(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NORTHWEST SIGNAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC CHAMPIONS – WAUSEON INDIANS
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
NAPOLEON (December 28, 2024) – Wauseon used a scoring run to close the third quarter, and their defense limited Napoleon to just 28% shooting in the game for a 43-35 win over Napoleon in the title game of the Northwest Signal Holiday Classic at the Grand Canyon.
It’s the first Northwest Signal Holiday Classic title since 2014 for Wauseon and it was their first appearance in the championship game since 2021.
An evenly played opening quarter saw both teams hit three shots from the field, but two of the Wildcats’ makes were from behind the arc as the game was tied 8-8 after one quarter.
Johanna Tester’s five points early in the quarter helped Wauseon grab a 14-11 lead before Taylor Smith hit Napoleon’s fourth trey of the half, her second, to knot the score at 14.
Sophia Rupp then provided a spark for the Indians to close the half as she went coast-to-coast for a layup after a steal, buried a triple from the left corner, and scored on a baseline drive just before the half to give Wauseon a 23-19 lead.
It was a parade to foul line to start the second half with Napoleon going 3/4 and Wauseon going 2/6 before Rupp would splash another triple for a 28-22 lead.
The Wildcats fought back with a bucket by Chloe Cicero and Hannah Miller hit a pair at the line to trim the Indians lead to 28-26.
Wauseon responded with a 9-0 run to take a 37-26 advantage into the fourth as Ella Tule hit a short jumper, Marin Leatherman nailed a three ball, and Aizlynn Coronado scored on consecutive drives to the bucket.
The Wildcats started the final stanza with five straight points as Miller was 2/2 at the line and then she hit a triple after an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 37-31 at the 6:03 mark.
Stasa would drain two free throws, and Leatherman added another bucket to push the lead to 41-33 but Molly Rosebrook scored off a turnover to keep Napoleon close at 41-35 with 56.9 seconds remaining.
Napoleon would not score the rest of way as they finished the fourth just 3/14 from the field while Indians were able to go 4/6 at line to offset a 1/7 shooting quarter for themselves.
Rupp was the only player for either team in double figures with 10.
Stasa, Coronado, Rupp, and Tester were each selected to the all-tournament team with Stasa being named Tournament MVP and Coronado winning the Miss Hustle Award.
NAPOLEON (35) – Smith 6; Rosebrook 6; Huddle 3; Cicero 9; Miller 9; Good 2; Kruse 0; Totals: 5-6-7 – 35
WAUSEON (43) – Stasa 8; Tester 7; Leatherman 8; Coronado 4; Rupp 10; Tule 6; Reyes 0; Totals: 11-4-9 – 43
NHS 8 11 7 9 – 35
WHS 8 15 14 6 – 43
Junior Varsity: Wauseon, 16-9
GAME STATISTICS
NAPOLEON: FG – 11/39 (28%); FT – 7/8 (88%); Rebounds – 24 (7 offensive); Turnovers – 10; WAUSEON: FG – 15/36 (42%); FT – 9/19 (47%); Rebounds – 25 (6 offensive); Turnovers – 9