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Witherow paces Oak Glen past E. Liverpool

Joe Catullo TO THE BASKET — Oak Glen’s Maisie Witherow (10) dribbles the ball past East Liverpool’s Kenzie McKinnon (32) during Wednesday’s 59-52 Golden Bears home win. Also shown are East Liverpool’s Emma Ludwig (2) and Oak Glen’s Amber Grotefend (12) and Maggie Kovalcik (5).

NEW CUMBERLAND — With 5:43 remaining in the game Wednesday night, Oak Glen’s Maisie Witherow stole a pass and hit an easy layup to give the Golden Bears a one-point lead over visiting East Liverpool.

However, Witherow landed awkwardly and rolled her right ankle. As she was helped off the court, head coach John Leary became concerned whether or not his team can hang on to the slim lead.

East Liverpool grabbed a one-point lead of its own, but that was when Witherow returned with 3:18 left. Even on a bad ankle, Witherow scored seven points down the stretch to lead Oak Glen to a 59-52 victory.

“I was very proud of the girls in the fourth quarter because when she went down, I was really concerned of how we were going to react,” Leary said. “We held our own and kind of weathered the storm. Fortunately we were able to get her back in the game, but I was very pleased.”

Witherow recorded a game-high 26 points and added three rebounds. Her biggest play came with 2:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After hitting a foul shot, she missed the second. With only two Potters standing in the paint and no other Oak Glen player around them, Witherow collected her own rebound, drew another foul and made the layup. Oak Glen (2-2) took a 51-47 advantage.

“She’s a battler. I had my kids off the line because they were in double bonus,” Leary said. “I didn’t want to foul and give them foul shots. Fortunately being the hustler that she is, the ball went off the girl’s hands and she was there to wrap it up. That’s the kind of player she is.”

On the other side, Skye Stokes led the Potters (1-3) just as well as Witherow led the Golden Bears. Stokes finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five blocks. She also fouled out with 1:43 left in the game and Oak Glen leading 53-50.

“She’s an exceptional player, and there’s no doubt that benefited us,” Leary said. “She’s like what Maisie is for us. She can make things happen, attack the rim and get to the foul line.”

Stokes picked up her fourth foul with 3:15 left in the third quarter and did not return until midway through the fourth. Darshay Foster backed her up nicely, but head coach Scott Rogers wishes he could have subbed her better.

“I should have saved her until the fourth quarter, but I didn’t,” he said. “I put her in when Skye got into foul trouble in the third quarter, and I should have waited. That’s something I’m still learning.”

Not only is Rogers learning about his team, but the girls are as well. East Liverpool outrebounded Oak Glen 42-30 but could not take advantage. The Potters also committed one too many fouls in the first half, giving the Golden Bears 11 made free throws and a 30-28 advantage at halftime.

“That’s stuff we’ve been working on since the beginning of the season,” Rogers said. “We’re coming around since the first game against Buckeye Local. We’ve made progress every game. Tonight was a loss, but I think the girls are upbeat about it. We can start winning some games if we keep doing what we’re doing.”

Oak Glen also found itself in some foul trouble. Both Amber Grotefend and Dominica Price fouled out in the fourth quarter. Price had a game-high 10 rebounds while Grotefend collected five.

“We basically ended up with five guards on the floor,” Leary said. “We were pretty much running an offense we have not run yet, and they did that well. They kind of adapted on the fly.”

Oak Glen’s Allison Click hit the team’s only three-pointers and finished with nine points. Emmy Severs tallied seven points and four rebounds. Maggie Kovalcik added four points, four assists and two rebounds.

For the Potters, Emma Ludwig had 10 points and eight rebounds. Madison Prince also recorded 10 points along with four rebounds and an assist. Johnna Stokes added four points and eight rebounds.

East Liverpool travels to Indian Creek at 6 p.m. today. Oak Glen heads to Wellsville at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Oak Glen 59, East Liverpool 52

East Liverpool                   15  13  10  14  —  52

Oak Glen                            17  13    9  20  —  59

EAST LIVERPOOL: J. Stokes 2-0-4, Prince 2-4-10, Burton 2-1-5, Ludwig 4-2-10, S. Stokes 6-4-16, McKinnon 0-1-1, Foster 1-0-2, Foster 1-0-2, Newlun 1-0-2. TOTALS: 19, 12-23 52. 3-pointers: Prince 2.

OAK GLEN: Grotefend 1-1-3, McKay 2-3-7, Witherow 9-8-26, Severs 3-1-7, Kovalcik 1-2-4, Click 3-0-9, Price 1-1-3, Orenzuk 0-0-0, Giorgini 0-0-0. TOTALS: 20, 15-29 59. 3-pointers: Click 3.

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