ROOTSTOWN, OH- Saturday night in Rootstown the Lady Rovers were playing for a chance to clinch a Division III / Region 9 Sectional Title in their house. In their way were the Orrville Red Riders of the Principal Athletic Conference. The winner would move on to face Lagrange Keystone in the District semi-final.
Nadia Lough got the Rovers started off on the right foot with a put back from a loose ball in which she was fouled and completed the and-one opportunity. After an Orrville free throw for their first point of the game, a Britney Butzer bucket tied the game at three. The Rovers would then go on a 16-0 run that included three balls from Abby White, Colby Curall and Kelsey Bittecuffer to take a 19-3 lead.
Abby White hits a three to put the Rovers up 19-3
Red Rider Abigail Ankermann ended the run with her first shot of the game. Rootstown came out with their signature aggressive, in your face defense that forced multiple Red Rider turnovers. Brooklynn McIntyre got a put back bucket before the buzzer to put the Rovers up 24-7 after one. Nadia Lough had 8 first quarter points for Rootstown.
Brooklynn McIntyre beats the 1st quarter buzzer for Rootstown
Orrville showed some life the first part of the second quarter. After an Abby White three ball, her third of the first half, gave Rootstown a 20 point lead at 30-11, Orrville put up four straight to cut it back to 31-15. The Rovers however would answer back scoring 8 of the final 9 points of the half to take a 39-16 lead. Lough led all scorers with 14 points.
Rootstown put the game away in the third as they once again turned up the intensity. Orrville was only able to put up three points in the quarter due to that aggressive Rovers defense again forcing turnovers and tough shots for the Red Riders. Rootstown would outscore Orrville 15-3 to take a 54-19 lead after three. Sasha Nichols had a nice quarter for the Rovers including a breakaway layup on a steal for the quarters final bucket.
Sasha Nichols scores on a breakaway layup to end the 3rd quarter scoring for the Rovers
Orrville outscored Rootstown 8-2 in the final quarter as both teams went to their benches. The Rovers won the Division III / Region 9 Sectional Championship on their floor 56-27.
Nadia Lough led the way for the Rovers with another double/double...17 points and 10 rebounds. Abby White dropped in 11 including three shots from deep.
Abigail Ankermann had a nice game for the Red Riders in a losing effort with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Rootstown will now take on undefeated #2 seed Lagrange Keystone on Wednesday at Lakeview High School in Cortland.
