Tag Archive for: ohio

A PRIDEFUL FINISH FOR POLAND

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BARBERTON, OH-The Poland Lady Bulldogs had their season come to an end Friday night with a 56-46 loss to Akron St Vincent St Mary.

As the teams were warming up it was easy to tell the size differential on the court. And the Irish took full advantage of it in the 1st quarter. Running their offense exclusively from the paint Poland struggled to keep the Irish posts in check. After the two teams traded buckets back and forth to tie the game at 6, the Irish began separating themselves. With the score 15-9 Jackie Grisdale hit a three to stop the momentum. The Irish however, were not phased as they scored the final 4 points of the frame and led 19-12 after 1.  

With the score at 22-17 early in the 2nd the Irish went on another run to separate themselves. This was an 8-0 run and put them up 30-17 with just under 4 minutes to go in the half.  This was a tipping point in the game where the Irish could really pull away, but the Bulldogs weren’t having it. They clawed back to cut the lead to 32-24 at the break.

The Poland defense took that momentum that closed the 1st half and did what they’ve done so many times this season, hold offenses down. The defense only allowed 6 points in the entire 3rd quarter, which let their offense claw all the way back to cut the lead to 38-36 after 3.

The Bulldogs had all the momentum coming out of the 4th quarter, their defense kept getting stops allowing them to tie the game at 38.  Later in the 4th still tied at 38-38 Kat Partika hit a huge three to give Poland their first lead of the game. The Irish tied the game at 41 off an old fashioned three point play. The Bulldogs were clearly tired at this point. Battling tooth and nail against a team that was bigger than them at every position took its toll.  Poland missed a couple of close range shots that would have given them the lead back but instead led to transition buckets for the Irish. Just like that the momentum swung back to St Mary and they ended the game on a 18-5 run to walk away with a 56-46 victory.

Jackie Grisdale had her best statistical tournament game of her career with 18 points to lead the way going 4/7 from three. Sarah Bury was also in double figures with 11. Poland end the season with a record of 26-1, a AP poll championship, and a district championship.

GET A KLU

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Great teams always have a mix of experienced leadership, and young talent. The senior leaders of the Poland Lady Bulldogs have been well documented, but as far as the young talent goes look no further than freshman Morgan Kluchar.

PHOTO CREDIT: SEMINARY+

Not too many players can say they started their high school varsity careers by having an undefeated regular season and playing for a trip to the state playoffs. Morgan Kluchar is one of the few who can. After some preseason injuries thrusters Kluchar into the starting lineup, the young stud has shined bright. Now a consistent starter on the number 1 team in the state, her confidence is sky high.

YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with Morgan before the team’s regional championship game to talk about the emotions of her first start, how much the seniors and other experienced members of the team have done for her, and what keeps her so loose in high-pressure situations. Join us in learning about the Bulldogs young pup Morgan Kluchar in the latest Player Profile Get a Klu.

POLAND BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ NICK BLANCH (EP 8)

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The Lady Bulldogs after their regional semifinal victory are now 1 win away from a coveted trip to the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Standing in their way is Akron St Vincent St Mary.

With just two days to prepare for the biggest test of their season, the Bulldogs are putting a premium on focus and endurance.  Head coach Nick Blanch knows making sure his players are as fresh as possible is most important. The scene is set in Barberton for a regional championship that is sure to entertain.

So what things went so well in their regional semifinal win? What would yet another net cutting mean to Coach Blanch and his team? And what does each member of the coaching staff bring to the table? All that and more as our own Anthony Hartwig talks with Nick Blanch in Episode 8 of Poland Basketball Coach’s Corner With Nick Blanch

GIRARD’S JOHNSON SET TO CREATE BUZZ AT BW

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GIRARD, OH- Girard Senior, Michael Johnson has decided to continue his academic and athletic career at Baldwin Wallace University.  Johnson helped lead his team to the State Championship game in 2018.

Over the course of his career as an Indian, Johnson racked up 57 tackles on defense as a safety.  Offensively this year Michael hauled in 250 yards receiving and was in the painted grass 5 times in 2018 at the wideout position.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL JOHNSON

Michael has a 3.0 GPA and will attend school to study Pre-Med while playing wide receiver for the Jackets.  We at YSN wish Michael and his family the best of luck at the next level on and off the field!  Go Yellow Jackets!

