LIMA – It had all been going so well.
Jasannah Sabiers
Through three quarters, Ross’ girls basketball team controlled its game at Lima Senior. Shots were falling and the Lady Giants were breaking the Spartans’ defensive press and trapping.
But with a shift in Lima’s defense, came a shift in Ross’ fortunes. The Spartans went man-to-man, quickly cut into Ross’ double-digit lead, stole momentum and rode it to a fourth-quarter comeback, as Ross was on the bitter end of a 61-59 loss.
“That one definitely stings, we had it in our hands,” Ross coach Juan Vela said
“At halftime, I told the kids, they next two quarters are the most important quarters of the game and it doesn’t matter if your start the game good or bad, it’s how you end it. We weren’t able to get that done.”
Ross came out of the gates firing, hitting nine field goals, including three 3-pointers, to take a 21-10 lead in the first quarter and grew the advantage to 15 points at halftime (38-23).
Lima cut into the lead in the third quarter, but Ross still led by 11 entering the fourth.
That is when the Spartans changed their defense and went on a 5-0 run in the first minute of the final period, quickly cutting the deficit to six, and putting the Lady Giants back on their heels.
Jazmin Bulger
“I would say there was some panic,” Vela said. “…I thought we did some god things, but our decision-making wasn’t good. It seemed like whenever we made a bad decision or a turnover, they capped it off on the other end. They shot well from the free throw line (19-of-26). It was not pretty.
“I thought we were rushing it. We had the lead and, for some reason, we thought we had to shoot after the first or second pass, instead of moving the ball around, taking a good shot. So, I think we shot ourselves in the foot, too.”
Lima out-scored Ross 25-12 in the fourth quarter for the comeback victory.
Jazmin Bulger led Ross with 24 points and, with Olivia Baptista and Marissa Overmyer in foul trouble and Ahlia Simms not playing due to injury, junior Jasannah Sabiers filled the void by having her best game of the season.
“Jassanah Sabriers stepped in and had 16 (points),” Vela said. “I don’t know what she got rebounding-wise but I wouldn’t surprise me if she had 10-plus rebounds.”
The loss drops the Lady Giants to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in the TRAC. Ross returns to action with a pair of home games next week, hosting Woodward on Monday and Clay on Thursday.
Lima Senior 61, Fremont Ross 59
ROSS (59)
Bulger 9 2-6 24; O. Baptista 1 0-0 2; Gore 1 0-1 2; Horn 0 1-2 1; Syzmanowski 0 1-2 1; B. Baptista 3 0-2 8; Sabiers 8 0-0 16; Overmyer 2 1-2 5. Totals, 24 5-15 59.
3-pointers – Ross, 6 (Bulger 4, B. Baptista 2).