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Cover photo by – ECI Photography
Brooke Limes fourth quarter and overtime heroics led North Ridgeville to a thrilling 48-45 victory over conference rival Berea-Midpark. Lime led the Rangers with 23 points, and 15 of those came in the fourth quarter and overtime. This including a three point play to send it into overtime, and then a three pointer to start overtime that put the Rangers ahead for good.
I spoke with Lime after the game, about coming up big, in big moments, “It gives me a lot of energy, but it is honestly our whole team as they give me the ball and give me the confidence to make those shots. That gives us so much energy to keep doing well, “ said Lime.
Her running mate was once again Grace Kingery who finished with 19 gritty points in this one. 7 of the 19 from Kingery, coming from the foul line as she continues to score in a multitude of ways. The other 12 points, coming in the paint.
The Rangers also saw 4 points from Maci Miller and 2 from CC Bauman in the win. The Titans were led by Rylee Szojka who continues to have a great season. She was brilliant again tonight and looked like she would hand the Titans a victory as she scored 20 points and couldn’t be stopped. There was a stretch in the fourth quarter in which she scored 8 points in 3 minutes and it looked like she had the deal sealed before the last second comeback from North Ridgeville.
The Titans were also paced by Lauren Lantow with 7 while Avery James, Emma Arnold and Reegan Braaten with 5 each. Their scoring was capped by Taylor Kowalewski with 3.
After a Braaten three right before the half, tied it at 17, a Maci Miller buzzer beater for the Rangers, sent the two teams into the locker room with North Ridgeville up 19-17. This was following a first quarter that ended 9-9 as both teams played tight throughout.
The third quarter belonged to the Titans as Avery James hit a three to tie it at 22, and then moments later nailed another bucket to give the Titans their first lead since early on, 24-22. A few moments later, it was Arnold draining a three, putting the Titans up 27-23 before 4 straight points from Kingery tied it. This time it was the Titans with a buzzer beater as Lantow hit from deep to send the Titans to the fourth quarter up 30-27.
As mentioned, Szojka was red hot in the fourth, and helped the Titans build a 35-29 lead with 5:06 to go. The 6 points, being the largest lead for either team all game. It was then, Coach Amy Esser went to work, the concentration and intensity doubled, and the comeback began as the Rangers proved once again that no lead is safe against this bunch.
A Lime three cut it to 35-32, before Szojka struck again to make it 37-32. The Rangers went on a Brooke Lime run to cut it to 41-38 with 20 seconds to go as some missed shots by the Titans kept the door open. Lime would cash it in as she drove, scored and was fouled to make it 41-40 with 15.2 seconds left. She hit the foul shot, and the game to overtime at 41.
A three ball from Lime got the Rangers going in the fourth, and along with foul shots from Kingery and Lime both, they went on to win 48-45.
Our three players of the game are
Brooke Lime and Gracey Kingery of North Ridgeville, along with Rylee Szojka of Berea-Midpark.
What a great girls HS basketball game , when Berea was up 6 I thought we were in trouble. I think the calmness in our coaching staff says it all they didn’t get rattled. Such a total team effort for the girls everyone did the little things to grab the W. Great job ladies