WESTLAKE — Midpark may still win the Southwestern Conference title outright, but Westlake made sure the Meteors did not go undefeated. The Demons overcame foul trouble to defeat Midpark 58-53.
So what was the secret to Westlake’s success? Would you believe dodgeball.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Westlake had lost the lead after having it for much of the game. So what words of wisdom did head coach Chip Weiss share with his team?
“Coach just told us, ‘Dr. Dodgeball,” senior forward Lauryn Smith said. “Yesterday after practice we played dodgeball to get some team unity. Midpark wasn’t allowed to go undefeated.”
With 1:25 remaining in the game, Westlake was ahead 54-51. The Demons tried to run some clock but Kaila Barber stole the ball and made a layup to cut the lead to one. After a missed Beach layup and Midpark called time. The Meteors threw away the ball and were forced to foul. Westlake’s Katie Carroll made both ends of a one and one to push the lead to 56-53. On the next possession, Westlake senior guard Natalie Betchel stole the ball. But she missed both free throws giving Midpark another chance. Barber missed a three pointer and Betchel got the rebound. This time she drained both to seal the victory.
“It was a very physical game and we prepared for that,” Weiss said. “Last time mentally we were not ready at all. We needed to relax and have some fun. I think playing dodgeball really helped us. It relaxed us and we had some fun and they got to be kids again. We were really loose today. There was no pressure and we just had to execute. It paid off.”
The Demons were confronted with a lot of adversity during the game. Determined not to have Midpark continue unscathed in the SWC, Westlake scored two quick baskets to lead 4-0 but then 6-foot-1 junior forward Kalpana Beach, who was honored before the game with a game ball for scoring her 1,000th point against North Olmsted, picked up two quick fouls just 1:05 into the game. Her teammates rallied however and Westlake led 10-8 after one quarter.
Beach returned to start the quarter but then it appeared the wheels fell off. Beach picked up her third foul. 6’0 junior forward Katie Carroll picked up her third foul and 6’1 senior forward Lauryn Smith picked up her second foul as did senior guard Julie Laraway. Midpark took advantage at the foul line making 11 of 11 free throws in the second quarter. But Westlake found a way to hold 32-29 lead at the half.
“We lost two bigs and we had to do the best job we could,” Weiss said. “The bench did a great job. Our philosophy is to go inside. We have the height and we have the advantage and sooner or later they are going to foul us.”
Beach played most of the third quarter but Midpark’s defense was able to push her farther and farther away from the basket for her turnaround jumpers. Beach missed all five of her shots in the third quarter. The Meteors, particularly Claire Gutchall (16 points) and Kalia Barber (20 points), were scoring off turnovers and again looked ready to blow the game open as they took a 41-36 lead. Smith was able to pick up the load for the Demons. Smith continued to get position under the basket and scored 18 of her team high 20 points through the first three quarters. Westlake tied the game at 43 but Midpark scored on Brittany Smith jumper off an inbounds pass as time expired in the third quarter.
Smith scored to open the final quarter to tie the score and then Beach ended her shooting drought with a jumper to take the lead. Midpark used their defense to score a quick four points to retake the lead but then Carroll who sat most of the third quarter with four fouls returned to score off an assist from Beach and then was fouled on Westlake’s next possession. Carroll made the first free throw but missed the second, beach was there for the rebound and she was fouled. She made both free throws. The teams then traded baskets to set up the final minute and half.
Beach, despite the foul trouble and the missed shots in the third quarter, still finished with 17 points and she had nine of her 10 rebounds in the second half. She was also five of six from the line.
“That is the special athlete she is,” Weiss said. “She took a lot of quick shots today. Normally she takes her time. It is amazing to watch her play sometimes.”
Both teams were strong at the free throw line. Midpark made 18 of 21 while Westlake made 18 of 25. Westlake was able to overcome their 24 turnovers but Midpark’s 30 turnovers were deadly. Westlake is now 14-4 (10-3). Midpark fell to 14-4 (11-1).
“We didn’t play a solid enough game for four quarters,” Midpark coach Stephanie Mentz said. “We didn’t capitalize on Kalpana being in foul trouble. We didn’t capitalize on Smith and Carroll being foul trouble. We didn’t capitalize on Laraway being in foul trouble in the second quarter. We missed a lot of opportunities.”
