MEDINA — The Wadsworth girls basketball team is playing at another level right now.
Riding their elite half-court defense Monday, Peyton Banks, Jodi Johnson and the rest of the top-seeded Grizzlies dominated shorthanded No. 6 seed Brunswick 67-44 in the Medina Division I District semifinals.
Wadsworth’s Peyton Banks shoots against Brunswick’s Paige Billetz during the second quarter. (RON SCHWANE / GAZETTE)
That score was woefully misleading, as Wadsworth (23-1) went on a 33-0 run in the first half. The Grizzlies began subbing in junior varsity players with three minutes to go before halftime, which began with the Grizzlies leading 40-6.
Coach Andrew Booth’s squad advanced to battle third-seeded Berea-Midpark (18-6) for the championship Thursday night.
“The team’s focus is really good,” Banks said. “We’re coming out every game and playing hard on defense.
“To be honest, I can’t believe (we went on a 33-0 run). We played so good in the first half. The key to the run was defense, getting easy baskets and really playing basketball.”
Wadsworth, which made 15-of-15 free throws, got 22 points (9-for-13 shooting) and three steals from first-team All-Ohioan Jodi Johnson, but the Ashland recruit was hardly the only standout.
The physical Banks pumped in a career-high 20 points and ripped down a game-high seven rebounds, while fellow sophomore post Lexi Lance added six first-quarter points. Sophomore backup guard Maddie Movsesian (4 points, 5 steals) was key defensively, helping Jenna Johnson and Jodi Johnson hound Blue Devils star Farrah Benner (12 points, 4-for-16 shooting).
The Grizzlies’ run began after Benner tied the score at 3 on the second possession of the game. It ended when Brunswick freshman Angela Fink, who was making her first career start with Jessica Skrzypek (foot) and Olivia Andrew (concussion) unavailable, made two free throws with 2:33 left in the half.
Jodi Johnson and Banks had 13 and 12 points, respectively, during the splurge, while Lance added six and Sophia Fortner (game-high 6 assists) two.
In the first half, Brunswick (12-12) missed its final 14 shots and committed 16 turnovers. The Blue Devils finally snapped a 15½-minute field goal drought when Eileen Salisbury scored 11 seconds into the third quarter.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got to play (Wadsworth) sometime,” coach Halle Schmidt joked. “They’re going to be down in the state tournament, and I’d be surprised if they don’t win. They’re a very, very good basketball team.”
The Blue Devils showed character in the second half, firing at will and connecting on a number of tough shots. Salisbury was electric, scoring 17 second-half points on 7-for-9 shooting, while Benner, Gabbi Campbell and Fink also helped Brunswick make 8-of-16 3-pointers over the final 16 minutes.
Still, there was no way to prepare for the Grizzlies’ aggressive, switch-everything man defense that made Brunswick’s five-out scheme a non-factor when the game was still in doubt.
“We had a lot of talk as a team (defensively),” Movsesian said. “We came in really prepared. We practiced really well this week, and overall we just came ready to play. It was serious. There wasn’t any goofing off.”
Notes
- Small forward Laurel Palitto was the only Wadsworth starter to play in the fourth quarter, while the all-JV lineup of Maggie Sonntag, Maria Busson, Meggie Flanigan, Molly Palecek and Leah Maher was on the court for the final 4:14.
- Jodi Johnson is 17-for-21 from the floor, 6-for-9 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the foul line this postseason.
- Piloted by former Brunswick coach Kevin Braaten, Berea-Midpark defeated North Royalton 57-47 in the nightcap behind nine 3-pointers. The Bears were playing without injured starters Julianne Lebo and Lexi Chuppa and got 19 points from freshman center Taiyier Parks.
Wadsworth 67, Brunswick 44
BRUNSWICK 3 3 20 18 — 44
WADSWORTH 18 22 17 10 — 67
Brunswick — Gabbi Campbell 3-7 0-0 7, Farrah Benner 4-16 0-0 12, Paige Billetz 0-2 0-0 0, Angela Fink 1-7 2-2 5, Eileen Salisbury 7-10 0-0 17, Macie Tobel 0-0 0-0 0, Maria Payne 0-0 1-2 1, Danielle Razzante 1-1 0-0 2, Brittany Henke 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Galaida 0-1 0-0 0, Katia Shapovalova 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 16-44 3-4 44.
Wadsworth — Laurel Palitto 1-2 0-0 3, Jenna Johnson 1-7 0-0 2, Lexi Lance 2-6 2-2 6, Jodi Johnson 9-13 2-2 22, Sophia Fortner 1-5 0-0 2, McKenna Banks 0-2 0-0 0, Peyton Banks 6-8 7-7 20, Olivia Chaney 2-3 0-0 4, Maddie Movsesian 1-4 2-2 4, Alexa Conley 0-1 0-0 0, Meggie Flanigan 0-2 0-0 0, Maggie Sonntag 0-2 2-2 2, Molly Palecek 0-3 0-0 0, Maria Busson 0-0 0-0 0, Leah Maher 1-3 0-0 2. TOTALS: 24-61 15-15 67.
3-point goals — Brunswick 9-27 (Benner 4-14, Salisbury 3-4, Fink 1-4, Campbell 1-4, Galaida 0-1), Wadsworth 4-14 (Jo. Johnson 2-5, Palitto 1-2, P. Banks 1-2, Movsesian 0-1, Conley 0-1, Fortner 0-3). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Brunswick 20 (Benner 5), Wadsworth 36 (P. Banks 7). Assists — Brunswick 7 (Henke, Campbell 2), Wadsworth 15 (Fortner 6). Turnovers — Brunswick 21 (Salisbury 7), Wadsworth 12 (Fortner, Palitto, Chaney 2). Fouls — Brunswick 14, Wadsworth 7. Records — Brunswick (12-12), Wadsworth (23-1).