Lady Comets Kruse into Columbus
By Bryant K. Kizer
Contributing Reporter
The Solon Lady Comets left no doubt in their last week’s match-ups between New Philadelphia and Massillon Jackson as their road the Division I state title continues to the stopping point at Columbus.
Their impressive landslide victories have them going to the state finals for the first time since 2006.
The Lady Comets walloped associated press top-ranked team and unbeaten New Philadelphia 66-35 on last Tuesday. The Bekelja sisters led the way. Dee had a team-high of 18 points. Jordan had 12 points. Valencia Myers also added 12 points. The Lady Comets started and finished strong. On Friday, the Lady Comets collected their 24th victory and the Division I, Regional I, title by dominating Massillon Jackson 62-45.
Head coach Trisha Kruse says defense and hard work are paying off. “They worked really hard this summer and they came in with an attitude of winning,” said Kruse, who is her sixth year as coach and has averaged at least 20 victories a season.
“Our kids have dialed in past couple weeks on the defensive end. They are in tune to the scouting report and their tendencies.”
Dee Bekelja is a sophomore that is turning heads. Here leadership and her speed had been hard for opponents to corral. Isis Parker, a senior forward, will be going IUPUI (Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis), he a rebounding machine. Dee’s sister, Jordan a senior runs the whole show for the Lady Comets.
The Lady Comets, who was not ranked in the AP final poll, will take on Toledo Notre Dame, this Friday at Jerome Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.
Coming to Cleveland State…The Cleveland Regional –
Today at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center there are two games. First, Medina, winners of the Copley District, faces Shaker Heights, winners of the Solon District. Both teams are in the NOC Conference.
Shaker Heights (19-6) won two close games the Bees (15-11) – an overtime 67-61 victory at Medina and a 51-48 nail-biter at Shaker Heights. The Red Raiders in search of their first Cleveland Regional title are led by Esa Ahmad, a West Virginia recruit. The Bees are led by 7-foot-0 center Jon Teske.
The game will tip-off at 6:15 p.m.
Game two features Garfield Heights against Uniontown Lake.
The Garfield Heights Bulldogs (22-3) beat last year’s Cleveland Regional champ East Tech to win the Euclid District title. The Blue Streak makes their second consecutive Cleveland Regional appearance. They lost to East Tech 62-60 last season. The Blue Streak beat rival and unbeaten Green 54-41 to win the Canton District crown.
In the Akron Region – at the University of Akron – the defending D-I champs St. Edward Eagles (19-5) take on unbeaten Lorain Titans. They will tip-off today at 7 p.m.
In the Cincinnati Region (4) Springfield (19-7) will battle Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (18-8) at the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier U.
In the second game, Centerville (22-3) battles Huber Heights, Wayne (22-4).
In D-II
Unbeaten and top-ranked Akron St. Vincent – St. Mary looks like they are going to be in collision course with Cleveland Central Catholic at the Canton Memorial Center.
But first the Fighting Irish (25-0) will take on Poland Seminary (23-2) on Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
The Ironman (21-4) must get past Chagrin Falls (22-3) on that same night.
In D-III
Top-ranked VASJ (21-4) will battle Massillon Tuslaw (17-8) in game two of the double-header at Canton Fieldhouse, today. The opening game will be Canton Central Catholic (18-5) vs. Youngstown Ursuline (21-5).