by Berea, OH – The 2025 Cleveland Basketball Classic tipped off the first day of action at Baldwin Wallace University with the Laurel Gators defeating the Avon Lake Lady Shoregals 47-40.
The first quarter was a close defensive battle as both teams worked to find the early openings in the defense and opportunities to score. The Gators were led by junior forward Jordyn Meyers, who came out aggressively looking for her shot as she led with an early six points in the quarter.
For the Lady Shoregals, it was 5’10” senior forward Olivia Miller who matched Meyers with six early points of her own. Miller showed off her range, knocking down a three-pointer with just under 30 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game at 12. In a close, physical battle in the first quarter, neither team could pull away on the scoreboard, and we ended the quarter tied at 12-12.
In the second quarter, Avon Lake was able to press and force turnovers with its defensive pressure, allowing the Laurel Gators to score only three points. The second quarter was when Avon Lake’s 5’11” junior forward Molly Milligan started making her impact felt on both ends of the floor.
She was a rebounding machine while leading the Shoregals offensively, hitting her second three-pointer in the quarter. Milligan demonstrated she is a physical presence who can be relied on to score in the paint and from deep with her fluid jump shot, finishing with five points in the quarter. Avon Lake finished their big first-half run with a highlight three-pointer made at the buzzer by junior guard Bri Droke as the Lady Shoregals lead the Laurel Gators 22-15 at the half.
The third quarter took on a totally different feeling as the Gators came out with an 8-0 run to open the half, retaking the lead 23-22. The Gators were led by senior forward Tristan Williams, who went on a tear, scoring in the second half, finishing with eight points, including two “and ones” in the third quarter.
Avon Lake’s Molly Milligan took on the personal challenge to beat her, as she also fought through contact, finishing an “and one” in the quarter as well. Milligan finished with four points in the quarter. This became a very competitive game, with multiple lead changes in the quarter. At the end of the third, Avon Lake held the slight one-point 30-29 advantage heading into an exciting fourth quarter!
In the final quarter, Laurel’s Tristian Williams could not be stopped as she continued right where she left off in the third, scoring with ease inside the paint in the halfcourt and in transition. Avon Lake had contributions from senior guard Mariela DiTullio, who scored a three-pointer and converted a layup in the quarter, keeping the Shoregals in the contest.
It was competitive in the first few minutes of the fourth, but Williams would eventually take over for the Shoregals. Ultimately, the pesky defensive efforts from the Lady Gators and Williams’s offensive second half proved too much for Avon Lake as they fell 47-40.
Players of Game: Avon Lake’s 5’11” junior forward Molly Milligan, who was a beast on the glass on both ends of the floor. Milligan led the Shoregals with 15 points in the contest. Laurel School’s senior forward Tristian Williams, who finished with a game-high 19 points, led the Lady Gators in the win.
In the win, the Laurel Gators improve to 2-0 early in their 2025-26 season as they look to prepare for a matchup with Hiland (Berlin) on Wednesday, Dec 3rd at home.
For the Avon Lake Lady Shoregals, they fall to 0-1 as they look to rebound in their second game of the 2025-26 season, traveling to rival Avon next week on Wednesday, December 3rd.
