Big deficit too much for Monroeville

PORT CLINTON — Monroeville got back into the game. After trailing by 14 points early in the third quarter, the Eagles stiffened defensively and were within six points in the fourth quarter. Monroeville just couldn't get that next bucket and ultimately, Port Clinton pulled away for a 42-29 non-league win Saturday. "I was proud of how our team came out in the second half," Eagles coach Ryan Bohn said. "We made some adjustments on defense and really competed at a higher level than we did in the first half. We have a very young group with no seniors. "The nerves were definitely evident in the first half." Monroeville (0-1) was behind the 8-ball quickly. Elizabeth Bubb hit a 3 before seven straight points from Alana Zibert gave Port Clinton (1-0) a 10-0 lead early. The Eagles settled in a bit, getting within 14-6 and 16-8. But, a triple from Shelby Isaac got PC going again. Monroeville was behind 21-12 later and two 3s from Zibert pushed the advantage to 27-14. "She was definitely their best player on our scouting report," said Bohn of Zibert. "We wanted to stay glued to her. Unfortunately, we did not get that done in the first half and she was on fire." A sixth 3-pointer of the half from PC, this one by Isabella Belden, extended the Redskins' lead to 30-16 at halftime. The Eagles played significantly better in the third quarter. After forcing eight first-half turnovers, Monroeville picked up its intensity as Port Clinton committed nine turnovers in the third quarter alone. That allowed the Eagles to have a chance. Two baskets from Sophia Stieber and one from Taylor Scheid bought Monroeville within 32-22. Payton Weilnau and Stieber each scored in the final two minutes of the quarter as the Eagles sliced the deficit to six points. But Zibert's banked-in triple 27 seconds into the fourth quarter was a turning point. She added two free throws to make it 37-26 with 6:32 to play. The margin never dipped under 11 points the rest of the way. Instead, Anaiya Parriott scored twice to help PC seal the win. Stieber tallied 14 points for Monroeville. She was the only Eagles player with multiple field goals until Weilnau's bucket late in the third quarter. "I was proud of how our team came out in the second half," Bohn said. "We made some adjustments on defense and really competed at a higher level than we did in the first half."Monroeville is off until Friday when it travels to Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic. "We have to keep in mind that the girls that played volleyball, we've only had them about a week," Bohn said. "They've got one or two scrimmages and a few practices in them. It's early and it's going to take time for us to gel as a team." MONROEVILLE (0-1)Payton Weilnau 2 0-1 5, Taylor Scheid 1 0-0 2, Sophia Stieber 6 1-3 14, Lilly Stein 0 0-0 0, Brooke Morman 1 0-0 2, Haylee Morman 1 0-0 2, Kaylee Lauber 1 0-0 2, Abecka Ruggles 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 13 1-4 29PORT CLINTON (1-0)Lillian Wagner 0 0-2 0, Elizabeth Bubb 1 1-7 4, Alana Zibert 7 2-2 20, Anaiya Parriott 3 0-0 6, Alexa Pastor 3 1-2 7, Isabella Belden 1 0-0 3, Shelby Isaac 1 0-0 3. TOTALS 16 4-9 43Monroeville 6 10 10 3 — 29Port Clinton 16 14 2 11 — 42Three-point goals: Monroeville 2 (Weilnau, Stieber); Port Clinton 7 (Zibert 4, Bubb, Belden, Isaac)