POLAND TOP DOG IN CLASH WITH SOUTH RANGE

Control of the league hung in the balance Monday night when Poland traveled to South Range. Poland proved to still be the class of the league with an impressive 51-35 win over the Raiders.

The magnitude of the game was felt from the tip as the jump ball to start the game flew out of bounds before anyone could get to it, on the second try there was an immediate scrum on the floor for it. The Raiders got on the board in their first possession with a pair of free throws. 2-0 would prove to be the only lead the Raiders would have. Brooke Bobbey nailed a three on the other end to make it 3-2 and Poland would lead throughout the rest of the game.

That’s not to say the Raiders didn’t keep it competitive. They trailed by just one towards the end of the first gram before Grisdale hit a three in the closing seconds. She would do the same in the closing seconds of the first half to make a four point lead seven. 22-15 Poland led at the break. Izzy Lamparty had to spend much of the second quarter on the bench with three fouls.

The Raiders came out of the break with energy and got the lead cut to three, 28-25 but Jackie Grisdale seemed to hit a shot in every big situation for the Bulldogs. She made it 30-25 and the Bulldogs would score five more before the end of the third to make it 35-25.

Poland jumped way ahead in the final frame opening it on a 6-0 run and stretching their lead to 41-25. The Raiders with one more gasp of hope put together an 8-0 run cutting the lead to 41-33 with just over two minutes left in the game. Out of a timeout Brooke Bobbey hit maybe the biggest shot of the game as her fourth three of the game put Poland up 44-33 and pretty much ended any comeback bid the Raiders had.

Jackie Grisdale led the Bulldogs with 19 points 6 rebounds. Brooke Bobbey added 13. She hit four threes on the night.

Lexi Giles had a strong night for South Range with 13 points. Izzy Lamparty finished in double figures with 12.

Poland returns to action Thursday as they host Struthers.

South Range gets back to work Thursday as they host Lakeview.