Norwalk edges Madison ahead of big stretch

MADISON TWP. — The stage is set for the Norwalk girls basketball team. The Truckers slugged their way past host Mansfield Madison for a 37-33 non-league win on Tuesday night. With the win, Norwalk improved to 16-4 overall. On Thursday, the Truckers — who are tied with Bellevue with identical 7-1 records atop the SBC Lake Division standings — will host Perkins (10-9, 5-3). The Pirates have proved to be a strong opponent to both teams over the past three seasons, including Norwalk's 45-40 road win at Perkins on Jan. 4. Norwalk then closes out the regular season for a second straight year by hosting Bellevue (14-5) on Feb. 14. A win over the Pirates on Thursday will make it a winner-take-all matchup for the league title, while a setback would allow the Truckers to still force a co-title. In Tuesday's win over the Rams, Kenzie Smith led all scorers with 14 points. The trio of Delaney Illuzzi, Abby Koenig and Trinity Lazzara each added six points. NORWALK (16-4) Delaney Illuzzi 2-2—6; Abby Koenig 1-4—6; Kenzie Smith 4-4—14; Emmie Leber 0-3—3; Lucy Schlotterer 1-0—2; Trinity Lazzarra 3-0—6. TOTALS 11-13—37. MADISON (8-12) Natalee Back 1-0—2; Brynn Kiely 0-3—3; Maddie Berry 2-2—6; Morgan Cook 1-2—5 Chloe Ebeling 6-1—13; Jada Neal 1-1—3; Cambra Horve 0-1—1. TOTALS 11-10—33. Norwalk 3 11 14 9 — 37 Madison 6 6 11 10 — 33 3-point FGs: (N) Smith 2; (M) Cook Mohawk 52, W. Reserve 19 COLLINS — The Roughriders fell to 4-13 after being outscored by 13 points in the first quarter of Tuesday's non-league loss to the Warriors (10-8). Western was led by Brooklyn Prince, who scored 10 of her team's 19 points. The 'Riders (3-8 FC) travel to Mapleton (11-8, 8-4) on Friday in a Firelands Conference game. MOHAWK (10-8) Josie Granata 3-2—8; AJ Chevalier 1-0—2; Allison Russell 1-0—2; Gracie Clouse 5-0—11; Aubrey Gottfried 3-0—6; Anna Russell 1-1—4 Mia Miller 4-0—8; Katie Woodland 3-3—10; Jaedynn Hamilton 0-1—1. TOTALS 21-7—52. WESTERN RESERVE (4-13) Kara Woodruff 0-2—2; Brooklyn Prince 4-2—10; Layken Barnhart 1-0—3; Joslin Cain 0-4—4. TOTALS 5-8—19. Mohawk 19 11 11 11 — 52 W. Reserve 6 4 4 5 — 19 3-point FGs: (M) Clouse, Anna Russell, Woodland; (WR) Barnhart Monroeville 55, M. Christian 48 MONROEVILLE — In a potential sectional championship game preview, the host Eagles steadily pulled away from the Flames in a non-league win on Tuesday inside the Monroeville Athletic Complex. After each team won on the road in Firelands Conference play, if the No. 5-seeded Eagles (12-8) defeat No. 6 Plymouth in a Division IV sectional semifinal on Feb. 22, they will then visit the Flames on Feb. 24 with a spot in the Willard district semifinals on the line. Monroeville fell behind 9-0 in the game, then outscored the Flames (9-7) by 16 the rest of the way. "We woke up and started playing our game," Monroeville head coach Ryan Bohn said. "We were able to speed them up some and convert turnovers into points. I like the composure we displayed after falling behind early." Allie Wilhelm scored 13 points and Ava Krueger had 12 for the Eagles. The