REGIONAL CHAMPS … The Bryan Lady Bears pose with the regional championship trophy after a 58-45 win over Norwalk on Friday night to clinch the program’s first-ever trip to the state final four. (PHOTOS BY KEVIN EIS)
By: Nate Calvin
MANSFIELD – The dream is still alive for the Bryan Lady Bears. Bryan harassed Norwalk into 22 turnovers and hit timely shots down the stretch to fend off the Truckers in the fourth quarter for a 58-45 win and the program’s first ever regional championship.
“This has been a work in progress for ever how many (years) it has been. Everybody who has worn a Bryan uniform is responsible for this”, commented head coach Todd Grosjean amidst the post-game celebration.
Bryan senior Reese Grothaus put the Golden Bears on the board first just seconds into the game with a layup on a designed play off the opening tip.
After the Truckers answered with five straight points, Marah Smith canned a trey from the right wing to tie the game and then Smith found Ella Voigt for a layup after a steal to give Bryan a 7-5 lead.
A Summer Moehlman long ball put Norwalk back in front at 8-7 before Ella Rau drilled a three-pointer and Blayze Langenderfer would go coast-to-coast for a layup after a steal as the Bears took a 12-10 lead after one quarter.
The first five points of the second quarter belonged to Bryan as Kailee Thiel had a rebound bucket, Langenderfer was 1/2 at the charity stripe, and Rau added a basket to increase the lead to 17-10.
Norwalk responded with two buckets and a free throw to trim the lead to 18-15 nearing the end of the first half.
Langenderfer would then lead a 7-2 Bryan surge to end the half with two free throws and then a triple from the left wing before Alli Alspaugh hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to give Bryan a 25-17 lead.
“We took them out of what they like to do (on offense). We jumped a couple dribble handoffs and got a couple run outs to get some confidence early”, said Grosjean when talking about Bryan’s strong first half.
It was Thiel scoring inside to give Bryan their first double digit lead of the night at 27-17 to start the second half but triples from Brooklyn Davis and Moehlman for Norwalk cut the lead back to four points, 27-23.
The Bears returned the favor with seven unanswered points with a rebound basket by Thiel followed by a conventional three-point play from Grothaus and then a right-wing triple by Grothaus to give Bryan a 34-23 advantage with 2:49 left in the quarter.
SENIOR LEADER … Reese Grothaus handles the ball in the first half while being pressured by Truckers’ guard Abby Koenig.
Bryan increased the lead to 40-27 on putbacks from Grothaus and Voight as Bryan pulled seven offensive rebounds in the quarter and eventually led 40-30 entering the final stanza.
With the Bryan lead at 46-34, Norwalk would make one more run behind a three-point play on an offensive rebound by Davis and then back-to-back treys from Kenzie Smith to cut the Bryan lead to 48-43.
Once again, Bryan answered the bell as Grothaus nailed a trey from the top of the key before finding Thiel inside for a layup as the Golden Bears ended the game on a 10-2 run.
“Our kids really kept their composure tonight and I think that was really key. Every time we would get the lead to 12, they would hit some 3s and get it back to six or eight,” added Grosjean.
“If you would’ve told me before the season that we would be going to Dayton I would’ve said yeah right, but the kids have bought in.”
Grothaus finished with 14 points on the night along with Thiel, who had 12 in the second half.
Smith led the Truckers with 14 while Davis added 13 as Norwalk ends their winningest season in program history at 23-4.
Bryan (24-2) will face Cincinnati Purcell Marian (24-2) in the state semifinals on Thursday, March 9 at 11am at the University of Dayton Arena.
NORWALK (45) – E. Koenig 2; A. Koenig 2; Smith 14; Davis 13; Schloetter 5; Moser 3; Moehlman 6; Leber 0; Kreps 0; Mooney 0; Steffani 0; Rinner 0; Totals: 11-7-2 – 45
Bryan (58) – Thiel 14; Voigt 6; Grothaus 14; Rau 11; Smith 3; Arnold 0; Langenderfer 8; Alspaugh 2; Totals: 17-5-9 – 58
GAME STATISTICS – NORWALK: FG – 18/37 (48%); FT – 2/3 (66%); Rebounds – 18 (7 offensive); Turnovers – 22; BRYAN: FG – 22/51 (43%); FT – 9/15 (60%); Rebounds – 26 (13 offensive); Turnovers – 12
NORWALK 10 7 13 15 – 45
BRYAN 12 13 15 18 – 58
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com
