Mogadore uses late surge to top Crestwood 42-41 in season opener
MANTUA, OH- Small Towne Media’s Portage County high school basketball coverage kicked off on Saturday morning with a girls matchup in Mantua where the Crestwood Red Devils hosted the Mogadore Wildcats. The Red Devils were coming off of a 2024/25 season that saw them reach the District Finals while the Wildcats reached the State Final 4 in Division VII. As expected it was a close back and forth game that came down to the wire with the Wildcats coming out on top 42-41.
Both teams struggled at the outset as to be expected in game one of the season. Crestwood took the early 3-0 lead on three straight free throw splits before Mogadore closed the quarter on an 8-3 run with Avan Murphy scoring the final four. They would lead Crestwood 8-3 after one quarter.
Ava Murphy scores inside for the Wildcats in the 1st
The second quarter was a back and forth battle. Kasey Bolyard scored the first bucket giving the Wildcats a 10-3 lead. Crestwood would counter with back to back makes from Madie Grace Gonzcy and Katrina Richards to pull withing three at 10-7. Mogadore pushed the lead back up to 7 before Piper Seibold nailed the first three of the game before hitting another jumper to make it a 14-12 deficit. The Wildcats would outscore the Red Devils 5-4 to finish the half and take a 19-16 lead into the break.
Mogadore would maintain a lead for most of the 3rd quarter as Crestwood fought to keep pace. The Red Devils would take their first lead since the opening minutes on a Liv Martini bucket late in the quarter before Bolyard put Mogadore back on top to end the quarter 27-26.
Ava Lincoln started the 4th for Crestwood with an and-one bucket and free throw conversion to put the Lady Devils up 29-27. After a McKenna Clark three for Mogadore, Grace Gonzcy scored on a nice drive inside and Ava Lincoln converted a pair of free throws to give Crestwood a 33-30 lead with five and a half minutes to play.
Madie Grace Gonzcy with a nice shot inside to put Crestwood up by 3 in the 4th
Crestwood would hold the three point lead for a few minutes before Eden Cameron scored and Bolyard converted a pair of free throws to put Mogadore back on top 36-35. A pair of free throws from Grace Gonzcy put the Devils ahead before a Mogadore 6-0 run highlighted by a Bolyard steal and score put the Wildcats up 42-37 with under a minute to play.
Kasey Bolyard with the steal & score to put Mogadore up 39-37
Crestwood would get a free throw split and an Ava Lincoln three at the buzzer to give us the final score of 42-41 in favor of the Wildcats.
Kasey Bolyard led the way for Mogadore with 20 points including 9 in the final quarter. Jessica Holler notched a double/double with 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late. Madie Grace Gonzcy led the Red Devils with 12 points while Liv Martini had 11 steals.
Up next Mogadore hosts Springfield on 11/28 while Crestwood looks to bounce back on 11/25 at Labrae.
