Garfield with a big 4th quarter to take down Southeast 53-46 in a big early season win
GARRETTSVILLE, OH- A pair of MVAC and Portage County foes met on the hardwood Friday night at Garfield High School as the Lady G-MEN hosted the Southeast Lady Pirates. Garfield was looking to build off of a win over Champion in their last game while the Pirates were looking to bounce back from their 1st loss of the season. The 4th quarter would decide this one as the G-MEN outscored the Pirates 20-9 for a 53-46 comeback victory.
Southeast would get off to a fast start to open this one. After back and forth lead changes through the first few possessions, the Pirates would end the quarter on a 13-1 run highlighted by a few nice jumpers from Jenna Canale and a three from Bailey Morris. They would lead 17-6 after one.
Jenna Canale with a nice turnaround jumper for the Pirates in the 1st
Garfield would begin quarter two on a 6-2 run to trim the deficit to 18-12 after four straight points from Leah Hill. Canale would bury a three to push it out to 9 before Payton Soltis converted an and-one opportunity for the G-MEN. The teams would go back and forth to close out the half with the Pirates up 27-21.
The Pirates began the 2nd half with back to back buckets from Bella Mowery and Canale to take a 10 point lead. Garfield would come right back with back to back buckets of their own from Soltis and Mandy Cardinal to cut it back down to six at 31-25.
Mandy Cardinal with a fast break layup for the G-MEN in the 3rd
The teams would trade jabs for the rest of the way as Garfield was able to cut into the Pirates lead by two trailing 37-33 after three.
The G-MEN would make their big move when it counted most. Madi Seiler would open the final quarter with a put back inside before a Charlee Hill and-one score and free throw put the G-MEN up for the first time since early in the 1st quarter.
Charlee Hill with a big score and a foul for Garfield in the 4th to give them the lead
Southeast would come right back with six straight points taking a 43-38 lead. Garfield would punch right back with five straight points by Mandy Cardinal including a big three that tied it up at 43-43 with 3:24 to play.
Mandy Cardinal hits a 4th quarter three to tie the game at 43
From there the G-MEN would outscore the Pirates 8-3 the rest of the way as a big score inside by Kaelyn Tasker put Garfield up 49-44 with under a minute to play.
Kaelyn Tasker with the big bucket inside helping seal the win for Garfield
The G-MEN completed the comeback and came away with a big 53-46 win over a very good Pirates squad.
Mandy Cardinal finished with 11 points, all coming in the 2nd half, to go along with 9 rebounds. Kaelyn Tasker had 10 points with 6 coming in the 4th. Payton Soltis had 8 points and Leah Hill grabbed 7 big rebounds.
Jenna Canale had a game high 19 points for Southeast.
Garfield will look to keep it rolling on 12/15 at Liberty while the Pirates look to bounce back that same night vs Champion.
