LISBON PUSHES THE PACE AGAINST EP
EAST PALESTINE, OH- The East Palestine Lady Bulldogs put up a valiant fight despite being short-handed, ultimately falling to Lisbon 45-36 in a gritty contest on Thursday afternoon.
East Palestine struggled to find their rhythm early, trailing 15-4 after the first quarter. Lisbon’s sharp shooting and solid defense kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length in the first half, with Lisbon taking a commanding 32-14 lead into the break. However, East Palestine refused to quit, clawing back in the second half and outscoring Lisbon 22-13 over the final two quarters.
Freshman star, Jacklyn Ogle led the charge for the Bulldogs, scoring 11 points while hustling on both ends of the floor. Sydney Jurjavcic and Emma Gingher chipped in 7 points apiece, with Gingher also making a strong impact on the boards. Marley Blythe added 5 points and was key in second-chance opportunities, while Liv Magness and Kennedy Andre contributed 3 points each to round out the scoring.
Lisbon’s offensive attack was paced by Lylah Brown, who finished with a game-high 16 points. Jayden Smith followed closely with 15 points, and Eme Cook added 6 points in a solid performance. Bridgett Newbold would add four, while Kadence Hood and Maddilynn Klein would get a buck apiece. Lisbon’s depth and balanced scoring proved to be the difference as they weathered East Palestine’s second-half rally.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs showed grit and determination, battling through a challenging situation with just one substitute available. They fall to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in league play but will look to bounce back on Saturday, December 28, when they host Mathews at 3:00 PM.