eadley shoots over Steubenville’s Nylah Mcshan, Madalyn Criss and Sabria Jones. (Photo by Matt Morrison)
EAST LIVERPOOL–The East Liverpool girls basketball team won nine total games in the past two seasons, but the Potters are off to a winning start to the season with four wins out of the first five games.
“I think it is just about changing the culture,when I first took over the program we didn’t really come out and try to compete.” East Liverpool coach Josh Reed said. “, Now the culture has shifted to us coming out and actually competing for wins and I think we are going to put up more wins this season.”
The Potters early success was put on hold as they fell 57-24 to Steubenville on Thursday.
East Liverpool (4-2) was without junior standout Reagan Edwards due to a hamstring injury and that had a major impact on Thursday’s game.
“We knew it was going to be a tall task playing against the speed of Steubenville without Reagan it just exposed a lot of weaknesses” Reed said. ” I don’t think people realize what she does four our basketball team, she sets the tone on defense and is able to handle all of the pressure on offense.”
The game plan didn’t change much for Steubenville, even without Edwards on the court for the Potters.
“It was a matter of understanding that we’re going to have to defend,” Steubenville coach Angelita Forte said. “Whether it was going to be Reagan or whoever else comes in at the point.”
Steubenville (3-1) used its speed as an advantage and went to work quickly as it took a 17-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Big Red then went on a 20-3 run in the second quarter that gave them commanding 37-9 lead at halftime.
“We told the girls to dig in,” Forte said. “We thought we had them on their heels a little bit and our girls responded really well to that and we had Paige (Matteson) catch fire”
Matteson tallied 13 points in the first half and finished with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Nylah Shaw added 15 points.
Without Edwards on the floor, Kenzie Walker became the floor monitor for the Potters.
“It is hard to make such a big adjustment,” Walker said. “Not having a strong point guard really threw us off a lot, we just have to come back tomorrow at practice and make those adjustments.”
Walker finished the game with five points, while Kenzie Headley led the Potters in scoring with six points.
Edwards will be out for the Potters next game against her former team, the Crestview Rebels.
“I’m still going to be the leader I am for this team and I’m still going to hype them up.” Edwards said. “It’s gonna hurt not being able to be out there, it hurt tonight seeing them struggle and not being able to lead them.”
Edwards spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at Crestview before transferring to East Liverpool after last season.
“I was looking for a new opportunity for basketball, I just struggled there (Crestview) mentally,” Edwards said. “I came here and it is a family here and this is what I needed to just grow.”
East Liverpool will prepare without Edwards to take on Crestview on Saturday.
“It’s going to be another tall task, but we just have to calm down and play basketball,” Reed said. “Our effort tonight was just terrible, so if we come out and give no effort against Crestview it is going to be the same story.”
Steubenville will host Carrollton on Monday.
ST: 17-20-15-5–57
EL: 6- 3- 5-10–24
STEUBENVILLE SCORING: Aniyah Warner 3-0-7, Cianna Scurry 0-0-0, Madalyn Criss 3-0-8, Sabria Jones 1-0-2, Madison Cooper 0-0-0, Paige Matteson 7-3-20, Nylah McShan 7-1-15, Bailee Beall 1-0-2, Emme Pierce 0-0-0, Gianna Thomas 0-1-1, Anesha Moore 1-0-2. TEAM TOATLS: 20, 4-11: 57.
EAST LIVERPOOL SCORING: Aynsley Galeoti 0-1-1, Dacianelle Andrews 1-0-2, Cate Davis1-0-2, Lanese Andrews 1-2-4, Presley Jones 0-0-0, Kenzie Headley 2-2-6, Kenzie Walker 2-0-5, Ally Furman 1-0-2, Chassity Smith 1-0-2. TEAM TOATLS: 9, 5-6: 24
Three-point goals: Steubenville 7 (Matteson 4, Criss 2, Warner), East Liverpool 1 (Walker).
