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Central girls win city championship

Julia Zatta scores 26 points as Crusaders edge Big Red, 55-54, to sweep rivalry series

CITY CHAMPIONS AGAIN — Catholic Central’s Julia Zatta dribbles with Steubenville’s Leah Ferguson defending during the first quarter of Thursday’s game at Catholic Central. -- Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — As Jeff Lombardo correctly noted, Thursday’s match between his Big Red girls basketball team and Catholic Central had everything you could ask for in a rivalry game.

There were several lead changes, a couple of critical scoring runs, numerous big shots and hard, determined play by both teams.

When all was said and done, Central, thanks to 26 points from Julia Zatta and two key free throw makes by Christine Dombrowski, escaped with a 55-54 senior night victory inside a packed Mickey Barber Gymnasium. The win, coupled with a 56-53 triumph in late December, gave Jess Looman’s squad the 2018-2019 city championship.

“It seems like every game has been down to the wire the last couple of years,” Lombardo said. “That’s how it should be in a rivalry game, that’s what makes it fun and that’s why every possession is so important throughout the game.

“It’s a rivalry game — both teams want this one badly. One team is going to come out on the losing end and unfortunately tonight it was us. It sucks — it’s a horrible feeling, losing is never fun especially against our city rival.”

Looman agreed with Lombardo’s comment about both teams wanting a win in the annual crosstown series.

“I could tell our girls were locked in and ready to go,” she said. “And I knew Jeff would have his girls well prepared and excited. One of our goals this season was to repeat as city champions and the girls delivered.

“As a team, we were looking to send our seniors off with a big victory. Both teams left everything on the floor. The atmosphere was electric and both teams had great fan support.”

Big Red, thanks to four points from sophomore standout Makayla Abrams and a long distance Myla Gulan connection, led 11-9 after the opening quarter. Zatta got hot in the second, netting 11 points, as the Crusaders, who also claimed the city crown last season, outscored their guests 14-9 and led 23-18 at the intermission.

“In the first half, we got outrebounded a lot and got outhustled on some loose balls,” Lombardo said. “One thing we pride ourselves on is being a little more physical than our opponents. I felt like the Central girls were more physical than us.

“They were kind of taking balls from us. We were not being strong and they were forcing us underneath the hoop. They also secured too many offensive and defensive rebounds.”

Zatta stayed hot in the third, getting 11 more points. Junior Carly Fayak contributed five as Central built a 42-32 lead heading into the final period.

“We challenged the girls at halftime to go and play strong in the third,” Looman said. “The goal was to win the quarter. Julia did a great job of attacking the basket and Carly hit a couple of big buckets.

“I thought we played well defensively in the third also and limited Big Red to one shot on several trips. We know Big Red’s girls work hard and we knew when we were up by 10 that we couldn’t let up. Big Red really turned up the defensive pressure at the end but our girls hung tough.”

Big Red started the fourth with a 5-0 scoring run and kept things close by outscoring the Crusaders 22-13 during the final eight minutes. Dombrowski’s free throw makes made the score 55-51 with eight ticks remaining. Big Red’s Leah Ferguson drained a triple to account for the final points.

“In the fourth quarter, the ball went through the bucket a few times and when you see that, you start to get more energy defensively,” Lombardo said. “Unfortunately, the hole we needed to climb out of was a little too big. We almost had a shot at it in the end.

“When it’s a one-point game, you think about a couple of buckets you could have had here and there. Plus there we a couple of first-half possessions both offensively and defensively I wish we could have back. That’s what happens in a close game.”

Looman was proud of her Crusaders for how they “persevered at the end and kept the lead through most of the game.”

“We had a game plan and the girls executed it on both ends of the floor,” she said. “We’ve had a rough few weeks, losing four in a row. We needed this win to get things going again going into our sectional tournament.”

Junior Bella Oliver scored 14 for the Crusaders, now 12-9, and completed her double-double by snaring 14 rebounds. She also canned three key fourth quarter free throws. Dombrowski finished with eight points.

“Bella made some huge baskets for us when we needed them” Looman said. “She also did a great job as usual on the boards. She really contributed on both ends of the floor.”

Abrams paced Big Red, also 12-9, with 17 points. Madison Fields contributed 13 points, while Ferguson added seven points.

Big Red finished with 19 field goals compared to 17 for the Crusaders. Central, however, hoisted 24 free throws, making 19.

“Our game plan coming was to keep Central off the foul line,” Lombardo said. “Looking at the stats, they were 19 of 24. We wanted to play a little more zone so we could keep everything in front of us and not get beat off the dribble and foul from behind.

“We got ourselves in trouble even in the zone, unfortunately, with getting beat off the dribble and reaching. They were 19 of 24 — that is just too many easy points.”

Central will wrap up its regular season Monday with a home game against Union Local. Big Red opens Division II sectional play Wednesday at St. Clairsville.

“We can be depressed about the loss tonight but we have to wake up tomorrow and go back to work,” Lombardo said. “We start sectional play at St. Clairsville on Wednesday and we have another shot at redeeming a loss we suffered earlier in the year. We want to end our season on a little more of a positive note.”

GAME NOTES

¯ Prior to the varsity tip, Central honored its two seniors — Zatta and Dombrowski. Big Red’s seniors (Ferguson and Makayla Crownover) also were recognized.

“Our seniors are great kids from great families and deserved to have a game like this to remember their time as part of this team,” Looman said. “Julia and Christine stuck it out with me for four years. They had two solid seasons at the junior varsity level and a stellar last year as varsity starters.

“I’m just really proud of both of them and I’m so glad we were able to give them a huge win and a city championship on Senior Night. I want to thank them for their contributions to our program and for the way they both played tonight.”

¯ Katie Zatta netted 10 points and Ali Grimm eight points as Central collected a 31-19 win in the junior varsity contest. Morgan Green scored six points for the Crusaders. Maggi Cucarese led Big Red with 6 and Aubrey Thompson added 5.

Catholic Central 55, Big Red 54

Big Red 11-7-14-22 — 54

Central 9-14-19-13 — 55

BIG RED (12-9): Gulan 2 0-0 6; Taylor 1 2-2 5; Marshall 0 0-0 0; Ferguson 3 0-1 7; Fields 5 3-5 13; Crownover 1 0-0 2; Minniefield 0 0-0 0; Martin 2 0-2 4; Abrams 5 7-8 17. Totals 19 12-18 54.

CENTRAL (12-9): Harold 0 0-0 0; Zatta 8 9-11 26; Fayak 2 0-0 5; Dombrowski 2 4-6 8; Oliver 4 6-7 14; Olszewski 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 17 19-24 55.

3-POINT GOALS: Big Red 4 (Gulan 2, Taylor, Ferguson); Central 2 (Zatta, Fayak).

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