pair, along with Destiny Saam, were honored on Senior Night before the game. Grace Steiber added 11 points for Monroeville. "This was a special night as we celebrated our three seniors, Ava, Destiny and Allie," Bohn said. "All three made key contributions tonight. I am extremely proud of the commitment that these three girls have shown since we first went to work this summer. "The three seniors started the game, and they finished the game. This was their night." Monroeville is at St. Paul on Friday and hosts St. Mary Central Catholic on Monday to wrap up the regular season. MANSFIELD CHRISTIAN (9-7) Zy Davis 4-0—8; Rebekah Kapustar 2-2—8; Adelle Cramer 1-0—2; Riley Patrick 1-0—2; Raegan Standridge 3-0—6; Ally Shoemaker 2-0—5; Bailee Nelson 2-3—7; Kyleah Jones 5-0—10. TOTALS 20-5—48. MONROEVILLE (12-8) Grace Stieber 4-0—11; Grace Goodwin 1-0—3; Avery Rosser 1-0—2; Julia White 3-0—7; Ady Adams 1-0—2; Destiny Saam 0-2—2; Ava Krueger 5-2—12; Allie Wilhelm 4-5—13. TOTALS 20-9—55. M. Christian 15 9 13 11 — 48 Monroeville 17 14 12 12 — 55 3-point FGs: (MC) Kapustar 2, Shoemaker; (M) Stieber 3, Goodwin, White, Tyler Edison 46, Vermilion 35 VERMILION — Jorja Byington finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Chargers to their second SBC Bay Division win of the season with Tuesday's win over the Sailors. Audrey Linder added 11 for Edison (8-12, 2-6), while both Ivy Kluding and Stella Brown scored eight. Edison is at Port Clinton on Thursday in another league game. EDISON (9-12, 2-6) Ivy Kluding 2-4—8, Audrey Linder 4-0—11, Jorja Byington 6-0—12, Ella Booth 1-4—6, Stella Brown 3-1—8, Gracie Rang 0-1—1. TOTALS 16-10—46. VERMILION (6-13, 2-6) Camrin Lowder 1-2-2 4, Abby Gawry 3-0—7, Claire Bartlome 7-2—16, Abi Rhoades 2-2—8. TOTALS 13-6—35. Edison 10 18 9 9 — 46 Vermilion 9 11 5 10 — 35 3-point FGs: (E) Linder 3, Brown; (V) Rhoades 2, Gawry BOYS BASKETBALL Monroeville 46, B. Central 44 NEW WASHINGTON — The Eagles held off a fourth-quarter rally from the host Bucks to pick up a non-league win on Tuesday. Gabe Howell scored a game-high 21 points for Monroeville (5-13), while Blake Schaub added 12. MONROEVILLE (5-13) Maverick Myers 1-0—2; Gabe Howell 6-6—21; Blake Schaub 4-2—12; Link Schaffer-Paul 0-1—1; Blake Ackerman 1-0—2; Derek Ackerman 2-1—6; Cole Perry 1-0—2. TOTALS 15-10—46. BUCKEYE CENTRAL (3-13) Hunter Caudill 3-2—9; Heath Hensen 3-4—12; Devin Siepert 1-1—4; Cade Daniel 1-0—2; Jeremiah Fishpaw 3-0—6; Jack Phillips 4-2—11. TOTALS 15-9—44. Monroeville 15 12 12 7 — 46 B. Central 7 15. 8 14 — 44 3-point FGs: (M) Howell 3, Schaub 2, D. Ackerman; (BC) Jensen 2, Caudill, Seifert, Phillips JUNIOR HIGH NMS eighth-grade ends season SANDUSKY — The Norwalk Middle School girls basketball team concluded its season with a 9-8 record following Tuesday's 34-28 loss to Perkins in an SBC Lake Division semifinal game. Maddie Gamble led the way with eight points, followed by Ainslee King with seven and Kenadee Lesch with six. Libby Lark added four points and Scarlet Schneider had three. The eighth-grade team capped their NMS careers with 20 wins in two seasons.