Makenna Drabick scores 22 points, grabs 12 rebounds and Maddie Blyer adds 16 points, but Solon makes free throws, big plays at crunch time for 66-60 victory

CANTON Hoover's heart was every bit as huge as the body of Solon's 6-2 Valencia Myers. The smaller Vikings wore their hearts on their sleeves, outplaying the longer Comets on the glass to the tune that they had more offensive rebounds than Solon had total boards.

But the basketball bounces cruelly, and it went the Comets' way when it mattered most.

Reserve forward Rian Dortch scored 10 points, four on offensive putbacks including the backbreaker with 25 seconds left, and Solon went 6 of 7 at the foul line in the final 2:09 to end Hoover's season with a 66-60 victory.

Dee Bekelja scored 10 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to send Solon into Friday's final against McKinley. The Comets know they were lucky to get there.

Makenna Drabick scored 22 points, 20 in the second half, and grabbed a dozen rebounds to power the smaller Vikings. She was joined on the boards by Annie Roshak and Alexis Green with six apiece, and guard Maddie Blyer grabbed five despite playing on an injured ankle the final 11 minutes of her career.

Hoover outrebounded Solon 33-17, with 18 of them of the offensive variety. That kept the Vikings in the game, and Solon coach Trish Kruse frantically pacing the sidelines. Drabick's huge 13-point third quarter included four of her eight offensive rebounds in the game.

"Drabick was killing us on the boards, so was No. 44 (Roshak)," said Kruse. "Hoover just works so hard on the offensive end of the floor crashing the boards, so we had to rebound.

"They just work extremely hard. We didn't match that the first half, they were definitely the more physical team."

It was easy to see it was a game that was going down to the wire. Hoover steadied itself after falling behind 6-0 and ran off 12 points to shock the Comets. They weren't going away either, and that's why the game had 16 lead changes and was tied 46-46 going to the fourth quarter.

The Vikings just couldn't make enough plays in the last quarter. Their only lead came on two Blyer free throws to start the fourth quarter. After that Hoover went 3 for 7 at the line and made two critical turnovers in the final 4:06.

Yet the Vikings were right there until the end.

Drabick's final putback cut Solon's lead to 58-56 with 2:36 to play. Comets guard Mariah Madkins then stuck a knife into Hoover's hopes by swishing four straight free throws despite not attempting a shot previous to that.

"She's a great foul shooter," Kruse said. "She's just so confident."

But Myers had fouled out with eight points and six rebounds with 1:56 to play. Madkins' last two freebies made it 62-57 but Blyer answered just like she did against GlenOak, firing in a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 62-60 with a minute to play.

Then came Dortch. When Bejelka missed the front of a 1-and-1, Alexis Stover went over the top of Hoover's girls and tapped it to Dortch, who laid it in to all but end the game.

"She went 0-for-5 last week (against Twinsburg) on her offensive putbacks," Kruse said of Dortch, "but tonight she had four of five huge putbacks for us."

And that's the way the ball bounces, said Hoover head coach Abbey Allerding.

"I could not have asked for anything from our kids," she said after Hoover finished 21-5. "They just battle with such heart. I'm just so proud of the way they went at it.

"It was a valiant effort by Makenna, and our whole team."

Hoover was hurt by turning the ball over 22 times. Those turnovers, some missed easy shots and a rebound that got away will not ruin what this team did, Allerdering said.

"I just feel so blessed to be a part of this," she said. "I feel like there was no quit in them. God had His hand on this team this year. To see them do what they did is incredible. I'm just so thankful I got to be a part of it."

Reach Jim at 330-580-8336 or

jim.thomas@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: jthomasREP

Read the original here:

Hoover puts forth valiant effort, but Solon's final push nets Comets a 66-60 win - Canton Repository