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Trojans Get By

No. 4 Southwestern Beats Akron, Advances To Class B-2 Semifinals

Southwestern’s Sofia Genareo (15) puts a shot in the lane while being defended by Akron’s Darion Jonathan during Thursday’s Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal basketball game. P-J photo by Valory S. Isaacson

Southwestern coach Dave Turnbull walked slowly off the court, a grim look on his face, and disappeared down a hallway at halftime of the Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal girls basketball game.

And the Lady Trojans were winning.

But in a game when the fourth seed had trouble putting the ball in the hole, Turnbull’s kids did just enough in the second half to pull away from No. 5 Akron, 57-39.

Erin Radack led the way for the Lady Trojans with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals; Sofia Genareo added 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals; Gianna Hoose contributed 10 points and eight boards; and Carissa Minarovich had 10 points, six rebounds and six steals.

It was a pretty balanced attack indeed.

Southwestern’s Gianna Hoose puts up a shot during Thursday’s Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal game. P-J photo by Valory S. Isaacson

Still, the shooting struggles were evident.

“As I walked by (Southwestern football coach) Jehuu Caulcrick (at the end of the game), he said, ‘Smile, it’s a W, baby,'” Turnbull said. “(But) … I’m flabbergasted.”

All told, Southwestern shot just 20 of 76 from the field, including 1 of 19 in the second quarter, but Akron was just as cold as it connected on just 14 of 58 from the floor. And once the second half started, the Lady Trojans had a little bit more success early in the third quarter to transform a 25-20 lead into a 46-30 advantage heading in the final period.

Sparking that run were six points from Hoose, a pair of 3-pointers from Genareo and 5 points from Minarovich.

Also aiding Southwestern’s cause was a stout defensive effort that forced 26 turnovers.

Still, Turnbull knows his team will have to do better on the offensive end when it takes on No. 1 Eden in the semifinals. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kenmore West High School.

“There are a lot of good things I saw in th second half,” he said. “If we want to keep playing, we can’t start like (they did last night). … We have our work cut out for us, no question.”

Darion Jonathan led Akron (11-11) with 14 points and Elise Leeds had 10.

AKRON (39)

DJonathan 5 0 14, Leeds 4 2 10, Hall 1 0 3, Hill 2 1 6, JJonathan 2 1 6, Totals 14 4 39.

SOUTHWESTERN (57)

Turnbull 0 0 0, Beaver 0 0 0, Hoose 3 4 10, Lawton 0 0 0, Kranzo 0 0 0, Genareo 4 3 14, Casselman 4 2 10, Minarovich 4 2 10, Radack 7 3 19, Truver 0 0 0, Lundmark 1 0 2, Dibble 0 0 0, Totals 20 12 57.

3-point goals–DJonathan 4, Hall, Hill, JJonathan, Genareo 3, Radack 2.

Akron 12 5 13 9 — 39

Southwestern 16 8 22 11 — 57

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