Sports
Normandy Girls Top Cuyahoga Falls, 44-29
Troxell scores seven in return from injury; Tigers' to face Kent Roosevelt in sectionals on Saturday.
For Cuyahoga Falls Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Dennis Wright, it was nice to see senior standout Samantha Troxell back on the floor to play in the regular-season finale against Normandy. Troxell, who missed four games due to injury, scored seven points in limited action. Unfortunately for the Black Tigers (8-12 overall, 4-6 Northeast Ohio Conference), it wasn’t nearly enough as they lost to the host Invaders 44-29 Wednesday night.
The senior point guard did a nice job controlling the tempo of the game, but was under the watchful eye of Wright.
"She did very well for the first time back," said Wright. "The trainer wanted us to limit her minutes, but she has had a great year for us and averaged over 15 points a game. Her shot was a little rusty, but she is a first-team player in our league (NOC)."
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Troxell’s play early on kept Cuyahoga Falls team close, getting to within one point with 2:30 left in the first quarter. Normandy’s defense, however, was too much for the Black Tigers. Cuyahoga Falls remained scoreless for the remainder of quarter and entered the second quarter trailing, 14-5.
The second quarter though, was where Normandy's aggressiveness on the court enabled them to pull away with the win. The Invaders (15-5, 8-2 NOC) outscored the Black Tigers, 10-4, and led at halftime, 24-9.
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"Offensively we are not doing well and we have to shoot better," said Wright. "They were very aggressive and we weren't as physical as they were. The difference was we just couldn't put the ball in the hole. We have to shoot better.”
Wright also did not have an answer for Normandy’s Amanda Wakut, who had 11 points on the night. Wakut’s constant court presence and tenaciousness around the ball forced the Falls’ girls into several turnovers.
The Black Tigers played more aggressively in the second half and made adjustments, but the damage was done and the lead to large to overcome.
Top scoring honors for Cuyahoga Falls include Troxell and Logen Breehl, each scoring seven points. Teammates Cali Neuman and Laura McCuan added six points apiece, and Kayleigh Gilbow scored three.
The Invaders were paced by Wakut and Katlin Snyder, who each scored 11 points.
Cuyahoga Falls starts Division I sectional play on Saturday against Kent Roosevelt at Akron Ellet High School. Game time is 1 p.m.