Minerva rolls past Salem as weather reshuffles schedule

The way the Lions played against Salem in an Eastern Buckeye Conference matchup, it looked like nothing could have stopped Minerva.

Except for, perhaps, the weather.

The Lions were supposed to play two games last week, but were only able to pull off one, as northeast Ohio’s unpredictable weather got in the way. The recent cold snap of weather didn’t just wreak havoc on the roads, it also messed with the Lions’ schedule as the nonconference basketball game at Lake scheduled for Jan. 20 was postponed due to a cold weather advisory and multiple school closures in the area. It has been tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 17. 

Thankfully, Minerva was able to get one game in. Too bad for the Quakers, however, as the Lions rolled to an 80-55 win on the road.

The game was close for the first quarter as Salem managed to keep pace with Minerva and trailed by two at 18-16 entering the second quarter. Then the Lions’ offense, thanks to Owen Shick, kicked it into high gear, exploding for 24 second-period points. As the teams filed off the court for halftime, Minerva held an imposing 42-27 lead.

The Lions poured it on in the third quarter, opening up a 20-point lead and it was all over as Salem simply did not have to horses to counter Minerva’s attack.

Shick ended drilling eight three-pointers to score a game-high 28 points to lead Minerva (7-8, 3-4). Brayden Wood finished with 18 points and Rowen Hoffee added 11 for the Lions. Jack Andres scored 16 points to pace the Quakers (3-10, 0-7), while Ty Manion chipped in with 15.

Boys Wrestling

Minerva is rounding into form nicely as the Lions took on Marlington in an EBC dual match Jan. 22. Defeating the Dukes 46-28, the Lions improved to 8-2 overall and remain perfect at 3-0 in league play.

At 144, Colton Godsey pinned Brayden Penrod in 5:27, while Jason Sivy (1action, taking down Steven Collins in 1:38, while Ethan Weaver (175) took down Jacob Rose in just 1:41. Last but not least, Cole Sivy (138) pinned Aaron Raga in 1:33.

Alex Wright (106) earned a 10-4 decision over Cooper Hallman, and Kolton Almasy (126) logged a 20-8 major decision over Dane Keeling. At 190, Timothy Kirkpatrick posted a 4-0 decision over Kaylor Weaver, while Shawn Weaver (120) picked up a forfeit.

Girls Basketball

The Lady Lions split their two games this past week, first dropping a 45-27 decision to Marlington before rebounding with a 51-28 thrashing of Alliance.

The Lions visited Marlington Jan. 21 and provided the Lady Dukes with a stiff challenge for the first quarter. Thanks to some good three-point shooting from Peyton Beaumariage and company, the Lions were able to take a 6-2 lead two minutes into the contest.

Minerva hung tough but Marlington regained its composure and mounted its comeback. When Shelby Odey’s shot in the lane rolled in near the end of the first quarter, it gave the Lady Dukes an 11-9 lead they would not relinquish. The Lady Dukes outscored the Lions 14-4 in the second quarter to take command of the game as Marlington went on to win comfortably.

In the loss, Ireland Kirkpatrick scored seven points and Ayvah Morckel added six for Minerva. Odey scored 10 points to lead Marlington (6-8, 4-4), while Bailee Pietz scored eight of the Lady Dukes’ first 14 points. 

Minerva remained on the road for a Jan. 24 visit to Alliance for another EBC match. The Lady Lions roared to a 16-2 first-quarter lead en route to the 51-28 victory.

Kirkpatrick scored a game-high 19 points to lead Minerva (3-14, 2-7), while Willa Shick added 11 points. Kimara Chance scored 10 points to pace Alliance (4-13, 0-9).

Bowling

The Lions met Marlington for an EBC match Jan. 21 at Minerva Bowl, and on the boys’ side it was closer than expected, yet Minerva outlasted the Dukes, 2,333-2,294. Austin Ailing rolled a 451 series (225-226) for the Lions, who improved to 14-1 overall and 5-1 in the Eastern Buckeye Conference.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Lions won easily, defeating Marlington 2,088-1,527 as Bailey Wood rolled games of 195 and 214 to help the Lions improve to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in the EBC.