ELYRIA GIRLS END SEASON WITH TOUGH LOSS

Lose in Semi-Finals of Sub-State

By Staff

ELYRIA – It was a rough way to end a season of surprise and streaks for the Elyria Christian girls as they closed out the 2023-24 season on Friday with a 20-51 loss to Hutchinson Central Christian in their Class 1A Division II sub-state semi-finals.

“It was a tough way to end our season,”  noted Lady Eagle head coach Greg Fields. “Nothing seemed to go our way, but a lot of  credit goes to Central Christian for playing great defense and hitting shots on offense. We were in foul trouble early, and our best way to score was playing tough, aggressive defense. That aspect of the game was taken away, and we let it impact our shooting.”

The Lady Eagles fell behind, 4-11, by the end of the first quarter and trailed 9-28 heading into the halftime break. A huge third quarter by Hutchinson Central Christian guided them to the final 31-point victory over Elyria.

Grace Prescott led the Lady Eagles offense with nine points while also making four steals. Both Makenna Cass and Joy Pyle led the team in rebounds with four each.

The biggest disparity in the game was at the free throw line where the Lady Cougars went to the free throw stripe 29 times to just two for the Lady Eagles. Both Grace Prescott and Julia Allen fouled out while Joy Pyle and Makenna Cass each played time with four fouls.

Coach Fields concluded his reflections on the game and  season by saying, “I was proud of all our girls for the incredible season they had. I have never seen a team win as many games that they were not supposed to win as this team did this year. They have overachieved in many areas, and I am excited to see how they will continue to improve in the seasons to come.”

Indeed, the Lady Eagles played much of the season with just a rotation of seven to nine players, yet they finished the season 14-8.

The final mark of 14-8 is amazing since the Lady Eagles began the season 0-4, then just 2-5 after seven games before rattling off 10 straight wins.

ELYRIA CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLES vs. Hutchinson Central Christian at Sub-State

SCORING > Lady Eagles lost 20-51 (14-8)

Lady Eagles > 4-5-8-3 = 20; Hutchinson Central Christian > 11-17-19-4 = 51.

TEAM STATS >

Lady Eagles > 2-FGs = 5/20; FTs = 1/2; 3-PTs = 3/21; ASTs = 5; REBs (off/def) = 16 (6/10); STLs = 8; BLKs = 1; TOs = 14; FLs – 22.

Lady Cougars > 2-FGs = 8/17; FTs = 14/29; 3-PTs = 7/11; ASTs = n/a; REBs = 27 (4/23); STLs = 4; BLKs – 1; TOs = 14; FLs = 10.

LADY EAGLES INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS >

Scoring (20) > Grace Prescott – 9; Makenna Cass – 5; Julia Allen – 3; Joy Pyle – 2; Amelia Moody – 1. 3-Pointers Made (3) > Prescott/Cass/Allen – 1.

Assists (5) > Allen – 2; Prescott/Cass/Addison Swenson – 1.

Rebounds (16) > Cass/Pyle – 4; Carlie Joe Rohaus – 3; Kami Noogle – 2; Allen/Moody/Swenson – 1.

Steals (8) > Prescott – 4; Swenson – 3; Allen- 1.

Blocked Shots (1) > Pyle – 1.