by Click here to listen – https://keeonsports.podbean.com/e/hs-basketball-north-ridgeville-at-avon-girls/
FULL PHOTO CREDIT IS COURTESY OF THE AVON EAGLES TWITTER ACCOUNT
AVON, OH – A terrific game saw a third quarter surge by the Avon Eagles lead to a 61-50 purple and gold victory over the visiting North Ridgeville Rangers. Avon showed what a group of girls playing together for years can do, while North Ridgeville showed that they are not far off from that very same model.
Tied at 40, minutes into the third quarter, it looked like the game could go either way before Avon took off and closed the quarter with a 10 run, then started the fourth on a 7-0 run to give them a 57-40 lead and put it away for good. Every time North Ridgeville would tie the game, or take a 1-point lead, Avon would answer immediately with a big shot of their own to retake the lead.
Leading the way for the Eagles was the “A-Team” as I call them, of Alyssa McLellon, Abby Liber and Alyssa Peganoff. Liber had 12, Peganoff had 13 along with several huge plays on both sides of the ball. Alyssa McLellon had 10, including 9 of which in the second half to secure the win for the Eagles.
The first half star for the Eagles was Sophomore sensation Brooke Laub with all 13 of her points in the first two quarters.
Ryan Clapham had 6 for the Eagles, she buried 2 of the teams 8 three pointers on the day. It was Molly Drenik with 4 huge points while the returning Catie Geiger had 2 points.
The leading scorer for North Ridgeville was Senior leader Maddy Rosado with 22. She continues to be a driving force and a sense of leadership for this team. Rosado had 15 of the 22 in the first half, along with 3 three pointers on the day. Speaking of three pointers, the freshman sharp shooter Grace Kingery had 4, accounting for all of her 12 points.
The Avon Eagles started the game on a 14-4 run thanks in part to two triples from Peganoff along with 6 from Brooke Laub as well. The Rangers would bounce back with triples by Rosado and Kingery to cut the deficit to 19-12 after the first.
After a back and forth few minutes to start the second quarter, the Rangers went on a 10-3 run midway through the quarter to make it a 28-25 game. It was once again three balls by Rosado and Kingery to cut into the lead. A wild finish would see both teams exchange buckets and it became a 32-30 lead for Avon at the half.
Brooke Laub went a very consistent 4 of 6 from the charity line while also nailing a three pointer in the quarter as well. Rosado nailed what appeared to be a three, but they called it a two to close out the half.
The third quarter was a frantic pace of scoring that saw several momentum swings. After two foul shots from Daylan Baker made it 35 – 34 Eagles, a turnover led to a Rosado three, that gave the Rangers their first lead of the game at 37-35. Liber would instantly tie it at 37.
Minutes later with the game tied at 40, the Eagles began to soar and went on a 10-0 run to close out the third quarter up 50-40. McLellon scored 5 points to start the run, followed by 5 more from her teammates to close it out. The Eagles hit 4 three pointers in the quarter from Liber, Clapham, Peganoff and McLellon. I want to point out that both Liber and Peganoff scored in every quarter for the Eagles to pace them.
The fourth quarter started with another 7-0 run by the Eagles, to pretty much put things away 57-40. The Rangers would make a mini run to try and get back in it, but it was too little to late as the Eagles hung on for the 61-50 win.
THE FULL RADIO CALL OF THIS GAME CAN BE HEARD ON PAGE TWO
