ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY

Wadsworth senior Jessie Gearhart drives past Green's Lexi Teodosio during the Grizzlies' 41-25 win over the Bulldogs. Gearhart scored 11 points to lead Wadsworth, which earned at least a share of the Suburban League title.

GREEN, Ohio – The Wadsworth girls basketball team was not going to allow Green senior Lydia Corle to score 22 points this time around.

In fact, the Grizzlies would limit Green’s entire team to 22 points until a 3-pointer in the waning seconds.

“I think for all four quarters our defense was probably the best we’ve played all year,” said Wadsworth coach Andrew Booth, following a 41-25 Suburban League win Saturday afternoon.

The Grizzlies jumped on top 12-0, and the Bulldogs played from behind the rest of the way.

“We thought a good start was vitally important,” said Booth. “I know that’s the best start we’ve ever had in seven years here.”

In the first meeting between these two SL rivals, Green handled Wadsworth’s pressure and trailed 37-33 through three quarters.  Corle had 16 of her 22 points in the first half and the Grizzlies needed a big fourth quarter to put away the scrappy Bulldogs, 54-42.

As far as Wadsworth (13-3, 11-0) was concerned that scenario was not going to repeat itself.

“I think our defense won this game for us,” said Wadsworth senior Jessie Gearhart, who had seven points in the first 3:30 and then threw a net on the Bulldogs’ do-it-all performer Corle.

Green (10-5, 8-3) coughed up the ball eight times in the first quarter and did scramble to within 20-13 before another Wadsworth offensive surge put it out of reach.

Gearhart, a versatile 5-foot-10 swing player, had plenty of help on Green’s all-star, especially in the form of senior Christy Cingel.

“We just tried to keep (Corle) away from the rim,” said Cingel.

Booth said his coaching staff seldom assigns defensive matchups, and that his best defenders usually migrate to the opponent’s top scorer.

“We don’t match up because we run and jump and switch so many picks,” Booth said. “But, it’s always funny how two of your best defenders always find a way to the opponent’s best player.”

When Green’s second-leading scorer – freshman Julia Guyton – became mired in foul trouble, the Grizzlies were able to focus most of their attention on Green’s No. 15.

“We came out flat and we get down 12-0 and against a team like Wadsworth -- good luck trying to come back,” first-year Green coach Tracy Miller said. “We held them to 41 points. I thought we played very good defense other than the first quarter. The first quarter killed us.”

The Grizzlies are on the verge of clinching their second straight outright Suburban League championship.

Gearhart, after scoring 14 points in the first game, paced Wadsworth with 11 on Saturday. Sophomore Peyton Booth had nine points. Senior Kara Long had seven and Cingel six for the Grizzlies.

The league’s leading scorer, Corle finished with 11 points.  No other Bulldog player had more than three points.