Girls basketball: Wadsworth stops two-game skid with win over Hudson

HUDSON — After an indescribable and totally chaotic first half Friday, the Wadsworth girls basketball team got a much-needed 37-21 Suburban League National Conference win over Hudson. The Grizzlies (15-2, 9-2) ended a two-game conference losing streak and ensured they remained tied for the top spot in the SL National with Brecksville (12-2, 9-2). "We needed this really bad," said Wadsworth senior small forward Lauren Decker, who turned in 14 points, seven rebounds and six steals. "It was our last away game, so we had to put it all out there and we finished it. It wasn't the prettiest win, but it is still a win." "I think we needed it bad, but we wanted it more," added Julia Maddox, who had five points and six rebounds. "We were just ready to get back to playing how we typically play. It felt good to get it back." The loss by the Explorers (12-4, 7-4) all but eliminates them from challenging for the crown. With both defenses pushing the opposing offense into hurried sets and rushed passes while allowing almost no open looks, the first two quarters were a beautiful disaster. The Grizzlies didn't make their first basket until 30 seconds remained in the opening quarter, but their defense was impressive enough that the deficit was just 9-5 after one. Natalie Maddox (7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) was responsible for the only Wadsworth make. In the second quarter, the Wadsworth defense was even better. Hudson was held scoreless for the first 7:25 of the period as the Grizzlies slowly started to warm up. "When we play as a team, we just tell each other to relax," Natalie Maddox said. "When we play as a team, we are almost unstoppable. We just all played together." The spark came from a big 3-pointer by center Marah Minor (5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks), her team's only three of the night. Hudson also only made one three. "Coach (Andrew) Booth just called up a play for us," Minor said. "I had 100% confidence in myself that it was going in." Wadsworth point guard Natalie Moser (6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) followed with a pair of buckets to give the Grizzlies their first lead since Decker hit a pair of free throws. Wadsworth allowed just one make in the third quarter and Decker started warming up on the offensive end to give her team a 22-14 advantage. "This was a big game for us because we had lost two in the league," Decker said. "We knew we couldn't afford to lose another one. I think that finally set in after the first (half). We started passing the ball more, we stopped playing so chaotic, we drove in and started passing to open shooters. It just kept progressing throughout the game." Over the middle quarters, the Explorers managed just five points on 2-of-28 shooting (.071) and committed 10 turnovers. A 15-point fourth-quarter offensive explosion in which Decker scored nine points put away the game. Hudson was a paltry 1-for-25 from behind the arc and 9-for-52 overall (.173). Wadsworth wasn't much better going, 1-for-14 from long range (.071), but capitalized inside by making 14-of-30 (.467) inside the arc. "We tried to send a message to the rest of the league teams tonight," Minor said. "We haven't played as well, but when our team plays at its best, I don't know many teams that can compete with us." Decker, the Maddox twins and Moser helped their team dominate the boards 38-24. Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com. Wadsworth 37, Hudson 21 WADSWORTH&emsp;&emsp;5 &emsp;&emsp;7 &emsp;&emsp;10 15 — 37 HUDSON &emsp;&emsp;9 &emsp;&emsp;2 &emsp;&emsp;3 &emsp;&emsp;7 &emsp;&emsp;— 21 Wadsworth — Natalie Maddox 3-1-7, Marah Minor 2-0-5, Lauren Decker 5-4-14, Julia Maddox 2-1-5, Natalie Moser 3-0-6, Leah Blake 0-0-0, Tenley Mendel 0-0-0, Analise Lucy 0-0-0, LindiGray Tenzel 0-0-0. TOTALS: 15-6-37. Hudson — Ashli Pearson 3-1-7, Angelique Pinson 0-0-0, Abby Meacham 1-0-2, Anna Anzevino 2-0-5, Elorah Beh 2-1-5, Charlotte Salem 0-0-0, Kayla Weinberg 1-0-2, Vanessa Casey 0-0-0, Maddy Meacham 0-0-0, Addie Frank 0-0-0, Bella Lane 0-0-0. TOTALS: 9-2-21. 3-point goals — Minor, Anzevino. Rebounds — Wadsworth 38 (N. Maddox 11), Hudson 24 (Pearson 7). Assists — Wadsworth 5 (N. Maddox, Moser 2), Hudson 4 (Anzevino, A. Meacham, Pearson, Pinson). Records — Wadsworth (15-2, 9-2), Hudson (12-4, 7-4).