Tag Archive for: Bulldogs

BIG SECOND HALF ADVANCES LAKEVIEW

CORTLAND OH- Lakeview punched their ticket to the next round with a dominant second half, pulling away from Woodridge for a 42-23 win in the sectional finals.

It was a grind early, with the Bulldogs holding a slim 20-17 lead at halftime. But after the break, Lakeview locked in and took control, outscoring Woodridge 22-6 the rest of the way.

Kalyssa Werner led the charge with 14 points, while Annabelle Humphrey added 8. Sienna Terry and Sophie Irwin each chipped in 6 as Lakeview put the game away late.

Next up, the Bulldogs head to Canfield for the district semifinals on Tuesday at 7:00.

FAIRVIEW ENDS THE BULLDOGS SEASON

POLAND OH- Poland kicked off its tournament run with a hard-fought battle against Fairview, but in the end, the Bulldogs fell just short in a 50-48 heartbreaker.

As the higher seed, Poland got to play host, but Fairview made sure the long trip was worth it. Both teams had stretches where they looked ready to take control, but neither side backed down. It all came down to the final seconds. With 1.8 left on the clock, Poland inbounded from the opposite baseline and somehow got a look in the paint to force OT, but it just wouldn’t fall.

Sophia Generalovich led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Kate Harrell added 8. Izzy Greco chipped in 7, Leanna Boccieri finished with 6, and Lucy Harrell had 5.

Poland wraps up the season at 11-12, while Fairview moves on to the district semis at Crestview on Tuesday at 7:00.

WRESTLING WEDNESDAYS WITH GARY ALTHISER (EP 8) FEATURING ELLA THOMAS

POLAND OH- In an insightful interview on the “YSN Wrestling Wednesday”, Poland High School’s wrestling sensation, Ella Thomas, detailed her determined journey toward wrestling excellence. Speaking with hosts Anthony Hartwig and Gary Althiser, Thomas reflected on her successful state run last year and her elevated ambitions for the current season.

Ranked second in the state, Thomas expressed surprise at her substantial achievements last year, which have since laid the foundation for her newfound confidence. “I had a bunch of hard, tough tournaments,” Thomas shared, attributing her rigorous competition schedule to the enhancement of her skills and mental fortitude. With aspirations of defeating top-ranked McKenna Craft, Thomas emphasized a key focus on maintaining a robust mentality. Her experiences at high-profile competitions such as Iron Man and Finley taught her valuable lessons, particularly the importance of entering matches with the belief that anything is possible.

Thomas’s development is supported by a dedicated coaching team at Poland. “Jordan Beetle and John Arnett have really taught me over these years,” she noted, acknowledging their influence on her focused approach this season. Now drilling with promising eighth-grader Michael Miller, Thomas benefits from a competitive yet encouraging training environment that pushes her to continually improve. As she prepares for the upcoming sectionals, Thomas is committed to staying healthy and refining her technique. Her statement, “I’m gonna beat it this year,” highlights her unwavering determination to achieve her goal of reaching the top of the state podium. Ella Thomas’s journey is more than just personal ambition. Her role as an exemplar within Poland’s up-and-coming girls’ wrestling team underscores her influence as both a competitor and a leader, inspiring peers and younger wrestlers alike. With her eyes set firmly on championship success, Thomas embodies the resilience and drive of a true wrestling champion.

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TIGERS FEAST AT HOME TO OPEN THE WEEK

NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- Springfield had everything clicking Monday night, rolling past East Palestine 65-26 in a dominant home win.

Carson Cunningham led the charge with 13 points and 7 boards, while Matt Wymer and Marco Gentile both hit career highs, dropping 12 and 9 points, respectively. The Tigers’ bench came up big, pouring in 30 points—Brayden Baird chipped in 6, and Landon Dyer knocked down a three to add to the effort.

For East Palestine, Landyn Cope led the way with 12 points, while Will Dixon added 6.

Springfield wraps up conference play Thursday with a road trip to Western Reserve. East Palestine is back at it Tuesday, hosting Rootstown.

BULLDOGS BLAST THROUGH TO THE POSTSEASON

CORTLAND OH- Lakeview closed out the regular season with a statement win, steamrolling league rival Niles 67-34. The Bulldogs came out firing and never let up, locking in momentum heading into the postseason.

