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CONNORVILLE -- Barnesville's been offensively challenged much of the season.
Facing off against Buckeye Local, which features standout scorer Emily Holzopfel, made the challenge even tougher Saturday morning in the inaugural Wheeling Hospital Women's Health Holiday Classic.
Holzopfel lived up to her advance billing. The Buckeye Local senior, who is making a run toward 2,000 career points, scored 27 to fuel the Panthers to a convincing 59-40 victory against the Shamrocks.
"Emily is a special player and she makes plays," Buckeye Local head coach Tom Figurski. "It was nice to have her back in the lineup."
Holzopfel missed last Thursday's loss at Bellaire due to a tender ankle but showed no ill effects. She did a little bit of everything against the Shamrocks, who were victimized by turnovers and chilly shooting.
"If we could shoot a little bit better with a little bit more consistency, I'd like our chance against anyone, but we have to get back in the gym and keep working," Barnesville head coach Jamie Carpenter said.
Both teams struggled out of the gate, with Buckeye holding an 8-7 lead after one.
In the second, however, Holzopfel got going. She scored eight points to fuel what resulted in a 22-15 reading at halftime.
From there, the Panthers continued to exert their will and slowly pull away from the Shamrocks. Holzopfel scored eight more in the third and added seven in the fourth.
"Any time you can get a win against a physical Barnesville team, we'll take it," Figurski said. "We knew they'd try some kind of junk defense on Emily, and I thought we adjusted well to that."
Holzopfel's performance, which also included 13 rebounds, was backed by running mate Alaire Destifanes, who scored 12. Brooke Roski donated seven.
Barnesville was paced by Annie Carpenter's 14. Mallory Conner finished with 10, while Sydney Leach finished with nine.
Both coaches were excited to be part of the Wheeling Hospital event.
"This is long overdue in my opinion," Figurski said. "There has been a lot of really good female athletes in this valley, and this is the kind of event we've needed to showcase them."
Carpenter also was very complimentary of the entire ordeal.
"We are honored to have been invited to take part," Carpenter said.
Buckeye Local 59, Barnesville 40
Barnesville 7-8-11-14 -- 40
Buckeye Local 8-16-15-19 -- 59
BARNESVILLE: Little 2, 0-0 5; Conner 4, 2-8 10; Leach 3, 2-2 9; Carpenter 3, 6-8 14; Stephens 0, 1-2 1; Morgan 0, 0-0 0; Kaplet 0, 1-2 1; Hanlon 0, 0-0 0; Wildes 0, 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12, 12-22: 40.
BUCKEYE LOCAL: Christian 2, 2-5 6; Carpico 0, 1-2 1; Henry 1, 0-0 2; Roski 3, 1-2 7; Sebring 0, 0-0 0; Valuska 0, 0-0 0; Destifanes 4, 3-4 12; Holzopfel 12, 2-3 27; George 1, 0-0 2; Donley 0, 1-2 1. TOTALS: 23, 10-18: 59.
3-POINT GOALS: Barnesville 4 (Little, Leach, Carpenter 2); Buckeye Local 2 (Destifanes, Holzopfel).