Streetsboro holds off Cloverleaf rally for a 53-46 Division IV District Semifinal win
STREETSBORO, OH- Tuesday night at Streetsboro High School marked the rubber match for the Streetsboro Rockets and Cloverleaf Colts. The Metro Athletic Conference rivals met for the third time this season with each team winning on their home floor during the regular season. This time it was a Division IV District semifinal. Just like the previous two meetings this one came down to the end with the Rockets holding off the Colts 2nd half rally for the 53-46 win.
After a slow start in their Sectional Final win over Orange, the Rockets came out much stronger to begin this one. Carlee Bedford and Kendall Seiwerth opened the scoring for each team before Bedford banked in a jumper and Olivia Johnson-Wilson converted a layup for a 6-2 Rockets lead.
Carlee Bedford with a 1st quarter jumper for the Rockets
Following an Evie Barth score for the Colts, Kendall Epple drained a three for Streetsboro to put them up 9-4.
Kendall Epple with a three for the Rockets in the 1st
Cloverleaf would score 4 of the final five points of the quarter as the Rockets held a 10-8 lead after one.
Streetsboro would come out on fire to start the 2nd. Claire Campbell started a 7-0 run with a three followed by four straight from Bedford opening up a 17-8 lead. Seiwerth ended the run with a bucket before Sara Koyan broke free for a layup for her first points to go along with some big hustle plays in the 1st half.
Sara Koyan drives and scores for Streetsboro in the 2nd
After a pair of free throw misses by the Colts, Epple would hit another three to make it 21-10. The teams would exchange baskets to end the half with the Rockets leading 23-12.
Cloverleaf would start the 2nd half with a bucket from Makinsey Bayer before a Claire Campbell long three and Ava Bodovetz jumper put the Rockets up 28-14.
Claire Campbell with a long three for Streetsboro in the 3rd
After a Colts free throw split, Carman Marcini hit a corner three to give the Rockets their biggest lead of the game at 31-15.
Carman Marcini’s three gives the Rockets a 31-15 lead
The Colts would then go on an 8-0 run with six of those points coming from Kendall Seiwerth cutting the deficit to 31-23. They would outscore Streetsboro 3-2 to end the quarter trailing the Rockets 33-26.
The Rockets would open the 4th outscoring the Colts 6-2 to push the lead out to 39-28. Madi Young came alive in the final quarter as she scored seven straight for Cloverleaf cutting the Rockets lead to 40-35. After a Rockets free throw split, the Colts would score five straight making it a one point game at 41-40 with three minutes to play. Following another Rockets free throw split, Young would score again to tie the game at 42-42. Ava Bodovetz then came up with a big shot drawing a foul for an and-one opportunity.
Ava Bodovetz scores with a foul for the Rockets late in the 4th
She was unable to convert the free throw leaving the score at 44-42. With under two minutes to play Carlee Bedford would score six straight for the Rockets opening up a 50-44 lead.
Carlee Bedford with a running jumper for the Rockets late in the 4th
After a Colts miss on their possession, Bodovetz would score inside after collecting a rebound off of her miss to seal this one. Bayer would get a late bucket for Cloverleaf and Johnson-Wilson split a pair of free throws for the final score of 53-46.
Carlee Bedford led the way for the Rockets with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Olivia Johnson-Wilson and Claire Campbell each chipped in with 9 points while Ava Bodovetz had 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Kendall Seiwerth led the Colts with 13 points.
The Rockets advance to the District Final vs #4 seed West Branch at Lordstown on Saturday at 4 PM.
I spoke with Sara Koyan, Carlee Bedford, Ava Bodovetz and coach Carl Singer after the big win.
