By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
WAUSEON (January 18, 2024) – An incredible defensive effort along with strong shooting gave the Wauseon Indians the edge and a wide margin of victory over the Swanton Bulldogs at home Thursday night.
The Indians took an early lead just seconds into the matchup with a three-pointer from sophomore Sophia Rupp, a sign of things to come both for the game and for Rupp.
After a few scoreless possessions for each team, Rupp would push their lead further with another outside shot, bringing the score to 6-0.
Down but not lax, the Bulldogs immediately put up a three of their own on the following possession, courtesy of senior Emma Crow.
A few minutes later, senior Olivia Gowing would sink a pair of free throws, followed swiftly by a basket from senior Samantha Nelson to give Swanton the lead, 7-6
The two teams traded baskets over the next minute to put Swanton back in the lead 9-8, but it was the sole minute in the game where the Bulldogs would be in charge. A pair of baskets from Wauseon freshman Ella Tule would put them up 12-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The Indians were on fire to begin the second quarter, getting five shot attempts and three free throw attempts in the first 75 seconds of play, during which time Swanton didn’t get one.
It was also the beginning of a seven-point run with two baskets and a free throw from junior Johanna Tester and a basket from Tule, bringing the score to 19-9.
After a basket from Bulldog senior Alexia Ostrander, Wauseon went on another run, this one for 12 points. Junior Mackenzie Stasa put in a basket and a free throw, which, along with baskets from Rupp, Tule, junior Ava Pelok, and a three-pointer from sophomore Marin Leatherman, put the Indians up 31-11. Stasa, Rupp, and Tule also each notched a steal during the run.
Two more Bulldog baskets, courtesy of Ostrander and senior Ava Keiser, along with another three-pointer for Rupp and steal for Indian sophomore Aizlynn Coronado put the halftime score at 34-15.
Wauseon seized the initiative early in the second half, with Rupp stealing the ball and drawing a foul, sinking both her subsequent free throw attempts.
After nearly two minutes of back and forth without either team scoring, the Bulldogs managed to put together their own short run with two baskets from junior Miranda Yeager and one from Gowing, cutting the Wauseon (7-6, 1-1 NWOAL) lead to 36-21.
The remainder of the third quarter was largely a battle at the line, with Rupp putting up two free throws for Wauseon while junior Jessica Finfera sank two and Manning and Keiser each sank one for Swanton. A basket from Tule brought the total score to 40-25 going into the final quarter.
Yet again the Indians would start the quarter with a bang, going on a 10-point run thanks to two free throws and two three-pointers from Coronado followed up by a basket from Stasa to put their score at double that of the Bulldogs, 50-25.
Although Swanton (7-5, 1-1 NWOAL) would fight back with baskets from Manning, Finfera, and Crow, and a combined three free throws from Manning and Ostrander, the gap would prove to be too large.
Combined with a countering three-pointer from Wauseon freshman Mia Barajas and two free throws each from Tester and freshman Abby Kissel, the Indians would close out the contest for a 57-34.
SWANTON (34) – Crow 7; Shinaver 2; Finfera 4; Gowing 2; Nelson 2; Ostrander 6; Yeager 4; Manning 4; Keiser 3; Totals: 11-1-9 – 34
WAUSEON (57) – Stasa 5; Tester 7; Leatherman 3; Pelok 2; Coronado 8; Hamilton 0; Rupp 17; Tule 10; Barajas 3; Kissel 2; Ehrsam 0; Fisher 0; Totals: 12-7-12 – 57
SWANTON 9 6 10 9 – 34
WAUSEON 12 22 6 17 – 57