Olmsted Falls Bulldogs Use Total Team Effort To Defeat Strongsville Mustangs 55-51

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SANDUSKY, Ohio – It’s been written this season that Olmsted Falls has perhaps the best two nonstarters in the conference.  Head Coach Jordan Eaton said after their win against Avon on Friday that he had a team of MVP’s, and tonight, all of that came true in the Bulldogs 55-51 thrilling win over the Strongsville Mustangs.  They did it as a team.

Sara Glover and Lauren Noernberg, both nonstarters, led the Bulldogs with 12 massive points each.  It speaks volumes of this team’s character, and how they win as a team.  The always sensational Paige Kohler got into double digits herself with 10 on the night while Lauren Galaska added 7.  Allison Milligan had 5 points, all coming early while the usually known for her defense Mia Kalich showed her versatility tonight with 9.

It took a team effort to contend with perhaps one of the best players in the state, the remarkable Reagan Bass who turned in a performance for the ages.  The always dominant Senior headed to Akron, finished with 19 and at times appeared to be too much to handle.  I cannot wait to watch her play in the MAC.

She wasn’t alone however, as Shelby Sallee also had a great night, pouring in 19 herself.  Between Sallee and Bass, they combined for 38 in their final game playing together.  Taylor Bass had 7 while Sophia Birch and Sarah Robertson had 3 each.

Down 6-5 with a little over two minutes to go in the first quarter, and Paige Kohler sitting with two fouls, the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs needed a spark.  They got it in the form of a Lauren Noernberg three pointer to put them ahead 8-6.  It was their first three of the game after several misses.  The other 5 Bulldog points coming from Allison Milligan from the floor and charity stripe.

Mia Kalich would then get a steal of the inbound, go up to shoot and get fouled.  She split the pair to make it 9-6. A little over a minute later, Noernberg would remain hot and drain another three to increase the lead to 12-6.

The Mustangs did a great job in the first quarter forcing fouls on Olmsted falls.  The Bulldogs would end up committing 3 in the opening quarter.  The quarter itself would end on a beautiful steal and then near midcourt three-point lunge by Shelby Sallee that cut the Bulldog lead to 12-9 after one. It was a tremendous heads up play from Sallee.

Paige Kohler came off the bench to start the second quarter by draining a deep three herself, and pushing the lead back out to 15-9. The Bass connection of Regan and Taylor would then heat up and score six straight for the Mustangs to tie it at 15.  The Mustang run wasn’t over yet however, as buckets by Sallee and Regan Bass extended the Mustang lead to 19-15.

The Bulldogs would stop the 10-0 run with another three ball from Lauren Noernberg. Moments later, it was Galaska and Sallee trading buckets as the Mustang lead was at 21-20.  Moments after that, Noernberg would draw a hard foul on Sarah Robertson as she was everywhere in the first half.

The half would end with the Bulldogs up on the Mustangs by a score of 27-23.  Shelby Sallee led all scorers with 10 with Noernberg had 9 and Regan scored 8.

Both teams started out cold in the second half as the first points weren’t scored until three minutes in, on a Regan Bass driving layup.  Moments later Sallee would get a steal and breakaway bucket to tie it at 27.  It wasn’t tied long as Mia Kalich drained a three to give the Bulldogs the lead right back at 30-27.

It would continue to go back and forth until tied again at 33 with 2:45 to play in the quarter when Lauren Noernberg drained another one to make it 36-33. The quarter would end with Falls on top 42-38 as Regan Bass of Strongsville had 9 in the frame.

It was 44-42 Olmsted Falls two minutes into the final quarter when Lauren Galaska stepped up and drained a clutch three to open the lead to 47-42 with a little over 5 minutes to play.

After a dry spell, the Mustangs would begin to gallop to six straights points thanks in part to a Sophia Birch 3, and a “and one” from Taylor Bass.  It gave the Mustangs a 48-47 lead with 3:22 to play. The Bulldogs and Sara Glover wasted no time answering to reclaim the lead at 49-48.

After both teams would exchange hoops, it was Falls 51-50 on top with 1:40 to go. Sarah Glover foul shots would seal it late, as the Bulldogs hung on for the big win.  They now advance to take on Notre Dame Academy out of Toledo this Saturday right back here in Sandusky.