PERRYSBURG — Perrysburg got nine players into the scoring column and accumulated 18 assists in defeating visiting Napoleon, 61-33, Monday in girls basketball.
Junior guard Hayley Griggs had 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists and sophomore forward Sophie Mitchell had 13 points, six caroms and four steals.
Perrysburg coach Todd Sims says his girls play an unselfish brand of basketball.
“We really do. We pass the ball well. We always do,” Sims said. “We spread the court, we shoot threes, we spread out, we drive and pitch. That’s never been a problem. It’s part of what we do.
“We’re trying to drive and pitch some of the times. There are different things we do but that is just what they do.”
It helped that Perrysburg hit on six three-point goals, and thanks to 15 offensive rebounds and 11 steals, the Yellow Jackets got off 26 more shots, connecting on 26-of-62 (42%) from the field. It gives the Jackets multiple options to score.
“Because we can shoot the other team has to spread out and guard you, which means you can drive,” Sims said. “Then when someone helps, drop it down or pitch it out. They’ve always been that way (unselfish).”
Perrysburg junior guard Ayla Turk had seven points and a team-high five assists and junior guard Chloe Kilbride had seven points, four assists, and four rebounds.
Mitchell, who got her first career start on Monday after sophomore Kallie Thames left the team, transferring to Notre Dame Academy in Toledo midseason, said she’s proud to be part of a team that shares the ball.
“We’re really about sharing the ball,” Mitchell said. “As long as we can get points on the board all we want to do is win.”
The 5-foot-10 Mitchell was also celebrating her 16th birthday Monday, and Sims she did well in her new role as a starter.
Mitchell added, “It was a little nerve wrecking but I pulled through.”
Perrysburg improves to 12-5 overall while Napoleon, which did not have a single player reach double figures, falls to 6-10. The Wildcats did get nine players into the scoring column.
Six-foot-1 senior Ella Tassler had seven points and four rebounds, juniors Lily Kruse and Taylor Smith scored four points each, and 5-10 freshman Hannah Miller scored one point, but also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.
Freshman Chloe Cicero and sophomore Ava Good scored three points apiece and juniors Lylah Huddle and Makayla Kruse scored two apiece for the ‘Cats.
Napoleon never led, and the Cats did not score a field goal in the second quarter, falling behind 32-11 at halftime.
“I think we didn’t rebound at all,” Napoleon coach Craig Cicero said. “We just kept giving up second and third shot opportunities and they kept getting the ball and we didn’t want to let them get into the lane on their dribble penetration.
“We gave up tons of dribble penetration. Offensively we weren’t aggressive whatsoever. We just threw the ball around the perimeter and we never looked to attack.”
The Lady Cats shot 24% (9-for-38) from the field, made 13-of-19 free throws, and had 15 turnovers. Perrysburg was 3-for-5 from the line and committed just four turnovers.
For Perrysburg, sophomore forward Hayden Siebenaler had eight points and seven rebounds, senior Taylor Jockett scored six points, sophomore guard Addy Byrne scored three points, and junior guard Sydney Evert and senior center Gabby Ortyl conributed two points each.
Coach Cicero said when his team goes against the NLL’s five Buckeye Division squads, who were a combined 42-10 against non-league competition going into last weekend, it presents its share of challenges.
“It’s very difficult,” Cicero said. “It’s hard playing such good competition and just understanding what is needed to compete at that level and the aggression and physicality that is needed to compete with that group of teams.”
