NEOSPORTSPIX.COM PHOTO
The Hudson Explorers and senior Laura Mummey (16 points) had no problem with Strongsville after the first quarter on Saturday night. Hudson topped the Mustangs 58-36 in NOC Valley girls basketball play.
HUDSON, Ohio – Celebrating Senior Night, the Hudson Explorers may have been caught up in the festivities at the start, but then gathered themselves Saturday night en route to a 58-36 win over visiting Strongsville.
“Our effort defensively has been outstanding for the last probably two weeks and I think we’re hitting our stride there,” Hudson coach Dennis Lawler said.
Almost as if scripted, Hudson seniors Laura Mummey (16 points) and Christie Wade (11 points) paced Lawler’s scoring column.
“It’s just been playing as a team,” said Mummey when asked about the key to Hudson’s success this season. “We don’t have one superstar on this team or one person who is scoring all the points.”
The Explorers (15-2, 5-2) led 9-7 after the first quarter, but then blew out to a 27-12 advantage at half and comfortably won this Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game.
The district seeding meeting is tomorrow at Copley and Lawler is anticipating either a No. 2 or 3 seed for the Ellet Division I District. Defending state champion Twinsburg will be No. 1.
“Obviously you don’t want to go in there with a hiccup,” Lawler said. “(The Ellet District) is going to be meat grinder.”
Senior guard Nicole Lisi scored 11 points for Strongsville (4-13, 0-7).
In other girls basketball games:
ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 60, NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL LATIN 36. At Chardon, the Knights improved to 16-2 with the win over the Lions.
Hoban guard Janaya Feaster led all scorers with 20 points. Meghan Donohue dropped in eight points for the Knights.
Brittany Castrataro and Tory Barrett each scored 11 points for NDCL (5-12).
TALLMADGE 52, SPRINGFIELD 17. At Tallmadge, senior Anna Vassalotti and sophomore Hallie Allen put up 11 points apiece to lead the Blue Devils (13-5) over the Spartans (3-14).
Junior Leah Makuch scored eight points for Tallmadge, which held Springfield scoreless in the fourth quarter and allowed just two points in the entire second half. Tallmadge led 21-15.
Sophomore Alexis Slider scored nine points to pace Springfield.
WALSH JESUIT 75, BEAUMONT 30. At Cleveland Heights, the Warriors jumped to a 25-3 lead in the first quarter and cruised for the lopsided victory.
Junior Jessa Gilberto threw in 19 points to lead Walsh Jesuit (13-4). Courtney Iabobacci scored 13 points for the Warriors, who outscored Beaumont 32-15 in the second half.
Beaumont (4-8) was led Annie Bova’s 11 points.
MEDINA 50, LAKEWOOD 43. At Lakewood, senior Erin Pacholski and junior Sarah Kinch each scored 13 points to pace the Bees in the victory over Lakewood.
Sophomore Casey Midlik chipped in 12 points for Medina (13-4), and junior Angela Tesny added 10 points.
Lakewood was led by Jessica Garcia, who put up 27 points in the loss.
Lakewood led by two at halftime, but Medina outscored the Rangers 29-20 over the final two quarters.
BRUSH 45, VALLEY FORGE 31. At Lyndhurst, Narissa Williams scored 12 points and led the Arcs to victory.
Jamaya Shabazz added 10 points for Brush (2-13), which rallied from a 15-6 first-quarter deficit.
Sandra Zlojutro put up 17 points to lead Valley Forge (7-8)
HATHAWAY BROWN 62, ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY 44. At Shaker Heights, the defending state champions jumped to an early lead en route to the victory over the Fighting Irish.
Sophomores Kiley May and Shannon Jack each scored 14 points for St. V-M (10-6).
Four players hit double figures for Hathaway Brown (12-5), led by junior Vanessa Smith’s 21 points.
TWINSBURG 56, SOLON 48. At Solon, the Tigers’ trio of Malina Howard, Ashley Morrissette and Leah Fechko combined for 54 of Twinsburg’s 56 points in the win over the Comets.
Howard led all scorers with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Morrissette scored 19, and Fechko added 10 for defending state champion Twinsburg (14-3).
Sophomore Kristen Confroy led the way for Solon with 21 points. Martha Thompson had 15 points, and senior Jaime Gluesing 10 for the Comets (14-3).
WOODRIDGE 58, AKRON NORTH 32. At Akron, freshman Morgan Thompson led the way for the Bulldogs, scoring 19 points in the win over the Vikings.
The victory keeps Woodridge’s (17-0) undefeated season intact.
Senior She’kiera Brooks popped in 13 points for the Bulldogs, while junior Lizzie Wilkinson had 12 points.
North was led by freshman Da’Nae Veal, who put up 10 points.
The game was all Woodridge from the get-go as the Bulldogs led 30-16 at the half and went on a 23-3 run in the third quarter to eliminate any chance of a Viking rally.