Fulton County Ohio Media

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eCZhhAo7JB3gTJrN7

The Swanton Lady Bulldogs opened the NWOAL basketball season at home with a thrilling roller coaster 49-45 victory over the Evergreen Lady Vikings at Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium Friday night.  Fortunate to be down by only five points, 12-7, after a sloppily-played first quarter characterized by turnovers and poor inside shooting, Swanton pulled within two points several times in the second quarter before Evergreen’s Kyla Risner drained a three-point shot at the buzzer to keep the Viking advantage at five, 28-23, at the half.

However, the Lady Bulldogs came out of the locker room and shook off what could have been a demoralizing end to the first half and proceeded to dominate the third quarter on both ends of the court.  Swanton outscored the Lady Vikings 18-4 and entered the final quarter with a 41-32 lead.  “It was the halftime speech, I guess,” said Bulldog head coach Jared Walker, jokingly explaining the third quarter turnaround. Swanton got a big scoring boost from Alexia Ostrander who scored six points in that pivotal frame on three backdoor cut baskets. Coach Walker also gave a lot of credit to the senior leadership of point guard Emma Crow who, in addition to running the offense, was tasked with defending Evergreen’s top scorer, Addison Ricker.  Ricker scored nine points in the first half but could only muster two in the second half with Crow and the Bulldog defense putting pressure on her every time she touched the ball.

Of course, as every coach in the NWOAL knows, Evergreen Coach Brittaney Cymbolin’s teams do not go quietly.  The Lady Vikings stormed back in the fourth quarter, pulling within 43-41 with just over three minutes in the game.  Swanton responded, sinking clutch free throws from Crow and Jessica Finfera to seal the win.  “Brittany brings her kids and brings all the energy in the world,” said Coach Walker, commenting on the challenge from his Evergreen counterpart.  “They are hard-nosed, knock you off your game, they trap well and they are very good offensively.”

With the win, Swanton moves their overall record to 6-3 on the season and 1-0 in the NWOAL.  The Lady Bulldogs will play their next league game at Patrick Henry on Friday, January 12^th at 7:30 PM.  Evergreen drops to 7-4 on the season and 0-1 in league play.  The Lady Vikings welcome in the Otsego Lady Knights on Tuesday, January 9^th for a 7:30 PM tip-off.

Evergreen Lady Vikings: 12-16-4-13 = 45  Addison Ricker (11), Emmitt Kennedy (10), Kyla Risner (6), Avah Vaculik (5), Bailey Lumbrezer (5), Brooke Sintobin (4), Ella Bugermeister (2), Beth Sintobin (2)

Swanton Lady Bulldogs: 7-16-18-8 = 49  Emma Crow (9), Jessica Finfera (9), Peighton Manning (9), Alexia Ostrander (8), Olivia Gowing (5), Ava Keiser (4), Miranda Yeager (3), Samantha Nelson (2)

Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Alexia Ostrander tosses in a short jumper.