LADY GOLDEN BEAR … Shallyn Miley splits the Wauseon defense on a drive to the basket. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
BRYAN, OHIO—Entering Friday night’s NWOAL contest against Wauseon, Bryan knew a key to the game would be slowing down Wauseon’s Marisa Seiler. Through the Lady Indians first nine games, Seiler was averaging 20.3ppg, tops in the NWOAL. The Bryan defense was up to the task by limiting Seiler to five points, all from the foul line, as they knocked off Wauseon 48-41 to remain undefeated in league play.
Early on Wauseon struggled with the full court pressure of Bryan as the Bears jumped out to a 7-4 lead. The Indians would settle down and close the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 12-7 lead after one quarter, aided by Bryan shooting just 3/16 from the field.
The second quarter started with Bryan finding the touch from deep with triples from Delilah Taylor and Reese Grothaus to put them back in front 13-12.
The teams exchanged field goals through the middle of quarter before Bryan ended the first half with a jumper at the buzzer by McKendry Semer to cap off a 17-6 advantage in the quarter and give them a 24-18 lead at halftime.
Bryan continued to pull way with a 6-0 run to start the third quarter to build their lead to 30-18.
A basket by Brooke Lamberson at the 3:55 mark made it 34-22 and forced a Wauseon timeout. The Indians used the foul line to close the deficit by going 7/8 from line in the quarter as they ended the third with a 7-1 spurt to cut the Bryan lead to 35-29.
The Bears put the game away in the opening minutes of the final quarter as Taylor hit a three, Grothaus added a field goal, and Semer had an offensive rebound putback to give Bryan a 42-29 advantage.
Bryan closed out the game by going 6/7 at the charity stripe in the final stanza, led by Shallyn Miley who was 4/5.
Semer led Bryan (9-1, 2-0 in NWOAL) with 13 points while Grothaus added 11. Autumn Pelok paced the Indians (7-3, 1-1) with a game-high 15 points and Hayley Meyer added 10.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Wauseon 12 6 11 12 41
Bryan 7 17 11 13 48
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