Kalyssa Werner led the charge with 18 points, while Mack Stowe added 13. Paige Schwartz chipped in 11, Sophie Irwin knocked down 8, and Hailey Anderson finished with 7 as Lakeview spread the wealth. For Niles, Hannah Grimm put up 17, and Kherington Stanford added 12.

Now, it’s tournament time. Lakeview stays home Saturday to host Woodridge, while Niles hits the road for a matchup at Akron Springfield.

GIRARD WINS AT POLAND FOR FIRST TIME IN NE8 PLAY

POLAND OH- Girard wrapped up the regular season and conference play in historic fashion Monday night, going into Poland and grabbing their first-ever NE8 road win over the Bulldogs. The Indians held a slim 24-21 lead at halftime but took control in the second half, pulling away for a 50-36 victory.

Caylee Wilkes was unstoppable, dropping 24 points to lead the charge. Ally Gassman added 15, and Makenzee White chipped in 8 as Girard finished strong. For Poland, Isabel Greco led with 13, while Lucy Harrell added 8.

With the regular season in the books, Girard now shifts focus to tournament play, hitting the road Saturday for a matchup at Southeast. Poland also gears up for the postseason, hosting Fairview the same night.

LAKEVIEW BRINGS THE ENERGY TO THE WEEKEND

CORTLAND OH- Lakeview is closing out conference play on a high note. The Bulldogs took down Struthers 47-39 on Saturday, staying locked in as the postseason approaches.

Paige Schwartz led the charge with 14 points, while Annabelle Humphrey added 11. Kalyssa Werner chipped in 10, and Sophie Irwin knocked down 7 to help seal the win. For Struthers, Ava Croyle finished with 12, Katelyn Kimble had 7, and Gianna Martin added 5.

Lakeview has one more conference matchup before shifting focus to tournament time, hosting Niles on Monday. Struthers will look to bounce back the same night with a road trip to East.

CLIPPERS SHOOT THE LIGHTS OUT IN POLAND

POLAND OH- Columbiana isn’t taking the easy route heading into tournament time. The Clippers hit the road Thursday to face a tough, defensive-minded Poland squad and handled business with a 66-49 win.

Poland came out swinging, jumping to a 13-4 lead, but Columbiana didn’t flinch. The Clippers responded with a 14-0 run to close the first quarter up 18-13 and never looked back, gradually pulling away the rest of the way. Ava Heinrich led the charge with 24 points, knocking down six threes. Annah Clemmer added 16, while Evy Rapp put up 15. Ellie Venezia chipped in 6 to round out the scoring.

For Poland, Lucy Harrell paced the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Kate Harrell added 9. Sophia Generalovich finished with 8, and Ava Stabi contributed 7.

Columbiana has one last road test before wrapping up the regular season. They’ll head to Western Reserve on Saturday, looking to cap off a perfect season. Poland finishes up at home Monday against Girard.

Game Photos Can Be Found HERE

BULLDOGS HAND SOUTH RANGE FIRST NE8 LOSS

POLAND OH-  Poland made sure South Range didn’t escape with a perfect conference run, locking down the home court and edging out the Raiders 61-58 on Tuesday. The win not only split the season series but also proved the Bulldogs weren’t backing down from the fight.

Carmine Tukalo led the charge with 22 points, while Oliver McCully dropped 15. Jacob Hayes added 8, and Brady Kendall chipped in 6 as Poland held off South Range’s late push.

Graham Heikkinen was on fire, putting up a game-high 25 points. Luke Rohan added 13, and Nate Lewis finished with 8, but South Range couldn’t quite complete the comeback.

Poland steps out of league play Friday with a road test at Boardman, while South Range looks to bounce back at home against Niles.

POLAND RALLIES PAST THE RANGE

CANFIELD, OH – After trailing at halftime, the Poland Lady Bulldogs turned up the intensity in the second half to secure a 35-28 win over South Range in a gritty defensive battle.

South Range controlled the pace early, taking the lead into the break, but Poland responded with a strong third quarter to seize momentum. Once the Bulldogs went ahead, they never looked back, holding off the Raiders down the stretch.

Sophia Generalovich led the way for Poland with 10 points, while Kate and Lucy Harrell each contributed 7. Isabel Greco added 8 points, and Ava Stabi chipped in 3 to round out the scoring effort.

Gwen Lowry paced South Range with a game-high 14 points, keeping the Raiders in contention. Taylor Dado and Sophia Lucente each scored 4, while Ceci Foster and Heidi Bartels finished with 3 apiece.