BLUE TURNS TO BROWN

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Changes don’t happen without effort. To say that Poland junior Kailyn Brown has put in the effort to make changes would be an understatement. Kailyn has gone from a shy freshman now a consistent starter as a junior.

Now in her junior season, Brown has become an intricate part of a historical Poland Bulldog team. She brings toughness and confidence to an already great lineup. Like colors of leaves change through the seasons, Brown has become a dominant presence for her team.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: SEMINARY SPORTS+

YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with the junior to talk about her growth over the years, the experience this season has been, and much more. Hear it all on the latest Lady Bulldog Player Profile BLUE TURNS TO BROWN.

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POLAND BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ NICK BLANCH (EP 7)

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The Poland Lady Bulldogs have achieved their first district championship since 2000 and are hungry for more.

The Bulldog community has rallied around the girl’s basketball team all season and it has paid off.  Fresh off their district championship the Lady Bulldogs now set their sights on Akron Buchtel in the regional semifinals taking place in Barberton. The constant attention this season has prepared the team for the bigger stage, and they are ready to put their best paw forward.

What does the district title mean to Coach Blanch? And how long did he celebrate it? What should fans expect from Buchtel and the atmosphere at Barberton? How important will the senior leadership be in these tournament rounds? All will be answered as our very own Anthony Hartwig chats with Coach B on Episode 7 of Poland Coach’s Corner with Nick Blanch

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POLAND BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ NICK BLANCH (EP 6)

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The Poland Lady Bulldogs have 2 fresh tournament wins under their belt, but the toughest task may await.

The district championship against Ursuline looms on the Bulldogs. Last year’s tournament game against the Irish came down to a single point in overtime.  The stage gets bigger this time around as the winner goes to Barberton for a regional semifinal.

What does Coach Blanch expect from this game? How does the coaching staff deal with the long season of hard work? What does the team bring to the classroom? All is revealed in Episode 6 as our own Anthony Hartwig sits down with Coach B in Poland Coach’s Corner with Nick Blanch.  

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POLAND BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ NICK BLANCH (EP 5)

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It’s officially tournament time and the Poland Lady Bulldogs are poised for a deep run.

Coach Blanch is making sure complacency doesn’t seep into the team. Nothing is given in the tournament, not even to a team that has gone 22-0 and finished the regular season on top of the AP poll.

What obstacles lay ahead for the team? How tough is the Austintown Fitch district? And what advice would coach Blanch give to players thinking about playing multiple sports? Find those answers and more as our own Anthony Hartwig catches up Coach B on Episode 5 of Poland Coach’s Corner with Nick Blanch

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SHAKE AND BAKE: THE BALLAD OF BROOKE BOBBEY

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There’s a new Bobbey in town, and this one isn’t driving in Talladega.  Instead, she’s helping drive her Poland Girls Basketball Team toward a season they’ll not soon forget.  Although, the stellar catchphrase for the Will Ferrell movie can also be used for the unreal moves that Brooke Bobbey brings to the hardwood.

The Poland Junior is taking the pressure of the tournament time in stride.  Brooke’s optimism and belief in her teammates and coaches are evident each time she speaks, as you can tell how proud she is of the accomplishments this team has made; yet still remains focused on the proper way to send her senior teammates out.

Brooke’s extremely high character is only one of the many reasons YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with her for this week’s Poland Basketball Player Profile- SHAKE AND BAKE: THE BALLAD OF BROOKE BOBBEY.

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YES, SHE CAMM

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As the Poland Lady Bulldogs continue their journey of victories this season, they’ve been very reliant on the 2019 Senior Class.  For leadership, for laughs, for guidance and most of all for their experience.  Among those seniors is a young lady who is soft-spoken, yet hard-nosed.  Her grit and determination on the court serve almost as a calling card for the Poland Girls Basketball Team.

For Elena Cammack, she is a self-admitted creature of habit, from her rituals prior to the game (slow-moving music, and having her mom wish her “good luck” before she leaves the house.) all the way to her intense focus on the floor that she can drown out a gym full of rowdy and screaming fans.  Cammack is proving that her hard work is paying off in a big way.

YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with Elena to discuss her vision on and off the court in this week’s Poland Basketball Player Profile: YES SHE CAMM.

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