Norwalk pulls away for Lake road win

PERKINS TWP. — The Norwalk girls basketball team used a big fourth quarter to pull away for a key SBC Lake Division road win on Saturday at Perkins High School. The Truckers led host Perkins by six points through the first two quarters and by just five after three, but dominated the final eight minutes with a 14-5 margin in the 55-41 victory. With the win, Norwalk improved to 12-1 overall and 5-0 in the Lake to stay alone in first place at the halfway point of the league schedule. "Our defense was key in the fourth quarter," Norwalk head coach Kyle Brubaker said. "We held them to five points, finally rebounded better — and forced them to be aggressive defensively." Abby Koenig again paced the Truckers in Saturday's win. She scored 14 points and had six rebounds, six steals and two assists. Emmie Leber and Trinity Lazzara each had 14 points and six rebounds, while Lazzara also added three steals. Also for Norwalk, Alyssa Gruhlke had six points and five rebounds, and Kenzie Smith had five points and three assists. Norwalk, which had a 28-23 edge in rebounds and a 13-8 advantage in steals, won the game at the free-throw line. The Truckers were 20-of-28 at the line compared to just 8-of-12 by the Pirates (5-8, 1-3). "We made our free throws, which allowed us to stretch the lead," Brubaker said. "Credit to Perkins and their staff … that team is playing well." The Truckers return to action Tuesday night with a non-league game vs. Ottawa Hills (9-4) at NHS. They return to league play on Jan. 18 at home vs. Sandusky (4-8, 1-5). NORWALK (12-1, 5-0) Alyssa Gruhlke 3-0—6; Abby Koenig 3-8—14; Kenzie Smith 2-0—5; Emmie Leber 4-6—14; Trinity Lazzara 5-4—14; Lucy Schlotterer 0-2—2. TOTALS 17-20—55. PERKINS (5-8, 1-3) Haylie Brunner 2-0—6; Zakiyah Castile 1-0—2; Jordyn Brunner 1-0—3; Mallorie Jones 2-1—7; Hannah Koelsch 0-1—1; Avery Baker 1-0—2; Camryn VanVlerah 7-6—20. TOTALS 14-8—41. Norwalk 14 16 11 14 — 55 Perkins 8 16 12 5 — 41 3-point FGs: (N) Smith; (PR) H. Brunner 2, Jones 2, J. Brunner New London 41, Mapleton 27 NEW LONDON — The Wildcats picked up a big win over the Mounties with another strong defensive performance to open up a two-game lead in the Firelands Conference on Saturday. Down 6-4 after one quarter, the Wildcats outscored the visitors by 16 over the middle two quarters to cruise to the win. Olivia Yetter paced New London (10-3, 7-0) with 12 points, while Pailee Wilson and Gracie Thomas each scored eight points. In a schedule quirk, the Wildcats return to action Tuesday when they visit the Mounties (11-2, 6-2) in the rematch. MAPLETON (11-2, 6-2) Kendall Ramey 0-1—1; Kenzie Hellickson 1-0—2; Emilee Beecher 2-1—5; Addison Hess 4-2—13; Hailey Bergosh 2-1—6. TOTALS 9-5—27. NEW LONDON (10-3, 7-0) Raeann Mitchell 1-0—2; Madison Rowland 2-0—6; Valery Henry 1-3—5; Olivia Yetter 5-1—12; Pailee Wilson 3-2—8; Gracie Thomas 4-0—8. TOTALS 15-6—41. Mapleton 6 8 3 10 — 27 N. London 4 17 10 10 — 41 3-point FGs: (M) Hess 3, Bergosh; (NL) Rowland 2, Yetter Willard 44, Vermilion 39 VERMILION — The Crimson Flashes stopped a three-game losing streak with Saturday's SBC Bay Division win over the host Sailors. Willard (11-3, 4-1) outscored the Sailors (5-10, 1-3) by eight in the second quarter, then held off a rally by the hosts in the second half to earn the win. Reese Bedingfield scored a game-high 20 points for the Flashes, who also got 11 points each from Leah Weiss and Corrin Gettys. Willard has another big non-league test on Tuesday when it hosts longtime rival Shelby (11-1). WILLARD (11-3, 4-1) Camryn Wiers 1-0—2; Reese Bedingfield 8-3—20; Leah Weiss 4-3—11; Corrin Gettys 5-1—11. TOTALS 18-7—444. VERMILION (5-10, 1-3) Jeighla Peak 1-0_3; Joscelyn Alvarado Alvarado 3-2—9; Morgan Frank 3-0—6; Claire Bartlome 9-3—21. TOTALS 16-5—39. Willard 9 14 12 9 — 44 Vermilion 9 6 16 10 — 39 3-point FGs: (W) Bedingfield; (V) Peak, Alvarado Margaretta 43, Edison 29 MILAN — The Chargers led after one quarter, but the first-place Polar Bears steadily pulled away after that in Saturday's SBC Bay Division game. Edison fell to 7-6 overall and 1-5 in the Bay with the loss. Ivy Kluding led the Chargers with 11 points, while Ella Booth had four points and seven rebounds; and Jorja Byington had four points and six rebounds. Edison is at Eastwood (3-8) on Wednesday in a non-league game, then hosts Vermilion on Friday in league play. MARGARETTA (11-3, 5-0) Grace Paseka 1-0—2; Cassidy lane 5-9—19; Ellyse Schaefer 5-0—12; Dani Grunden 1-0—2; Kenadie Saylor 1-2—4; Raegan Heck 1-1—4. TOTALS 14-12—43. EDISON (7-6, 1-5) Taylor Moore 0-1—1; Ivy Kluding 4-2—11; Jorja Byington 0-4—4; Ella Booth 2-0—4; Stella Brown 1-2—4; Gracie Rang 1-0—2; Annabelle Seville 1-0—3. TOTALS 9-9—29. Margaretta 5 15 13 10 — 43 Edison 6 9 9 5 — 29 3-point FGs: (M) Schaefer 2, Heck; (E) Kluding, Seville Mansfield Christian 58, So. Central 16 MANSFIELD — The Trojans fell to 1-12 overall with Saturday's non-league loss to the host Flames. The Trojans (1-6 FC) visit Monroeville (9-4, 5-2) on Tuesday.