Eastwood guard Kayla Buehler (4) sends a pass right to fellow guard Amelia Ward (2) in the Eagles’ win over Oak Harbor. The duo have led the team in perimeter scoring this season. (Laura Bolander)
By Yaneek Smith
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
OAK HARBOR — Playing on the road, in a game between two of the conference’s best teams, sometimes it’s all about finding a way to make one more play than your opponent.
Eastwood (7-1, 6-0 Northern Buckeye Conference) did just that as it was able to score to take the lead for good on a Reilly Might layup with 2:35 to play and hold off Oak Harbor’s late attempts at a rally to defeat the Rockets, 37-34.
Might’s bucket put the Eagles ahead, 35-34, but Oak Harbor (5-2, 4-2) missed on a shot inside with 1:20 to play and on a drive with 27 seconds remaining.
Eastwood coach Brittany Butler took a timeout with 23 seconds to play, and following the stoppage, a jump ball with 13.2 seconds went to the Eagles via the possession arrow before Rocket guard Camdyn Fauver stole the ball following and raced towards the basket.
But a loose ball was ruled to have gone off an Oak Harbor player with 5.3 seconds, and Kayla Buehler hit two free throws to push the lead to three points with 4.4 seconds to play.
On the ensuing end, a desperation attempt from the Rockets from about 35 feet away went off the backboard, giving Eastwood the win.
There were no ties but the lead changed hands seven times, including five times in the second quarter.
Butler said her team played hard-nosed defense in the second quarter after it had fallen behind, 14-6 after one quarter, only to rally and take a 23-22 lead into the half.
“I thought our defensive intensity sparked us back to life. Our kids were hyped for that intensity. There were two different decisions we could’ve made there, and we responded and continued to play hard,” said Butler.
“I’m proud of the way our kids fought, especially in the fourth quarter. I thought when we did slow down (on offense), we did some things well. Hats off to both teams. Oak Harbor is a very good team.
“This was a huge road win for us. We have a little bit of a target on our back. We have to get better at some of the things we struggle with.”
The Eagles went on a 6-0 run to start the third quarter and push the lead to 29-22 following back-to-back three-pointers from Buehler and Amelia Ward, but Camdyn Fauver (four points) and Elise Mollison (two points) combined to score six points to cut the deficit to 31-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
After Buehler scored inside with 5:51 to play for the first points of the fourth quarter, the Rockets went on a 6-0 run, getting two free throws from Fauver, a bucket from Sami Tack inside and a jumper from Brooklyn Tabbert that put Oak Harbor ahead, 34-33, with just under three minutes remaining.
It’s never easy to win in the NBC, but the Eagles have already beaten the other top teams in the conference like Genoa and Fostoria.
“It could be anybody’s night in the league,” said Butler. “Every team in this league has talent. We love the competition. There are so many exciting games (in the league).”
A key statistic was the disparity in making free throws. Eastwood was 6-of-6 from the charity stripe while Oak Harbor was 5-of-10.
The Rockets got baskets from four different players in the first quarter, but the Eagles responded with 17 points in the second quarter, including three-pointers from Might and Ward.
Buehler had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists to lead all scorers.
“She wants the ball in her hands at the end of the game,” Butler said of Buehler. “She works tirelessly. She’s been a great leader in taking control (of the team).”
Ward finished with eight points, and and Paige Hoodlebrink had two points, nine rebounds and five assists, Might scored five points, and Karly Wasserman, Saylor King, and Jordan Jensen scored two points each.
Eight Rockets scored, led by Fauver, who had nine points, Sami Tack finished with six points and five rebounds, Brooklynn Tabbert had four points and five steals, Elise Mollison and Hollie Robinson scored five points apiece, Nora Schmidt and Megan Rife had two points each, and Karder Haas added one point.
Oak Harbor coach Dick Heller says typically his offense scores in multiple ways.
“(Our scoring) is by committee,” he said. “If they take Karder (Haas) away from us, Camdyn can score. If they take Camdyn away, Brook can score.”
However, Heller said his team struggled with the Eagles’ defensive pressure.
“I think our turnovers under pressure, at the end, hurt us. In the second quarter, we started turning the ball over more — give Eastwood credit for their intensity and pressure,” Heller said.
“In the third and fourth quarter, we were a lot more under control. Eastwood plays some awfully good defense. You’ve got to be able to handle the pressure.”
The Rockets are four points from being undefeated. Their other loss was a 35-34 defeat at the hands of Fostoria in the opener.
“I’m pleased with where we are. We still can have a lot of growth,” said Heller. “I wish we were a little further along, but compared to summer and with the scrimmages, this team has really grown. You can only go so fast.”
