Elmwood girls stay perfect in NBC (01-17-13)

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Otsego’s Morgan Smoyer
shoots over Elmwood’s Ashley Veryser (14) during their game Thursday night. (Photo: Shane
Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune)

JERRY CITY – Despite making only one field goal in the second quarter, Elmwood’s girls basketball team
found a way to win Thursday.
The Royals downed Otsego 49-35 to remain undefeated in the Northern Buckeye Conference. PHOTO
GALLERY

After leading 16-6 after the first quarter, the Royals slumped mightily in the second eight minutes of
play.
Elmwood didn’t score again until 1:29 remained in the second quarter. That allowed Otsego to close the
gap at 16-11.
"We didn’t move (in the second quarter). We were just standing," Elmwood coach Doug Reynolds
said. "In the second half, we moved better. Kristen Curtis looked for her shot more. She has to be
a threat at all times because the defense collapses on her and that opens somebody else up."
Curtis led all scorers with 20 points as Elmwood improved to 9-4 overall and 7-0 in the conference.
Elmwood retained a two-game cushion for first place in the NBC. Woodmore and Rossford are tied for second
place at 5-2.
Lindsey Donald paced Otsego (5-7, 3-4) with 14 points.
Otsego cut the lead to 20-17 to begin the third quarter, but Elmwood retained its lead with precision at
the free-throw line. The Royals were 16-of-22 from the free-throw line.
"The girls battled and battled, but we just couldn’t find the bottom of the basket tonight,"
Otsego coach Scott Bernthisel said.
Otsego played without one of its starters and a solid scorer in 5-foot-11 sophomore Kim Forshey. She was
out due to injury.
"She has a dimension we missed tonight," Bernthisel said.
Bernthisel hopes to have her back in the lineup soon, but for now said her status is day-to-day.
Despite the second quarter drought, Elmwood never trailed.
"We got off to a nice start. We have played four games in 25 days, so we are getting back into
it," Reynolds said.
"We got going, but then became a little complacent," he said.
Leading by seven at the half at 20-13, baskets by Morgan Smoyer and Madeline Asmus cut the lead to 20-17
with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter. Later in the third quarter, Elmwood increased up its lead
again with a 3-pointer by Courtney Emmitt to make it 27-18. That’s as close as Otsego would come for the
remainder of the game.
Elmwood also dominated the boards and out-rebounded Otsego 40-28. Samantha Ervin pulled down 15 rebounds
for the Royals.
Elmwood won the junior varsity game 46-42. Jaela Kynard had 21 points for the Royals and teammate Lindsay
George had 12. For Otsego, Lauren Gray had 16 points and Lauren Wynn had 10.

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