WATERLOO FINDS WAYS TO WIN

ATWATER OH- In what was a highly anticipated matchup on the girls side of The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conferences Scarlet Division, The Western Reserve Blue Devils traveled to Atwater, to take on the reigning, defending, undisputed conference champions in The Waterloo Vikings. Like most matchups inside the conference a year ago, this one started as a defensive grudge match and saw no let up throughout. Both teams went into Monday night undefeated in conference play, albeit just 1-0 records for both; however, they were congested at the top with Mineral Ridge and Springfield who also have yet to drop a game in-conference.

As most Vikings games go, Kaira English started Waterloo off on the right foot and got them in tempo, scoring the first seven points for her team. The first half had plenty of punches and counterpunches from both teams, as an answer was dialed up in response to every heavy hit in the contest. As Kaira English was scoring with brute force, Angelina Cappabianca was responding with a deadeye from distance, knocking down some, timely, corner 3’s throughout that kept Reserve in striking distance.

The Blue Devils would capture a lead towards the end of the first half; however, The Vikings called on another English, as freshman Bayley English knocked down a pair of triples late in the first half to give The Vikings the halftime lead! Defense stayed the story in the second half, with Western Reserve doing an incredible job of limiting Waterloo’s fastbreak game. Give credit to Brooke Schantz who played her heart out on both sides of the ball and put together an MVP-worthy performance for her team! But The Vikings Rose Couts started to see her shot fall and provided a late jolt of scoring to help The Vikings over the hump. Waterloo had the lead with a waning clock, meaning it would be a game of free throws, that is where Couts and company shined. Knocking down some clutch, late-game, free throws that helped put The Blue Devils on ice.

Winning their first matchup of the year against Western Reserve 43-37. The Vikings (3-3)(2-0) will now travel to take on ANOTHER set of Blue Devils in McDonald (3-3)(0-2) on Thursday, December 15th. Also on Thursday, Western Reserve (3-2)(1-1) will head to Lowellville to take on The Rockets (3-3)(0-1).

Scoring (Waterloo)

Rose Couts: 13 PTS

Kaira English: 12 PTS

Bayley English: 9 PTS

Abby Mazur: 7 PTS

Lilly Foster: 2 PTS

Scoring (Western Reserve)

Brooke Schantz: 11 PTS

Alyvia Hughes: 8 PTS

Lisa Eichert: 6 PTS

Angelina Cappabianca: 6 PTS

Madison Leone: 3 PTS