Rootstown takes down Mogadore 68-55 behind Curall’s career high
ROOTSTOWN, OH- A pair of Portage County rivals squared off at the Roverdome on Monday evening as the Rootstown Rovers hosted the Mogadore Wildcats in a matchup of State semi-finalists from last season. The Rovers were looking for their 5th straight win while the Wildcats looked to stop a five game losing skid. Rootstown was able to use the momentum of a big 2nd quarter run to help propel them to a 68-55 victory.
Mogadore would jump out to a 4-0 lead following baskets by Hayli Clester and Jessica Holler. It was 6-1 before Cloe Bengston converted an and-one opportunity for Rootstown followed by four free throws from Colbie Curall to give them an 8-6 lead. It was still a two point game a few minutes later when the Rovers Olivia O’Neill hit the first three of the game putting the Rovers up 13-8.
Olivia O’Neill hits a corner three for Rootstown in the 1st
After a pair of Wildcat free throws and three free throws from Rootstown, Kasey Bolyard hit a jumper for Mogadore to close the quarter with the Rovers leading 16-12.
Kasey Bolyard pulls up for a short jumper for the Wildcats in the 1st
The Wildcats came out strong to open the 2nd quarter with back to back scores from Bolyard and Holler to tie the game at 16-16. After a Curall and-one conversion the teams would exchange baskets before another Bolyard score made it a 21-20 game. Elliott Smallfield would hit a three for Rootstown igniting an 11-0 run.
Elliott Smallfield with a trifecta in the 2nd for Rootstown starting an 11-0 run
Olivia O’Neill would cap off the run with her second three of the first half giving Rootstown a 32-20 lead.
Olivia O’Neill caps off the Rovers run with a three
The Rovers would maintain a double digit lead to close out the half leading the Wildcats 36-25 led by Curall’s 12 first half points.
Colbie Curall with a nice drive to the basket in the 2nd for Rootstown
Smallfield opened the 3rd quarter with a bucket for the Rovers before Rylee Clark canned a three for Mogadore to cut the deficit to 38-28. Cloe Bengston followed that with a three of her own before an Addison Pownall score inside for the Rovers biggest lead of the night at 43-28. A few minutes later Rootstown would go on a 7-0 run highlighted by a Bailey Kidd three that extended the lead to 51-32.
Bailey Kidd with a corner three for the Rovers in the 3rd
They would take a 55-36 lead into the 4th quarter.
The Rovers maintained a double digit lead throughout the 4th quarter. Mogadore would get no closer than 12 points in the final few minutes as Rootstown came away with the 68-55 win moving them to 8-2 on the season.
Colbie Curall scored a career high 26 points with 14 of them coming from the free throw line where she went 14/18. She also had 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 blocks. Bailey Kidd chipped in with 10 points off the bench.
Kasey Bolyard had 24 points for the Wildcats.
Rootstown will travel to Wickliffe on 1/7 while Mogadore will look to rebound at Field on 1/8.
