Catholic Central grabs key home win over Toronto
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STEUBENVILLE -- Catholic Central rode a strong first half to a 53-27 girls basketball victory over Toronto Monday inside the Mickey Barber Gymnasium.
The Crusaders (5-3) jumped out to an 18-5 lead after the opening quarter thanks to nine points from Isabella Oliver and seven from Morgan Green. Central stretched its advantage to 31-7 at the break, as Oliver and Green combined for seven second-period points.
"I was really happy with how we came out in our 1-3-1 zone," Central head coach Jess Looman said. "Bella did a great job on top applying pressure and getting some steals, which we turned into easy buckets. The girls on the wings worked really hard to get some traps and also protect the weak side.
"We still missed some easy buckets and we had a few lapses. But, overall, I'd have to say that was one of the best halves we've played to date this season."
Central led 42-16 heading into the final eight minutes.
"With its defensive pressure, Central was able to really speed us up in the first half," Toronto coach Rusty Hodgkiss said. "We were rushing shots and forcing drives. We were trying to be Kobe Bryant instead of just moving the ball around and playing within ourselves.
"Plus, they just annihilated us on the offensive glass. That seems to be the story every time we have played them since I've been coaching here."
As a team, Central pulled down 41 rebounds, 20 coming on the offensive end.
"We constantly preach to our girls the need to follow their shots," Looman said. "For the most part, they did that pretty well tonight. We were able to get plenty of second chances and we turned some of them into points."
Oliver took game-scoring honors with 19. She collected 15 rebounds to complete her double-double. Green contributed 18, connecting four times from behind the arc. For the night, she took 11 shots, making seven. The junior guard also charted five steals.
"Bella is our leader, and we expect that kind of effort from her," Looman said. "Morgan is a very streaky shooter. When she gets it going like she did tonight, she's hard to stop.
"Morgan also played really well defensively, especially in the second half. She brought some pressure in our 2-3 zone and had a few steals. I was really happy with her overall performance."
Junior guard Jensyn Jackson paced the Red Knights (4-4) with 13 points. She had three long-range connections.
GAME NOTE
Ellen Rhode netted six points, as Central collected a 14-7 victory in the two-quarter junior varsity contest. Brianna Burruss, Jenna Anderson and Libby Grimes scored two points each for the Red Knights.
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TORONTO: Hosts East Liverpool Wednesday and visits Edison Saturday.
"Playing East Liverpool is not going to be a walk in the park," Hodgkiss said. "They are big and athletic.
"I think we have regressed some lately. We were playing better two weeks ago then we are right now. This was our fifth game in eight days. I think we may need a little breather to gather ourselves again."
CENTRAL: Back in action Thursday when it hosts Weir High.
"We know Weir and they know us," Looman said. "We know coach (Rick) Stead will have his girls ready. They've been playing well and have a couple of outstanding players. They'll come ready to play and hopefully our girls will be ready, as well. It should be a good game."
Catholic Central 53, Toronto 27
Toronto 5-2-9-11 -- 27
Central 18-13-11-11 -- 53
TORONTO (4-4): Cottrell 2 0-0 5; Beckwith 1 1-3 3; Liddick 0 1-2 1; Donnelly 1 0-0 2; M. Anderson 0 1-2 1; Burruss 0 0-0 0; Jackson 4 2-4 13; Thomas 1 0-0 2; J. Anderson 0 0-0 0; Grimes 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 9, 5-11: 27.
CENTRAL (5-3): Zatta 0 0-2 0; Harold 2 0-0 4; Green 7 0-0 18; Rohde 1 0-0 2; Fayak 1 0-2 2; Grimm 0 0-0 0; Oliver 8 3-4 19; Kirkpatrick 0 0-0 0; Dong 1 0-0 2; Olszewski 2 2-2 6. TOTALS: 22, 5-10: 53.
3-POINT GOALS: Toronto 4 (Jackson 3, Cottrell); Central 4 (Green 4).