BBC GIRLS BASKETBALL … Hollyn Klopfenstein drives to the hoop for Pettisville in a 43-24 win over Stryker to start the 2023-2024 season. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
PETTISVILLE (November 25, 2023) – Stryker must have thought there were five players wearing white Pettisville jerseys with a number 22 on them.
That’s because the Blackbirds #22 Olivia Miller rebounded, blocked shots, dished off assists, handled the ball against the press and just for good measure, scored a game high 14 points to lead the Blackbirds over the Panthers 43-24 in the season opener on the hardwood for both teams.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win,” longtime Blackbird coach Jason Waldvogel said. “I think our defense was really solid tonight and it was a gritty team effort. We got contributions from everyone who was on the floor.”
“Like I said the defense was solid, our offense, well that has some work we still have to do, but when we play that hard on defense all night like we did, then that isn’t a fun game for our opponent.”
Grace Crawford and Miller each dished to Lily Wiemken for early baskets, then Miller found Crawford to give the Blackbirds a 6-2 lead in a slow paced first quarter.
Miller’s first series of shots, a putback of her own miss a minute into the second gave Pettisville a 9-2 advantage.
“That’s what we want from her,” Waldvogel said of the balanced performance of his junior guard. “We talked to her about getting everyone involved and she did that in the first quarter.”
“Then she was good when she went to score later on too. But when she gets everyone involved and feeling good about themselves it makes us go.”
Stryker’s Emma Fulk kept pace with the Blackbirds on her own the rest of the way as the senior forward scored eight of her teams 10 first half points.
Miller countered Fulk with a steal, spin with an ‘and-one’, then Crawford stuck back a miss and scored off another Miller assist to put the Birds up 18-10 at the break.
Amanda Grimm’s steal and score started a 7-0 third quarter run, and Miller finished it, dishing to Wiemken inside then draining a right side triple for a 25-10 bulge.
Fulk’s bucket in close, then her long triple kept the Panthers within 33-17 entering the fourth.
Ally Ruffer and Grace Froelich scored in the first 90 seconds of the fourth to chop the Stryker deficit to 33-21 but Kelsey Bennett got loose on the baseline for a reverse layup that turned into a three-point play and the Blackbirds were never threatened again.
“That’s her M.O,” Waldvogel explained of Bennett’s big play. “I knew when she got free on the baseline that was coming, it’s just something she does and that was a big play from a kid who doesn’t have a ton of varsity experience and makes a big contribution.”
“We tell everybody it doesn’t matter if you are in for a couple minutes or 30 minutes you can make a big difference and Kelsey made a big difference right there to stop them from getting any more momentum going.”
A right-wing jumper and then a split from the foul line gave Pettisville their biggest margin at 19 with 28 ticks left on the clock.
After shooting just 33 percent in the first half, Pettisville was 6-12 in the second to finish at 37% from the field. Stryker went 8/35 for the game.
Neither team shot it well from the line as Pettisville was 14/27 while Stryker was 7/16.
Fulk had 13 to lead the Panthers. Wiemken and Crawford combined for 14 points to aid Miller’s total of the same number.
STRYKER (24) – Froelich 2; Oberlin 1; Leupp 1; Ruffer 4; Fulf 13; Clemens 3; Totals: 7-1-7 – 24
PETTISVILLE (43) – Strauss 4; Klopfenstein 2; Bennett 3; Grimm 5; M. Remington 1; Miller 14; Crawford 8; Wiemken 6; Totals: 13-1-14 – 43
STRYKER 2 8 7 7 – 24
PETTISVILLE 6 12 15 10 – 43
GAME STATISTICS
STRYKER: FG – 8/35 (22%); FT – 7/16 (44%); Rebounds – 22; Turnovers – 20; PETTISVILLE: FG – 14/37 (37%); FT – 14/27 (52%); Rebounds – 30; Turnovers – 19