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The Avon Eagles once again used a smothering defense to defeat their opponent. This time it was their cross-town rival the Avon Lake Shoregals 49-26. This Eagle defense is legit, and when that high scoring offense can get going, they will be very dangerous!
Speaking of the high scoring offense it was clicking yet again tonight as Abby Liber scored 11 while Senior Leader Catie Geiger had 8. Junior Ryan Clapham also continues to step up as she knocked in 8, with 6 of that coming from deep. Alyssa Peganoff continues to make her presence known as she put in 6 more. he Sophomore sharpshooter Brooke Laub rained in 5 as well, including another one from downtown.
This Eagle bench is also strong as Kiley Williams poured in 4 more with several rebounds and two blocks. You cannot forget about Grace Santee with 2 and Anna Fitch with a bucket as well.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle both ways as barely anyone scored. Five plus minutes into the game it was still 3-0 Avon until they eventually started putting in some hoops. Liber and Fitch both had three balls, along with some foul shots by McLellon and Liber to make it 8 – 0. It wasn’t until 2:25 was left in the opening quarter until the Shoregals scored on a Emily Yarham running jump shot. No one else would score from there, and that was it for the quarter.
The Eagles came out on fire in the second quarter however, and began to further take firm control. They went on a 7-2 run, including a 5-0 stretch to start the second quarter. Liber was everywhere and accounted for 4 more points. Clapham buried her second three of the game while Peganoff also found the bottom of the net from deep. Catie Geiger wasn’t going to be left out of the three-point parade as she nailed one as well. For Geiger, that was part of a 5 point quarter helping build the 25-13 halftime lead.
The Shoregals once again struggled to find points, but had some very nice hustle plays by Corey Kroneker and Marisa Summerfield. Kroneker continues to be a force on the boards and provides plenty of second chances for the Shoregal attack. The Eagles appeared to focus on stopping Knick, and they did so, holding her to zero in the half.
Emma Knick would get on track in the third, burying a three ball, and also sinking a foul shot for four points. However, for the Shoregals, they only scored 8 in the entire quarter as the Eagles erupted for 13 and put the game out of reach at 38-21. Liber and Clapham three balls along with the constant suffocating defense kept the balance strictly in the favor of Avon.
The Eagles defense didn’t relent in the fourth quarter either. Despite Kaylee Kuwalu coming off the bench to create a spark for the Shoregals, it was too little to late. Emily Yarham had 4 of her 10 on the night in the fourth quarter as well.
Watching this game, a few things jumped out to me. Avon Lake will still have a good season despite the rough start. They haven’t gotten a bounce yet this year, those shots will eventually begin to go in. Just a tough start they will play through.
As for Avon, since the rough opening night, they have shown the potential that I knew that could and would possess. Their defense has shut down Amherst, played a tough and gutsy Midview team in which they came back to win, and tonight was their single best effort from top to bottom. They are now 3-1 in the SWC and will only get better.
Tonight, the Eagles only needed one player to score in double digits and they still won by 23 points.
We will be covering the Eagles live this Wednesday night as they travel to Westlake.
