BERLIN, Ohio-When the day in the gym begins with a walk from the parking lot in -5 degree weather you can bet those folks attending the third day of the 16th annual Classic in the Country Challenge were counting on something worthwhile inside. The highly regarded event honoring the legacy of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coach Perry Reese Jr. has had to scramble and adapt on the run to schedule changes necessitated by severe winter weather.
Ironically, in the entire 16 year history of the event this is just the second time there have been weather related changes to the schedule making the classic one of the most reliable events on the January calendar. A tip of the hat is in order to both tournament staff and those accommodating schools who rolled with the punches thrown by a rare combination of Mother Nature, school district policies and a few self-serving programs. It may take a village to raise a child but it takes an army to run an event of this magnitude in a snow emergency.
A schedule of seven games was the order of the day Monday beginning with a 9:00 am tip-off culminating with a final horn for the three day tournament following the 7:00 finale featuring host Berlin Hiland and Gahanna Lincoln. Four teams in action Monday (Hiland, Kettering Fairmont, Loudonville, Newark) were playing their second contests of the event that ultimately showcased 26 separate teams despite the tango with the temperature, ice and snow.
To check out a synopsis of each days games as well as images from each team follow the respective links below.
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/16th-annual-classic-in-the-country/
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/classic-in-the-country-day-two-3/
You have to give the Redbirds of Loudonville their due. Playing in the final game Sunday evening and turning around and taking floor for Monday’s first contest would be a challenge for any team. Add to it a nightmare loss that might keep most players up all night and it’s easily understandable that Dalton jumped out on them 10 to 7 after one quarter. The Redbirds got things going their way in the second and by halftime held a one point lead over the Bulldogs. A 20 – 13 run over the third pretty much put them in the driver’s seat as they held on to win 46 – 41. Loudonville got another strong performance from senior point guard Celeste Ryman who led the way with 18 points on 6 for 12 shooting. Fellow senior Nikki Weber added 14 more while junior Emily Seboe led on the boards with 8 rebounds. Dalton also had two in double figures. Senior Emma Cannon had 12 points and 8 boards while classmate Ellie Martinez chipped in 10 points in the loss.
The temperature outside was below zero and the field goal shooting of West Holmes seemed to be in the deep freeze as well. A 25.9 percent combined team effort kept the Knights on the short end of their contest with Hopewell Loudon ending up in a nine point loss. The Chieftains were up 8 following the first quarter and held a 10 point edge at the half. A small dent in the third by West Holmes wasn’t enough as the final verdict stood at 50 – 41. Sophomore standout MaKayla Elmore was dominant posting 27 points and pulling 14 rebounds. Elmore connected on 9 of her 16 attempts from the floor including 2 for 3 from three point range. Another sophomore Olivia Zender added 13 more to the winning cause. West Holmes got 20 from sophomore guard Paige Race including a scorecard of 10 for 11 from the free throw line. Classmate Katie Sprang added 14 more for the Knights.
In one of the day’s most back and forth games New Philadelphia got the final word in their contest with a scrappy Magnificat team. Magnificat led by just a point after one period but New Philadelphia got the edge in the second taking a 27 – 21 lead into the locker room. The Blue Streaks cut a pair off the margin in the third but fell short in the fourth ultimately going down 62 – 56. New Philadelphia got a red hot shooting effort from junior guard Julia Ress who finished with 24. Her 7 of 8 shooting was highlighted by her perfect 4 for 4 long range production. Senior forward Aaliyah Currence had 16 while junior guard Josie Pry chipped in 11 more in the win. Magnificat had just one in double figures as sophomore swing player Clare Chambers chalked up 10 in the loss.
Newark came into Monday’s match-up with Wadsworth off an impressive win over Mason Sunday evening. The Wildcats didn’t let up in their showdown with the Grizzlies as they outscored them every quarter while ultimately posting a 16 point 44 – 28 win. While not a high scoring affair, Newark had two in double figures by the time all was said and done. Senior Katie Shumate had 14 on 6 of 11 shooting and fellow 2019 Morgan Sharps chipped in 10 more. Shumate led Newark on the boards as well finishing the game with 9 rebounds. Wadsworth didn’t get anyone into double digits shooting 27.5 percent as a team from the floor. Sophomore Maggie Long did have 8 and senior forward Kacie Evans added 7 more in the loss.
The day’s most anticipated match up didn’t quite play out as envisioned. Yes, it got close at the end but Pickerington Central had Kettering Fairmont scrambling to regain their balance from the very start. The Tigers exploded out of the gate with a “dominant on both ends of the floor” effort posting a 23 – 5 edge after the first period. The Firebirds regrouped in the second but the lead still stood at 32 – 21 at the half. Pick Central added two to the lead in the third before Fairmont made a 12 – 6 final run in the fourth to keep the deficit in single digits falling 50 – 43 at the end. Senior wing Maliya Perry went 6 for 12 from the floor and 3 of 8 from three point range to lead the way with 16 for Pickerington. Fellow senior Madison Greene added 12 as well as a stellar 6 assist / 0 turnover scorecard. Sophomore Skye Williams continued her strong play contributing 10 more in the win. Fairmont had three hit for double figures despite the frosty start to the game. Junior Madeline Westbeld led with 13 while classmates Madison Bartley and Makira Webster both finished with 11 on the evening.
One of the most competitive games of the weekend featured Aurora and Bellevue. Aurora was up by just three after one period and led only by four at the half. Bellevue got a single point back in the third only to lose the fourth by that same single point ultimately falling 56 – 52. Dynamic sophomore Shyanne Sellers offered up some eye opening glimpses of future possibilities with a 24 point effort on the back of 9 for 17 shooting. Senior sister Shayla Sellers chipped in 11 more for Aurora who finished with an impressive 23 – 46 team shooting clip. Junior point guard Casey Santoro had 25 for Bellevue in the loss aided by 3 for 6 three point shooting. Her sister, sophomore Cory Santoro, also added 11 to the total. The Redmen didn’t shoot 50 percent like Aurora, but did come home at a strong 21 of 44 for 47.7 percent.
After a slow start in their opener Saturday Hiland got on the board quickly against Gahanna Lincoln leading 18 – 10 after one quarter of play. The Lions got back half of that margin in the second as the Hawks saw their lead standing at just 23 – 19 at the half. A very low scoring third period saw neither team hit double figures and Hiland slightly bump up the lead to 32 – 23. Gahanna Lincoln could only trim one point from the deficit in the fourth before finally falling 44 – 36. Hiland sophomore point guard Morgan Yoder led all scorers with 18 that included her 3 for 4 shooting from behind the arch. Fellow sophomore Zoe Miller was impressive once again producing a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Gabby Anderson led the Lions in the loss with 14 points on 7 for 11 shooting. Even more impressive was Anderson’s strong on ball defensive effort. Junior guard Edyn Battle added 12 more to the cause for Gahanna Lincoln.
