Lady Comets end Shoregals' winning streak

by CARL SULLENBERGER

Sports correspondent

The Lady Comets stretched their winning streak to three last week, ending a nine-game run of the Shoregals, now 11-4, on Wednesday. The 39-35 win set the stage for Saturday's meeting with Olmsted Falls (2-12). Except the Bulldogs didn't come to lose and they set the Comets back on their heels for most of the game

"I thought the first half and the first five minutes of the third quarter we just let them stand out there and play 'Horse,'" said coach John Rositano. "We weren't jamming cutters. We weren't up in their face on the catch.

"I think they got our backs against the wall a little bit and the last three minutes of the third, and the fourth quarter, the energy picked up and we started to defend the basketball hard and doing things defensively that we've been doing all season."

Though Julia Porostosky put Amherst on the board first with a pair of baskets, the Bulldogs started shooting and not missing, taking the first quarter 7-12. Even with 3-point shots by Morgan Madera and Marissa Thomas, Olmsted Falls maintained their five-point lead into the half, 17-22.

"Give credit to Olmsted Falls," Rositano said. "I thought they looked like they were playing for a championship."

Lizzie Soto broke the Bulldog's lead in the third quarter with two hoops from the court followed by one each from Porostosky and Abby Rositano. The third period ended with Amherst behind Olmsted Falls by just one, 25-26.

Finally, in the fourth period the Comets hit their stride and looked like the team they've been all season. Rositano said there may have been some lag from the huge win over Avon Lake.

"I think it was a little bit of letdown after a big win over at Avon Lake on Wednesday," he said. "It happens in high school sports and you have to be able to bounce back after a big win and compete at a high level next time out."

The fourth quarter was classic Comet basketball with the defense in top form and Porostosky and Thomas sharing the honors with a pair of baskets each while Soto did her thing by adding four foul shots for a 37-32 SWC win. Amherst stands at 12-3 overall and 7-3 in the conference.

Soto took top scorer honors with 12 with Porostosky, now at 119 for the season, shooting for 11. Thomas made nine points, Madera three, and Rositano two.

For the Bulldogs, Bridget Mental zeroed in eight points, Bryce Romp and Nicole Willis both had seven, Sarah Dischinger made six and Kelly Clancy shot for four points.

The Lady Comets face a tough week, first at Midpark (13-3, 10-0) for a rematch with the Meteors. On Saturday they host the Brecksville Bees (11-4, 7-3) for their second bout.

The Comets will be without their top shooter, but Bridgette Cruz hopes to be back before the season ends. She has much to contribute if her knee cooperates.

"I just wanted to be out there so bad," Cruz said after Saturday's game. She's hoping to return for "Senior Night against Clearview or Westlake, those are the last two games. I just really hope to get in there. And there's the tournament, too."