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The first quarter and the game for that matter was owned by Junior Center Mary Meng. She had two inside baskets and at 6-4 she has a lot of talent to go with her size. She had a series of blocks in the first. She owns the paint whenever she is on the court. The score at the end of the first was 10 to 7 Midview.
In the second quarter Berea was looking at an uphill battle, and the Lady Titans are not used to that. Head Coach Kevin Braaten was imploring his team to be more aggressive offensively. On defense the Titans were working a full court press. This led to a few Midview turnovers, but several times the Middies beat the Titan press for easy buckets.
For over four and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Titans did not score one point. Lauren Lantow got it started with a three at 3:25 left in the second. She hit another one from the right wing for a three. The Titans were definitely struggling with their offense and shooting, but much of the credit must go to the Middies’ defense.
The Middies Olivia DiFranco went off in the second with two threes and a two, leading the scoring. Mary Meng had a couple more blocks, and a beautiful put back for an and one. She continued to dominate, not by scoring, but physicality and pure will. The Titans scored 8 points, and were down 25 to 15 at the break.
In the second half the Titan’s guard Kierney Murphy hit a couple three’s from the left corner, and Kendall Braaten had a nice bank shot. Berea Midpark won the quarter 11 to 6 and the score was now 31 to 26 as the teams headed to the final frame.
In the fourth Meng made two very tough inside baskets, the second was an offensive rebound she converted for two from the right side off the glass. Sophomore Guard Erica Baldoza had a fabulous steal and converted on a dribble drive down the stretch, and Junior Guard Seymour had a great drive as well.
The Middies were the better team on Saturday thanks to a great team effort, but the defensive play and scoring from Midview Underclassmen Meng and DiFranco was outstanding. Both young women poured their hearts out there on the basketball court. Both ladies were superb on both sides of the ball and Olivia showed great leadership down the stretch.
Midview Head Coach Brittany McNamara chose to give the ball down the stretch to the Sophomore Sensation FiDranco, and the Titans were forced to keep fouling her. She didn’t make all of her free throws in the closing minutes, but she made enough to win the game.
Midview and Berea Midpark are both strong teams, but the Midview Middies brought the playoff intensity to Berea on Saturday and showed they are a force to be reckoned with. The final score was 45 to 38, Midview Middies. Both teams split the season series as they won on opposing courts.
