Girls basketball: Kennedi Neale rises to the occasion as Brunswick beats Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE — Kennedi Neale made the most of her home-court advantage, even though the Brunswick girls basketball team was on the road. The sophomore guard scored a career-high 18 points and made six 3-pointers Monday, sparking the Blue Devils to a 52-46 Greater Cleveland Conference victory over Strongsville. Neale, whose father Tucker had a legendary career for the Mustangs, spent an immeasurable amount of time honing her skills in the same building as a youth. "We even had a key to the gym at one point, so I basically grew up on this court," she said. "My dad would hold practice here, my brother (Tre) would have practice here, then I'd have practice in one of the three gyms. It's a special place for all of us, for sure." Neale added a team-best seven rebounds and four assists in the best all-around game of her two-year career for Brunswick (16-4, 6-3). She also shared game-high scoring honors with former grade school and club basketball teammates Taylor Bass and Mackenzie Schulz of Strongsville (8-9, 4-5). Baldwin Wallace signee Bass led all players with eight rebounds, while Findlay recruit Schulz added six boards, three assists and three steals. "I always look forward to playing Brunswick and I loved being out there with Kennedi tonight," Bass said. "I guarded her most of the game, so it was a lot of fun." Neale made 6-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc, establishing a career high midway through the second quarter with her fourth. The Blue Devils built a 20-7 lead early in that period. Bass triggered a big comeback in the final quarter, pulling the Mustangs within 46-44 on a power layup with 2:47 remaining. Fittingly, Neale quelled the threat 20 seconds later by calmly burying a 3-pointer and Strongsville never got closer than five points the rest of the way. "If anyone was going to have a huge game in this gym, it was Kennedi," Brunswick coach Anthony Ocacio said. "It's well deserved because she's done everything for us all season, but doesn't get a lot of attention for it. "She's worked so hard working on her shot every day in practice. It was only a matter of time." Northwood recruit Lea Holmes posted 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots for Brunswick. Journey Hildebrand scored nine points and Lexie Bertemes had seven. Hildebrand and Schulz scored their 1,000th career points earlier in January. The victory assured the Blue Devils of their most successful season in 10 years. They have at least three games remaining to add to it. "We wanted to prove to everyone that we could have this kind of season, so it means a lot," Neale said. Sophomore Sydney Bass had eight points, three steals and three rejections for Strongsville. Senior Sarah Zoul had six rebounds and five assists and Taylor Bass added two blocks. "I grew up with Taylor and Mackenzie, and I wish them nothing but the best in college," Neale said. "Me and Syd actually played up (a level) with them in second grade. We really are like a basketball family." Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Brunswick 52, Strongsville 46 BRUNSWICK 14 14 13 11 52 STRONGSVILLE 3 18 11 14 46 Brunswick — Lexie Bertemes 3-0-7, Journey Hildebrand 3-3-9, Lea Holmes 6-1-13, Kennedi Neale 6-0-18, Faith Vlcek 1-0-2, Ashlyn Dyson 1-0-3, Kennedy Reynolds 0-0-0, Audrey Parker 0-0-0. TOTALS: 20-4-52. Strongsville — Paige Bing 1-0-2, Taylor Bass 6-4-18, Sydney Bass 3-2-8, Mackenzie Schulz 7-2-18, Sarah Zoul 0-0-0, Paige Coleman 0-0-0, Mone'A McElroy 0-0-0, Anna Hardink 0-0-0, Ezster Diosegi 0-0-0, Paige Fabrizi 0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-8-46. 3-point goals — Neale 6, Bertemes, Dyson, T.Bass 2, Schulz 2. Rebounds — Brunswick 21 (Neale 7), Strongsville 39 (T.Bass 8). Assists — Brunswick 15 (Vlcek 5), Strongsville 12 (Zoul 5). Records — Brunswick (16-4, 6-3), Strongsville (8-9, 4-5). Junior varsity — Brunswick 41, Strongsville 32 (B: Gisela Gatesman 10).