Battle of 44256 brings Medina schools together on the hardwood

On paper, it looks like a giant mismatch, and it may be. Medina’s boys basketball game at home Jan. 24 against Medina Christian, though, is a meaningful moment for the community.

Billed as the Battle of 44256, the one-night event brings together the four schools that share the zip code – Medina, Medina Christian, Buckeye and Highland – with the teams sharing the hardwood once every three years on a rotational schedule.

“Rob Wingate had the idea,” Medina coach Chris Hassinger said of his Medina Christian counterpart. “It was well attended last year and a lot of fun.”

In the inaugural event, Buckeye defeated Medina Christian 80-49, while Medina edged Highland 55-52. This year, Highland will face Buckeye in the 5:30 p.m. opener, followed by Medina and Medina Christian at approximately 7 p.m. All games will be played at Medina.

Medina Christian junior R.J. Walgate scored 22 points in the Knights’ 50-49 overtime loss at East Liverpool on Jan. 10, including the 1,000th point of his career. Walgate averages about 21 points per game to lead the Knights and is Medina Christian’s first 1,000-point scorer in OHSAA competition.

Playing the Bees will give Walgate and teammates Sam Dorman, Preston Collins, Isaac Maletich and Nick Malicoat a chance to measure themselves against some of the area’s top competition.

Medina entered the week at 6-3 overall, one game in the loss column behind first-place Euclid in the Greater Cleveland Conference.

“MCA is much improved, and I think Walgate would start for us,” Hassinger said. “Dorman is very good as well. They have kids that would play in our program. I think it will be a competitive game.

“They have guys that would play for us and a couple guys that could start for us. They have played some teams that are really good this year. We never overlook anyone, especially ones that live in your own city and could have played for us.”

Medina is led by Garrett Myers at about 14 points per game and Beckett Miller at around 12. Ryan Harubin also averages in double figures at about 11 points per game.

Girls basketball

The Bees had some regrouping to do after a tough stretch left them 5-6 overall and 3-3 in the Greater Cleveland Conference at the season’s midpoint. The first half concluded with a 57-34 loss at Brunswick.

Medina bounced back with consecutive wins, including a 65-38 victory over Lorain, paced by Abby Dress’ 21-point performance. Molly Gilbert added nine points as the Bees jumped out to a 16-2 lead and never looked back.

Highland suffered just its second loss of the season with a 63-57 setback at Aurora on Jan. 10. The Hornets led by two entering the fourth quarter but surrendered 21 points in the final period. With Copley falling to Tallmadge the same day, Highland remained one game behind Copley in the Suburban League American Conference standings. The teams were scheduled to meet Wednesday at Copley, the second of four straight road games for the Hornets, who were 6-2 in league play and tied with Aurora one game back.

Girls wrestling

Highland, which earlier earned the first dual-meet win in program history with a victory over Strongsville – also the first girls dual meet ever held at Highland – returned to the home mat Jan. 3 for another milestone, an intra-county matchup with Cloverleaf.

The Colts edged the Hornets 26-18 in the nonleague meet. Winning matches for Cloverleaf were Natalie Wise (105 pounds), Berkeley Craddock (130), Kaleigh Bratcher (135), Aubrey Willig (140) and Eleanor Freund (190). Highland winners were Kelsey Denholm (145), Lexi Timura (155) and Trinity Smith (235).