WILLIAMS GIVES BULLDOGS FIRST PLACE AT THE BUZZER

GIRARD OH- In a crucial matchup for first place in the NE8, Poland and Girard engaged in a back-and-forth battle on Thursday night. Both teams entered the game with only one loss in the conference, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. In a dramatic conclusion to the closely contested affair, Poland’s Leanne Williams delivered a buzzer-beating shot from the block, securing a thrilling 43-41 victory and sole possession of first place.

Mary Brant led the scoring charge for Poland with an impressive 16 points, while Williams contributed 9 points, and Avery Jakubovic and Sophia Generalovich each added 8 points.

On the Girard side, Mackenzie White delivered a standout performance with a game-high 19 points, supported by Ally Gassman with 11 points and Mia Malito adding 7 points.

With this hard-fought win, Poland (8-5) will return home on Monday to host Niles, looking to maintain their position at the top. Girard (7-7) will host Mooney on Monday, aiming to rebound from the narrow defeat and stay competitive in the conference race.