HOLMES TOWNSHIP — Wynford’s lone senior player, Bri Westrick, was recognized on Senior Day Saturday.
According to coach Amy Taylor-Sheldon, Westrick has become one of the defensive leaders on her young team.
That defense was on display as the Lady Royals ran past Bucyrus, 66-33, in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference game at Dr. Michael A. Johnson Gymnasium.
“It does get to everybody,” Bucyrus coach Brian Seybert said of the Royals’ full-court press and overall pressure. “I thought we were our own worst enemy trying to break it. A lot of it was our weakness in passes at times. When we did break it, we were fine.”
The Lady Red had to adjust their rotation, necessitated by freshman post Savannah Clark’s absence due to injury. Wynford (12-5, 7-4 N10) in turn had to change its strategy.
“Obviously, it’s a different look for them with Savannah not starting,” Taylor-Sheldon said. “She’s had a solid year. For us, it does alter your game plan a little bit. We’re still ready to press. We created some pressure that way, whether it’s unforced turnovers or steals. I was happy to have some of that momentum.”
The Royals pressure forced five Bucyrus (1-16, 1-11) turnovers in the first period and limited the Lady Red to eight shots. Wynford got out to a 10-3 lead and settled for a 13-8 advantage by period’s end.
Another obstacle presented itself to the Royals when post Brooke Frombaugh picked up two fouls in the first quarter and was forced to sit much of the second quarter.
With perimeter shooting on the sluggish side — Wynford hit just three of 13 3-point attempts in the first quarter — the offense adapted. Maradath Engler scored seven of her game-high 19 points in the second quarter as the Royals built a 29-15 halftime lead.
“We weren’t stepping in and being good at stopping the drive and forcing them to kick it out,” Seybert said. “A little slow, a little lazy at times. It turned into fouls. (Engler’s) a good finisher and she’s a real good driver.”
“I think because we were able to score some in transition there,” Taylor-Sheldon said of the Royals’ ability to weather Frombaugh’s foul trouble. “It’s no secret now that if you want to stop Brooke Frombaugh, you have to pack it in a little bit and you have to give up something.
“We didn’t shoot well from the perimeter early, but we were able to score a different way. Maradath Engler did a great job getting to the rim and Maggie Ridge had a good game getting to the rim. That really helped us against the zone.”
Ridge took the lead in the third quarter, scoring 18 of Wynford’s 18 points in the frame. The Royals’ advantage ballooned to 49-27 after three.
“We got 2-3 zone. We thought we’d limit them to what they’d try to be able to run,” Seybert said. “We’d stop the original set and the second set they ran started to bite us a little bit. We adjusted in the second half, but it just got away from us so much that we couldn’t sit in the zone anymore. We just came out and man and tried to press a little bit.”
The Lady Red outrebounded the Royals 39-28 despite the size mismatch. However, they gave that advantage back with their 20 turnovers.
“They did a great job in the zone,” Taylor-Sheldon said. “They blocked out and rebounded. We had very few offensive rebounds in the first half (six), even with Brooke Frombaugh sitting. They did a good job rebounding out of that zone and limiting our second chances.”
Seybert credited freshman Victoria Stang, who made a rare start, for doing yeoman’s work guarding Frombaugh.
“Victoria’s coming along,” Seybert said. “It’s her second year of playing basketball. She’s still learning ropes as we go along through this. She’s going to get better as we go.”
The Royals’ defense also slowed the Bucyrus perimeter game, holding the Lady Red to 12 3-point attempts.
“We limited it,” Taylor-Sheldon said. “I don’t think Malina (Rowland) got six of hers until the second half of the fourth quarter. I thought we identified the shooters a little better and we could do that with Clark not in.”
Ridge seconded Engler’s 19 points with 12. Frombaugh fought off foul trouble to end with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Royals only had one turnover in the first half — which Taylor Sheldon joked may be a Wynford record — and nine for the game.
“We took care of the ball in the first half which gave us a few more opportunities,” Taylor-Sheldon said. “Down the stretch here, there are a couple of things we have to improve on.”
Marissa Middleton topped Bucyrus with 10 points. Rowland finished with eight and Aubrie Kimmel had eight points and six rebounds.
“We had a different starting lineup (today),” Seybert said. “The girls who did come in to play — the underclassmen — I thought they played really well. New starter Aubrie Kimmel, she’s earned the right to get into the starting role.
“They’re solid,” Seybert added of Wynford. “They’re playing pretty well right now. They’re somewhat of a mismatch for us down a big center.”
Wynford also won an unusual 2-quarter jayvee game that went into overtime by a score of 27-19. The game was tied at 17-17 after the scheduled two quarters.
Reilly Teynor had 12 points for the Royals and Jenna Filliater added nine. Madison Tyrrell and Victoria Stang had seven points each for Bucyrus.
Box score
Bucyrus 8 7 7 11 — 33
Wynford 13 16 18 16 — 63
Bucyrus (1-16, 1-11 N10): Shots 10-38; 3-pt. shots 3-12 (Malina Rowland 2, Aubrie Kimmel); Free throws 10-16; Rebounds 28 (Aubrie Kimmel 6); Turnovers 20. Scoring: Aubrie Kimmel 2 3 8, Reese Garvin 1 0 2, Victoria Stang 1 0 2, Marissa Middleton 2 6 10, Lilyan Butchko 1 1 3, Malina Rowland 3 0 8.
Wynford (12-5, 7-4 N10): Shots 23-59; 3-pt. shots 6-27 (Caroline Sheldon 2, Maradath Engler 2, Ally Liming 2); Free throws 11-16; Rebounds 39 (Frombaugh 10); Turnovers 9. Scoring: Caroline Sheldon 2 2 8, Bri Westrick 0 1 1, Maradath Engler 6 5 19, Brook Frombaugh 4 3 11, Karsyn Pollock 1 0 2, Maggie Ridge 6 0 12, Ally Liming 2 0 6, Jenna Filliater 1 0 2, Megan Young 1 0 2.
JV: Wynford 27-19 (2 quarters OT).