SECOND HALF SURGE … Wauseon guard Aizlynn Coronado pulls up for a jumper during the fourth quarter of a 49-36 win over Pettisville. (PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
WAUSEON (January 23, 2024) – For the first 2 1/2 quarters on Tuesday night it was a struggle on offense for the Indians, who were plagued by cold shooting and turnovers.
After starting the third quarter with turnovers on their first six possessions, Wauseon caught fire and finished the game on a 33-14 run to pull away for a 49-36 win over the Blackbirds.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first quarter with Pettisville going 3/11 and Wauseon 3/15 but the Indians managed to get the last three points of the quarter on a score from Aizlynn Coronado and a free throw by Johanna Tester to take an 8-7 lead.
Pettisville’s Grace Crawford was 1/2 and Oliva Miller hit a pair at the line to give Pettisville a 10-8 edge early in the second.
A bucket from the low square by Ella Tule for Wauseon tied things up 10-10 before Hollyn Klopfenstein scored off an Indian turnover to put the Birds back in front at 12-10.
Sophia Rupp’s foul line jumper followed by a break away basket by Coronado gave Wauseon the lead back 14-12.
Pettisville answered with an 8-0 run on a bucket by Lily Wiemken, a steal and layup from Miller, and then back-to-back jumpers from Amanda Grimm to grab a 20-14 advantage.
Tule ended the run to close the half with a 2/2 trip to the stripe as Pettisville took a 20-16 to the locker room after outscoring Wauseon 13-8 in the second frame.
Despite Wauseon’s turnover problems to open the third, the Blackbirds were able to only add two points to their lead on a Miller field goal in the lane.
A 10-0 Wauseon run ensued as Tester scored off a feed from Marin Leatherman, Mackenzie Stasa finished at the rim on two consecutive drives, Rupp scored on an inbounds play, and Stasa scored on another drive to the basket to make it 26-22 Indians with 1:54 to go in the third.
After a Pettisville timeout, a Miller field goal stopped the bleeding for Pettisville before Stasa scored again, Crawford got a layup for Pettisville, and Coronado hit a running one hander in the lane to give Wauseon a 30-26 lead after three quarters.
The Indians opened a 34-26 lead to start the final stanza as Tester hit a jumper from the left baseline and Stasa was 2/2 at line.
A Miller bucket kept Pettisville within striking distance, but a 6-0 Wauseon run followed that as Stasa added two more field goals and Coronado added a hoop to increase the lead to 40-28.
Crawford then went 2/2 from the line before Wauseon put the game on ice with Leatherman scoring off a pass from Rupp and then Rupp added a field goal of her own to make it a 44-30 game.
After going just 6/28 from the field in the first half, the Indians hit on 15/24 shots after halftime and turned the ball just four times after the string of miscues to start the third.
Wauseon (8-6) put two in double digits led by Stasa with 14 points, all in the second half, and Rupp tallied 10.
Miller finished with 14 to lead Pettisville (10-6) and Crawford added 10.
PETTISVILLE (36) – Strauss 0; Klopfenstein 4; Bennett 0; Grimm 6; M. Remington 0; Miller 14; Crawford 10; Weimken 2; Totals: 14-8 – 36
WAUSEON (49) – Stasa 14; Tester 5; Leatherman 8; Pelok 0; Coronado 8; Rupp 10; Tule 4; Totals: 20-1-6 – 49
PETTISVILLE 7 13 6 10 – 36
WAUSEON 8 8 14 19 – 49
GAME STATISTICS
PETTISVILLE: FG – 14/43 (32%); FT – 8/11 (72%); Rebounds – 19 (7 offensive); Turnovers – 23; WAUSEON: FG – 21/52 (40%); FT – 6/8 (75%); Rebounds – 28 (11 offensive); Turnovers – 19
JUNIOR VARSITY: Pettisville 21, Wauseon 19