PALMYRA, OH- Southeast high school was the site for a girls and boys basketball doubleheader on Saturday between the host Pirates and visiting Rootstown Rovers. The Lady Pirates came into this one on a two game winning streak. The Rovers were off to a perfect 8-0 start to their season looking to stay undefeated. There were two storylines coming into this one as Rovers guard Elliott Smallfield was playing her first game at her former school against her former team after transferring from Southeast to Rootstown over the summer. Also making her season debut for the Rovers was senior Nadia Lough who has been recovering from offseason knee surgery. The Rovers would outscore the Pirates 18-3 in the 4th to take home a 64-28 win.
Nadia Lough scores her first point of the season from the free throw line
Southeast would strike first as Kayla Grope started off the game with a three for the Pirates. Smallfield would put Rootstown in the lead for the first time at 5-3 with a long ball of her own.
Elliott Smallfield hits a three for Rootstown in the 1st quarter
After a Kristen Campbell bucket for the Pirates, the Rovers would go on a 8-1 run to take a 13-6 lead. Following a pair of Jenna Canale free throws for Southeast, the Rovers would score the final five points of the quarter to take an 18-8 lead after one.
The second quarter was the turning point in this game. Sasha Nichols opened the 2nd quarter scoring the first five points for Rootstown prompting a quick Pirates timeout. Shortly after the timeout Colbie Curall would get a steal and go coast to coast for the score.
Colbie Curall with the coast to coast bucket for Rootstown
They would go on a 16-0 run to start the quarter taking a commanding 34-8 lead before a Campbell free throw stopped the drought for the Pirates. Rootstown would take a 37-11 lead into halftime after outscoring Southeast 19-3 in the 2nd. Sasha Nichols had a game high 7 points for Rootstown at the break.
Rootstown would open the 3rd quarter with a successful and-1 conversion by Addy Germann and a bucket by Smallfield to open their biggest lead at 42-11. Southeast was not going down without a fight as they went on a 10-0 run sparked by Alex Hrkach and Bailey Morris to cut the deficit to 42-21. They would outscore the Rovers 12-9 in the quarter but still trailed 46-25 after three.
The 4th quarter was all Rootstown as they outscored the Pirates 18-3 with Lough accounting for half of those points. They would cruise to a 64-28 win.
Nadia Lough had a nice return to the court scoring a game high 15 points. Also in double figures were Addy Germann (11) and Elliott Smallfield (10). Kristen Campbell led the Pirates with 9 points and 8 rebounds while Jenna Canale grabbed 12 boards.
Southeast will look to bounce back on Monday as they host Manchester. Rootstown looks to continue their undefeated streak the same evening as they host Marlington.
Postgame interview with senior Nadia Lough.
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