by Kevin McNamara Resigns as Berea-Midpark High School Girls Basketball Head Coach
Padua showed again tonight that when they are fully healthy, they are one of the most dangerous teams around. They traveled to St. Joes tonight where they handled the Jaguars by a final score of 69-45. While somewhat close at halftime, only a 8 point game, the Bruins came out of the halftime break refreshed and ready to charge, outscoring the Jaguars 28-13 in the frame and walking away with the win.
They were led by Darlene Jaidah with 28 points while 24 of those came from the paint as she had her way with all night. Izzy Lapp scored 15 with plenty of them coming on fast breaks, including 11 of those in the third quarter. Sophie Spade is back this year and healthy, and let me tell you, a healthy Spade is a sharp one that many teams cannot contain. The exciting junior went for 10 points tonight, with all of them coming in the third as well. Also scoring for the Bruins was Ella Figliano with 7 while Ally Tonsing and Ashley Rypiak each had 4. Avery Maslar, finished with a point.
The Jaguars were led by the sensational sophomore Lilly Sanfilippo with 11 points while Brooke Haddad had 10 and Nia French finished with 6. Cameron Croce scored three while Adrianna Kozey came off the bench to drain two foul shots.
The game started with two quick buckets from Lapp and Figliano to get the Bruins off to a 4-0 start. After a Tonsing bucket pushed it to 6, a three ball from Haddad cut the lead in half and got the Jaguars on the board. From there, back to back fast break buckets by Darelene Jaidah ran the score back out to 10-3 with 4 minutes to play in the opening quarter. A Jaguar three cut it to 14-9 at the end of 1. A quarter that saw three 3 three balls from the Jaguars and 8 points from Darelene Jaidah of the Bruins.
After the Bruins stretched their lead to 23-12 in the second, a three ball from Lilly Sanfilippo calmed the storm for a bit at 23-15. At this point in the game, all 15 points from the Jaguars had come from long range. A few moments later with the Jaguars down 25-17, a drive with an and one make by Croce, sliced the lead down to 25-20 and made it the closest it had been in awhile. A Jaidah three cooled off the Jaguar run as the game would end up going to half with Padua leading 30-22.
A 7-0 run fueled by 5 from Jaidah, increased the Bruin margin to 37-22 and gave them their largest lead of the game. From there, two more baskets by Sophia Spade put the Jaguars away for good at 41-22 as the Bruins were on a vicious 11-0 to break things wide open. A Sanfilippo bucket finally put the run to the end as the Jaguars badly needed that basket. The momentum wouldn’t last long however as only seconds later, Lapp hit a three ball from somewhere in Lorain County as the Bruins pulled further away and would take a 58-35 lead into the fourth.
A Sanfillipo foul shot was answered by what seemed like constant runouts for the Bruins leading to numerous layups as the lead increased to 64-36 within moments to start the fourth. The latest run was stopped by Lilly Sanfilippo who continued to be a shining spot for the Jaguars. The Bruins went on to cruise to the 69-45 win from there.
I went to watch my niece play and this is far from the team I remember just two years ago. Whatever happened to coach K? A lot less screaming and the team was competitive, this team looked slow and afraid to mess up. You have to play fearless, kind of hard to do when someone is screaming at you the entire time. Bring back Coach K!
I couldn’t agree with you more ☝️, I thought the same thing. This coach screams a lot. Girls looked afraid to mess up. I don’t think this guy will make it through the year. On a high note it was nice to see all those Mac basketball girls competing! Did anyone ever find out what’s going on with Coach Mac?
My issue isn’t with the coach but the program in general. How do you have 3 head coaches in 3 years?
Where is the youth program?
As a graduate 00 class, I’m deeply disappointed with my Jaguars. Not to mention, you have a phenomenal Volleyball coach and allowed her to leave a few years back.
I donate regularly and hope things turn around, maybe with the NIL it will?
Kristen Yonda Class of 00
I couldn’t agree with you more , athletic director should know what it’s like to be a jaguar. We want to be like Mags , get these young ladies excited about coming to joes . Go the the the CYO games get kids excited about one day playing hoops or just going to joes! I think the biggest problem with the basketball program has been the parents having an influence on who runs the program. It’s 2025 are those same parents gonna call that child’s employer and complain to? I hope we figure it out soon 3 coaches in as many years is not good. And like you I don’t mind the coach now it’s not his fault we are a mess!