Lady Bulldogs defeat Strongsville, head to regional semifinal against Mentor

K'lynn Carter and Mya Taylor celebrate winning the district championship over Strongsville. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Kana Beltz's big shots keep the Lady Pups in the game

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Lady Bulldogs pull out a close one to win the Division I Northeast 4 District Championship over Strongsville 55-49. 

Games in tournaments that everyone is excited about usually begin slowly while the teams get into their rhythm, and that's exactly what the Lady Bulldogs experienced. 

"Well, our offense we always seem to get off a little slow," said Gracia, McKinley Head Coach. 

In the early period, they would not put a point on the board until the 5:12 mark on a basket by Jaiden Curtis, trailing 2-5. They would only score three additional points for the quarter as they needed to settle down. 

Sidney Butera scored five points for Strongsville, helping them finish the quarter ahead with a score of 8-6.

Kana Beltz shrugs off Rosalynda Jordan as she dribbles for position. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Mya Taylor started the scoring for the Lady Pups, scoring an early quarter basket with 7:32 left, as she would begin to take control of the offense, which struggled shooting the ball. 

As Gracia went to the bench, he would get K'lynn Carter and Kana Beltz in the game, and they would take the lead with 6:43 as Beltz would knock down a 3-point shot that put the Bulldogs ahead 11-10, then a follow-up layup by K'lynn Carter would put them ahead by three.

They would have a 15-point quarter with Mya Taylor accountable for six in the quarter and a few buckets by Amiyah Chester.

McKinley's defense began to shine as they limited Butera to just five points in the quarter, totaling nine points overall, and they went into halftime with a 21-17 lead. "Just stop her, stop her from shooting three's, you know, run her off that line, sit down, trap her, do anything to get the ball out her hands," exclaimed Taylor. 

K'Lynn Carter defends Sidney Butera as he makes her way to the basket. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

The third quarter would go back and forth with multiple ties and lead changes as both teams started to really settle into their offenses. Butera would begin to find a rhythm for Strongsville, and Beltz would energize the Pups with a strong third quarter, scoring eight points for the quarter and knocking down her final two of four made 3-point shots. McKinley trailed 39-38 at the end of three quarters.

"My team behind me giving me the confidence behind every shot really helps with everything," said Beltz.

In the last period, McKinley's defense would again hold Butera to five total points for the quarter as she would finish the game with 24 points, and Mya Taylor would finish off an 18-point night with seven of those scored in the fourth quarter to capture the trophy. 

Amiyah Chester attempts free throws early in the game. She finished with 11 points for the game. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

McKinley now faces Mentor in a regional semifinal game on Wednesday, March 4, from Barberton High School with a tip-off time of 6 P.M.

Strongsville finishes the season 18-6 and is the Division I Northeast 4 District Runner-up.