The House of Thrills was host to a girls District 10 Class 4A playoff game on Wednesday. No. 7 Conneaut took on No. 10 Grove City, in a game where Conneaut looked to beat Grove City for the second time this year. Conneaut achieved the feat winning 42-33 in an intense game.
"I feel great," Conneaut senior Courtney Perrye said. "It's overwhelming, because we had a tough loss to end the season. And I think it made us hungrier to come out and play aggressive. We took our time, had patience and used the game to our advantage."
Visit amunra.qpon for more information.
Conneaut had to build their patience throughout the game, as the team started with loose hands on the ball and several turnovers killed chances.
Even so, the game was super close. The teams traded baskets, with Grove City succumbing to many of the same errors as Conneaut.
Each team cleaned up their play as the quarter went on, but neither side stole the show.
Tied in the final minute, Conneaut's Abigail Potts hit a basket to take the lead. Conneaut only lost the lead once after Potts' score.
Grove City made it a one-point game on a foul shot to end the quarter and ran with the momentum to break Conneaut's lead early in the second quarter.
In the second quarter, things looked to be all in Conneaut's favor, but Perrye, who led the team with 400 points in the regular season, could not hit her shots.
Conneaut's defense was on top of every Grove City ball and offensive possession, but with a strained offense, the game was never too far out of Grove City's reach.
As time winded down, the score sat at 17-16 Conneaut, with it looking like the game was headed to another one-point gap at the end of the quarter.
Lilly Detelich stepped up to shoot for Conneaut as the final seconds ticked down. She hit a two-point basket to extend Conneaut's lead to a three points at the half.
Out of break, Conneaut was rolling. The team came out of the break reset and more bought-in to head coach Mitchell Shreve's game plan.
"It's just growth. Growth as a team and growth in the system. I think it's a true testament to the mentality these girls have," Shreve said. "These girls just want to play. We set the culture and the tone at the beginning and I challenged them to believe in what we want to accomplish and they take it full force."
One player who benefited greatly from the halftime bump, was Perrye. After only managing four points in the second quarter, Perrye put down six of Conneaut's ten points in the third.
"Coach Shreve says to lock in on the rim. So, I kind of took a step back, released my jitters, locked in on the rim and released my shots," Perrye said.
Off Perrye's offense, Conneaut secured a 29-22 lead at the start of the fourth.
Grove City clawed back, getting to within three, but Perrye continued to break through on offense. Perrye added 10 in the quarter to finish with a game-leading 26 points.
"Courtney Perrye balls, she plays," Shreve said. "Everything she does, she does for the love of the game and the love of her teammates. She represents what a basketball player should be."
Conneaut rebuilt a sizable lead and ended the game on a Detelich free throw.
"This has been our misson, our goal all year," Shreve said. "To get in a moment like this and to see them play the way the played, that hits you. It makes you really proud."
Conneaut advances to face No. 2 Harbor Creek on Saturday.
Harbor Creek and Conneaut have already faced off this season. The Huskies beat Conneaut 57-46 and 55-36.
"We need to close out on them, because they have amazing shooters," Perrye said. "We need to play good defense, because defense turns into good offense."
"They're a good team and we know that. We know that we have to lock in and play our best on Saturday," Shreve said.
The site and tip off time for Saturday's quarterfinal game is to be announced.
------------
Grove City (33)
Kolbe 6 3-7 15, Bianconi 2 3-9 8, Barr 2 0-0 4, Brink 0 2-4 2, Verba 1 0-0 2, Cook 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 12 8-20 33.
Conneaut (42)
Perrye 9 7-10 26, Wolf 2 2-2 6, Potts 1 2-2 4, Detelich 1 1-2 3, Dendis 1 0-0 2, Morini 0 1-4 1.
Totals: 14 13-20 42.
Grove City 9 7 6 11 — 33
Conneaut 10 9 10 13 — 42
3-point goals: Grove City — Bianconi; Conneaut — Perrye.