ROOTSTOWN, OH- The Rootstown Lady Rovers were home Wednesday evening for a matchup with PTC Conference rival Mogadore looking to outright clinch another conference championship. The Rovers came in undefeated in conference play at 18-1 overall on the season. The Wildcats came in at 17-3 looking to play the spoiler role. After a close first half the Rovers pulled away in the 2nd half for a 70-43 win.
It was a slow start offensively for both sides as a free throw battle ensued to open the game. The first field goal of the game came on a Cloe Bengston layup for the Rovers putting them up 5-1. After a Ari Tompkins bucket for Mogadore, Bengston sank a pair of free throws and Nadia Lough scored inside to open up a 9-3 lead on the Wildcats. Mogadore came back with back to back buckets by Ari Tompkins and Hayli Clester to cut it to 9-7. After a pair of Lough free throws, Kelsey Bittecuffer scored on a nice move inside.
Rootstown held a 15-9 lead before Julie Tompkins nailed a three ball for Mogadore. Elliott Smallfield answered right back with a three of her own for Rootstown making it an 18-12 lead.
They would take a 20-12 lead into quarter number two.
The second quarter opened up with back to back three balls from Rovers senior guard Addy Germann, the second of which broke the Rovers single season record at 52 made three's on the season.
Those three's would extend the Rover lead to 26-12. Mogadore would close out the 1st half scoring seven of the final 10 points to cut the deficit to 29-19 at the break. Nadia Lough and Kelsey Bittecuffer each score 7 first half points for the Rovers while Julie Tompkins led the Wildcats with 8.
Mogadore kept on fighting to start the 3rd quarter. Ari Tompkins scored the first four points of the half for the Wildcats who trailed 31-23. They were able to cut it to eight a few minutes later after a Ari Tompkins runner inside made it 35-27.
Rootstown would then go on a 10-3 run to open up a 45-30 lead late in the 3rd.
A Lough bucket at the end of the quarter gave Rootstown a 47-32 lead after three.
The teams went back and forth scoring the first few minutes of the 4th quarter. Addy Germann's third three ball of the night gave the Rovers a 55-36 lead.
That three ignited a 13-0 Rover run that pushed the lead out to 65-38. Rootstown would run away with this one in the 4th for a 70-43 win clinching another PTC Conference Championship.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Rovers:
Cloe Bengtson: 14 points
Nadia Lough: 13 points, 13 rebounds
Colbie Curall: 11 points, 11 rebounds
Elliott Smallfield: 10 points
Kelsey Bittecuffer: 9 points
Addy Germann: 9 points
Ari Tompkins had a nice game for the Wildcats in the loss with 21 points.
The Rovers will host Perry on Saturday while Mogadore looks to bounce back when they travel to Labrae.
Post game interviews with seniors Sasha Nichols, Addy Germann, Kelsey Bittecuffer and Nadia Lough along with junior Cloe Bengston and coach Joe Leonard.