Dec 1, 2024
Waterford’s Avery Smithberger, right, makes a move with the ball during a game against Monroe Central Saturday at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Mike Morrison)
WATERFORD — The Waterford faithful got their first look Saturday night at the girls basketball team as the Wildcats hosted Monroe Central at the Cooper Annex.
After a bit of a slow start the Wildcat fans had to like what they saw as Waterford rolled to a 69-28 win in a performance reminiscent of so many from last season when their season stretched all the way to the state championship game in Dayton.
Wildcat seniors Avery Wagner and Kendall Sury tossed in 16 points apiece and junior Elsie Malec added 10.
“Monroe Central is a nice team and they had two girls out which hurt them but they are a very scrappy team,” said Waterford head coach Jerry Close, beginning season No.. 20 as Wildcat head coach. “I thought we did a good job after settling in and controlled things after the first quarter.”
The Seminoles faced a tough enough challenge taking on the Wildcats on their home court and making matters worse were playing short-handed with two of their starters out of the game due to injury.
Waterford’s Avery Wagner, left, goes up for a basket during a game against Monroe Central Saturday at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Mike Morrison)
Despite the adversity the Troy Baker-coached ‘Noles went blow-for-blow with the Wildcats in the opening quarter as the two played to a 13-13 tie.
The Wildcats came out in the second quarter with seemingly another level of intensity as they turned the tie ball game into a double-digit lead in a matter of two minutes.
Avery Smithberger got the barrage started with a back-door bucket off of an assist from Wagner.
The 6-foot-4 Wagner is known for her presence under the basket but she showed she could also do damage from the outside when she knocked down a three-pointer to increase the lead to five.
Ava Hurley gave Waterford a spark off of the bench when she, too, connected from behind the arc and a slashing drive to the bucket by Sury gave the Wildcats a 10-point lead with six minutes remaining in the half.
“The first game it seems like you are always sluggish in the beginning. I don’t know if it is nerves or what,” said Close. “We came out in the second quarter with much better intensity and that was good to see.”
A two-pointer by Jadynn Miller stopped the bleeding for Monroe Central but a pair of freebies by Wagner and an old-fashioned three-point play by Sury gave the Wildcats a 30-17 lead with 2:32 to play in the half.
Monroe Central trimmed the lead back to 10 on a triple by Miller but a pair of freebies by Smithberger sent the Wildcats to the locker room with a 12-point lead.
Sury, Wagner and Smithberger accounted for all but three of the Wildcats first half points but everybody got in on the act early in the third when they opened the second half on a 12-0 run to turn the game into a rout.
Wagner got the run started with a two-pointer and a steal and bucket on the other end by freshman Brynlee Pottmeyer pushed the lead to 16.
Another Pottmeyer two-pointer kept things going and the tenacious Waterford defense came up with a pair of turnovers that ended up in easy buckets in transition by Sury.
Malec’s steal and lay-up increased the lead to 44-20 before the Seminoles finally stopped the run on a two-pointer by Zoey McGarry.
Waterford got a pair of three-pointers from Malec and one from Hurley to out-point Monroe Central 28-6 in the third quarter to shove the lead to 60-26 and set the running clock in motion.
Close is excited to see how the young talent on his bench develops during the season to provide depth and support for his experienced starters.
“It’s early in the season and we will see how they develop as we get into the schedule but they have talent for sure,” said Close. “They are young and inexperienced so we just hope they grow every game.”
Wagner registered a double-double by yanking down a game-high 10 boards to go along with her 16 points while Sury added four assists and three steals to her 16.
All 10 of Malec’s points came in the second half as did nine from Pottmeyer making her first start at the varsity level.
Smithberger filled up her stat sheet nicely as she added 7 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The loss was the second in three decisions for the Seminoles who were led in scoring by Miller with 9 and Brylee McFrederick with 7.
Close was pleased with his team’s initial effort as they prepare to open Tri -Valley Conference play Thursday night on the road at Federal Hocking.
“I was happy with the way we controlled the second half and came out in the third quarter and played really well,” said Close. “It’s a good win to get things started for sure.”
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