BUCYRUS — Both Bucyrus and Pleasant entered the first game of the season with a measure of uncertainty.
Pleasant had little preparation time with the entire team present — the Lady Spartans made a run to the state volleyball championship — and the Lady Red return just two players with significant varsity experience.
Pleasant’s veteran leadership was the difference in the end as the Spartans pulled away in the second half for a 57-30 win.
“We kind of started out slow — first game of the season, just getting all of our jitters out,” Pleasant coach Keriann Pratt said. “Today was actually the first day I’ve had all my girls and all my coaching staff together.”
The upstart Lady Red held their own against the more experienced Spartans in the first half, trailing just 15-12 after one quarter and 26-18 at halftime.
“First half, I thought we were right there,” Bucyrus coach Brian Seybert said. “We kept if close by halftime.”
The young Lady Red relied heavily on the 3-point shot, hitting three of seven attempts from beyond the arc in the first period — one each from seniors Malina Rowland and Marissa Middleton along with sophomore Reese Garvin.
Pleasant countered with five players scoring in the frame, led by senior and returning all-Ohioan Avah Steele, who registered seven points to help the Spartans to their three-point advantage after eight minutes.
“(Bucyrus) hit a couple of 3s. They’re improving — from last year to this year, tons of improvement,” Pratt said. “They’re well-coached. They were doing some really fundamental things. They have some really nice outside shooters, I thought.”
The Lady Red hit only two shots in the second period, but both were 3s from Rowland on back-to-back possessions. It was enough to keep their deficit at single digits heading to the break.
But the second half was pretty much all Pleasant. The Spartans used a 12-1 run over the final six minutes of the third quarter to build a 42-23 by period’s end.
Steele again made her presence felt, scoring six of Pleasant’s 16 points in the quarter.
“I don’t have an Avah Steele. She’s a solid player,” Seybert said. “She is going to be tough for that (Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) to guard. I think the other girls played off her really well. They’re quick. They got out and ran, beat us down the floor a few times.”
“Avah’s length is definitely an advantage,” Pratt said. “”Put her and Brooklin Davis together, they’re just like across the whole court, they’re so long armed.”
Shooting was an issue for the Lady Red, as they hit just 11 of their 41 attempts, including five of 27 from 3. The Spartans were 24 of 50.
“There might have been a few challenged shots, but other than that, we had some wide-open looks,” Seybert said. “They were shots that every girl that took one is capable of making.”
Steel led all scorers with 13 points and Adyson Foster added eight. Steele, Foster, and Mary Aurigemma had six rebounds. Ten different Spartans scored.
Rowland led Bucyrus with nine points and Garvin added five. Clark grabbed eight boards.
“Our kids kind of gelled together, came out in the third quarter, and I think put it away,” Pratt said.
Turnovers hurt the Lady Red as they committed 26 miscues. However, the defense also forced 19 from the Spartans.
“We turned them over a few times, and we got some good looks,” Seybert said. “That’s a heck of a team to start the season with. We’re going to learn from this game and carry it over to Mount Gilead (Saturday) night.”
“Winning is contagious,” Pratt said. “I was so proud of our volleyball team. Excellent, excellent and it was so fun to watch. Our girls went right along for the ride with them and watched them and cheered for them. It was really good for our whole community.”
“I told the girls I was proud of their effort,” Seybert said. “They played hard and competed from the beginning to the very end. They didn’t give up.”
Pleasant travels to Wynford for another non-league game on Tuesday.
Box score
Pleasant 15 11 16 15 — 57
Bucyrus 12 6 5 7 — 30
Pleasant (1-0): Shots 24-50; 3-pt. shots 5-10 (Kaivyn Cocherl, Taydon Obenour, Carly Columber, Avah Steele, Madalyn Murphy); Free throws 4-7; Rebounds 37 (Mary Aurigemma 6, Avah Steel 6, Adyson Foster 6); Turnovers 19. Scoring: Kaivyn Cocherl 2 0 5, Taydon Obenour 3 0 7, Carly Columber 1 0 3, Cassie Ice 1 0 2, Mary Aurigemma 2 0 4, Nicole Robinson 2 0 4, Avah Steel 5 2 13, Adyson Foster 3 2 8, Brooklin 3 0 6, Madalyn Murphy 2 0 5.
Bucyrus (0-1): Shots 11-41; 3-pt. shots 5-27 (Malina Rowland 3, Reese Garvin, Marissa Middleton); Free throws 3-13; Rebounds 26 (Savannah Clark 8); Turnovers 26. Scoring: Macie Hubble 1 1 3, Karlee Shull 1 1 3, Reese Garvin 2 0 5, Marissa Middleton 1 0 3, Lilyan Butchko 1 1 3, Malina Rowland 3 0 9, Savannah Clark 2 0 4.
JV: Pleasant 27-23.