sophomore Halston Maresh each scored eight points for the Royals.

Tusky Valley was led by Natasha Tucke’s 22 points. Katlynn Dunlap scored 14.

EAST CANTON 51, SOUTHEAST 48. At Ravenna, East Canton’s Erin Dunbar hit a layup with 6 seconds left to put the Wizards up by a point. Mandy Wolfe then came up with a steal on Southeast’s ensuing possession. She was fouled and hit both free throws to secure the victory for East Canton.

Dunbar finished with 15 points to lead the Wizards (6-8, 5-5). Hanna Butler dropped in 12 points. Wolfe scored seven.

Southeast was led by junior Shayna White, who scored 23 for the Pirates (8-7, 6-4). Senior Emily Harsh added 11 points.

FIELD 55, SPRINGFIELD 36. At Brimfield Township, senior Emily Mortimer led the Falcons with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Senior Jacqueline Ricketson added 12 points for Field (9-6, 5-5).

Senior McKenzie Hedrick and junior Sam Karas scored nine points apiece to pace Springfield (3-12, 1-9).

HIGHLAND 67, CLOVERLEAF 46. At Granger Township, senior Karissa Steffas erupted for 28 points to help propel the Hornets (10-5, 6-4) to the Suburban League victory,

Senior Olivia Petek put in 14 points for Highland, which outscored Cloverleaf 33-25 in the first half and closed the game with a 17-8 run.

Shelby Dearth led Cloverleaf (7-9, 4-6) with 16 points, followed by seniors Adrea Baughman (13 points) and Katie Simpson (12 points).

HUDSON 84, GARFIELD HEIGHTS 28. At Hudson, the Explorers opened with a 25-2 first quarter that set the tone for the lopsided game.

Five players scored double digits for Hudson, led by Laura Mummey and Margo Camp, who each put up 14 points. Senior Christie Wade had 13 points. Junior Hannah Boesinger scored 12, and sophomore Jackie Ulmer dropped in 11 for Hudson (12-2, 3-2).

Garfield Heights (2-12, 0-6) was led by freshman Isis Parker’s 12 points.

KENT ROOSEVELT 49, STREETSBORO 38. At Streetsboro, Daniella Rice led the Rough Riders (10-4, 8-2) with 12 points.

Abby Wemhoff scored 11, and Courtney Olesh added 10 for Kent Roosevelt, which outscored Streetsboro 23-16 in the second half.

Colleen Rimmel’s nine points paced Streetsboro (4-11, 3-7).

MANCHESTER 74, FAIRLESS 33. At New Franklin, the Panthers got off to a quick start and led 42-15 at halftime en route to the victory.

Junior Angela Durgala’s 16 points led Manchester (16-0, 12-0). Freshman Alex Klein scored 13, and Autum Brown dropped in 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Senior Michelle Noble also had 12 rebounds for the Panthers.

NORTON 61, COVENTRY 33. At Norton, junior Cara Cook led the way for the Panthers with a 20-point performance.

Norton improved to 9-4 overall, and 8-2 in the PTC Metro Division, with the victory.

Carolyn Ivy, also a junior, put in 11 points, followed by senior Erica Paridon, who scored 10 for Norton.

Coventry (3-12, 1-9) was led by Alyssa Angeletti’s seven points.

RAVENNA 68, CRESTWOOD 35.  At Mantua,  the Ravens remained undefeated, using a 23-5 second quarter and a 19-10 third quarter to pull away and wrap up the victory.

Senior Malorie Gibson scored 15 points and dished five assists, while DiAndra Gibson scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Sophomore Justina Fortson scored eight points for Ravenna (14-0, 10-0).

Crestwood was led by junior Allison Vannoy’s 11 points. Crestwood is 8-7 (4-7 PTC).

WADSWORTH 64, COPLEY 28. At Wadsworth, the Grizzlies remained in control of the Suburban League with the victory over the Indians.

Wadsworth (12-3, 10-0) was led by senior Christy Cingel’s 16 points. Senior Jessie Gearhart added 12 points.

Meghan Preston scored nine points to lead Copley (2-12, 1-9).

WOODRIDGE 50, MOGADORE 46. At Mogadore, the Bulldogs (14-0, 10-0) trailed by two points after the first half, but outscored the host Wildcats 23-17 in the second hald to steal the victory.

Junior Lizzie Wilkinson was Woodridge’s leading scorer with 17 points. Senior She’kiera Brooks put up 14 points for the Bulldogs.

Mogadore (4-12, 4-6) was paced by sophomore Ashley Barker’s 20 points.