D4 DISTRICT SEMIFINAL … Stryker’s Grace Froelich takes the ball to rim in the first half of their district semifinal at Defiance Hogh School. VIEW ALL PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
DEFIANCE (February 29, 2024) – No.1 seed Convoy Crestview quickly erased any thoughts of Stryker pulling another upset as they sprinted to a 24-6 lead after one quarter on their way to a 70-32 win.
The Panthers, who won games at Pettisville and Hilltop to advance to the districts, found themselves trailing 21-3 before Emma Fulk hit a three-pointer for Stryker’s first bucket of the night.
The Lady Knights ripped off the first nine points of the second quarter as they dominated the boards and scored in transition several times to increase their lead to 33-6.
A steal and layup by Ellie Kline made it 36-8, but Aubrey Clemens and Grace Froelich each knocked down a triple to trim the Crestview lead to 37-14 at halftime.
Fulk’s second triple of the night made it 41-19 in the third before Crestview (23-2) engineered a 9-0 run led by two field goals from Cali Gregory and a trifecta by Kline from the right corner and the lead swelled to 50-19.
Crestview finished the night a blistering 59% from the floor and turned the ball over just six times. Stryker (13-12) connected on 8/33 from the field with six of their field goals coming from behind the arc.
Crestview put three in double figures paced by Cali Gregory with 20 points, Kline had 17, and Kaci Gregory added. 14. Clemens had eight to top Stryker.
STRYKER (32) – Froelich 7; Oberlin 2; Leupp 0; E. Fulk 6; Creighton 3; Clemens 8; A. Fulk 1; Rethmel 5; Totals: 2-6-10 – 32
CRESTVIEW (70) – Hoffman 0; K. Gregory 14; Kline 17; C. Gregory 20; McCoy 5; Etzler 8; Crider 6; Best 0; Kulwicki 0; Reinhart 0; Totals: 23-6-6 – 70
STRYKER 6 8 12 6 – 32
CRESTVIEW 24 13 20 13 – 70
GAME STATISTICS
STRYKER: FG – 8/33 (24%); FT – 10/13 (76%); Rebounds – 15 (6 offensive); Turnovers 14; CRESTVIEW: FG – 29/49 (59%); FT – 6/9 (66%); Rebounds – 26 (8 offensive); Turnovers – 6
