WARRIORS WEAR DOWN GARFIELD

BELOIT OH- The last time the West Branch Lady Warriors stepped on the floor it was to warm up for a Division II State Semifinal game in Columbus. Because of COVID-19, that game got cancelled, and West Branch said goodbye to six seniors, and four starters. Fast forward to Saturday night with four new starters, the Warriors haven’t lost a step. Their depth outlasted Garfield in a 48-33 victory.

it was a slow start for the Warriors, Garfield used an 8-0 run in the first quarter to take a 10-6 lead. It would be 10-8 at the end of the frame. The perimeter game of the Warriors showed up as three different players knocked down long shots in the second quarter. It was a quarter that the Warriors Win 18-9 to lead 26-19 at halftime.

A very experienced Lady G-Men squad fought back in the third quarter. After West Branch scores to make it 31-19, the G-Men went on a 10-0 run to cut it to two. In what may have been the biggest play of the game for the Warriors, Bella Laut drove inside and connected on a bucket, and got the foul. She completed the three point play to end the Garfield run and put the Warriors up 34-29. The Warriors would score the next seven points after that to lead 41-29.

Gardield had no steam left in the final frame. West Branch may have lost six seniors from last year’s team, but they still have a deep bench. Their depth overwhelmed the Lady G-Men.

Leading West Branch was Emma Egli with 13 points. Anna Lippiatt added 7, she hit a pair of threes. Freshman Lucie Showalter had a good debut contributing 7 points as well. Sydney Mercer has 6 points, and 10 rebounds.

Jenna Smith led the Lady G-Men with a game high 14 points. Grace Mills has 9. Smith also led in rebounds with 8.

West Branch is 1-0 and will travel to Canfield on Tuesday.