MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Clear Fork Lady Colts cut down the nets Thursday after winning the Division II sectional title against Sandusky.
Cutting down the Willard Crimson Flashes in the district semifinals in Ashland may prove to be a taller task.
But that’s a week away for Clear Fork, which celebrated at Mansfield Senior High School after eliminating the Lady Blue Streaks, 54-38. The win improved the Lady Colts’ record to 19-4 while Sandusky ends its season at 11-10.
The victory was earned in the second and third quarters when the Lady Colts outscored Sandusky, 26-11, after the Lady Blue Streaks held a 12-10 lead after one quarter. The game was salted away from the foul line in the fourth quarter, a place Clear Fork enjoyed all night, hitting 26 of 33 attempts.
“We know there is a little bit more of a target on our backs this season,” Clear Fork coach Heidi Roush said. “We are not going to sneak up on anyone this season. People know what we are about. We just have to execute and do the things we do well.
“It’s our first tournament game and maybe we came out a little nervous,” Roush said. “The girls seemed to be worried about making a mistake. We settled in and played much better after that.”
Three Clear Fork seniors finished in double figures. Deijah Swihart had 21, including 12 of 13 at the line. Erika Farst added 17 and Morgan Bailey finished with 10.
Sandusky coach Richard Koonce, whose team knocked off Madison, 68-61, in the sectional semifinals on Tuesday night, said his Lady Blue Streaks lacked intensity against the Lady Colts.
“[Clear Fork] has a good team, but we kind of beat ourselves,” he said. “The way we came out … we didn’t play with any intensity. We didn’t play great against Madison, but we still scored 68 points. When you score only 16 points in the first half, you are not playing with much intensity.
“Some days you get what you get on the court even when it’s not what you usually get to see,” he said. “We got back into it (cutting the Clear Fork lead to 42-33) with pressure, but you run the risk of tiring your team out. We are not very deep.”
Taia Parker was the only Sandusky player in double figures, finishing with 18.
Clear Fork hit just 13 of 36 from the field (36 percent), but more than compensated by shooting 79 percent at the foul line. Sandusky was 15 of 35 from the floor (43 percent) and six of 13 at the line.
Both teams had 25 rebounds while the Lady Colts committed eight fewer turnovers, 15 to 23. Swihart led Clear Fork with seven rebounds while Parker had six for Sandusky.
The win sets up the rematch against Willard (18-3) at AHS next Thursday. Willard knocked off Norwalk in the first game Thursday evening, 56-41. The Lady Crimson Flashes, who boast three over players over 6-feet tall and four others 5-10 or above, beat Clear Fork at Willard, 58-38, back on Dec. 4.
“We just have to find a way to adjust to their size,” Roush said. “It can be a little intimidating to come down the court and see them set up in that 2-3 zone. We just have to find a way to chip away at it.”
Koonce, whose team plays Willard in the Northern Ohio League, said the Lady Colts have a tough task ahead.
“But if [Clear Fork] plays with intensity and focus and takes care of the basketball, anything is possible,” he said.
