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Shadyside roars past Bridgeport in Div. IV

Top-seeded Tigers score first 43 points in 72-18 victory

SHADYSIDE’S TORY Hendershot (3) dribbles the ball upcourt after one of her 10 steals Wednesday night against Bridgeport in Division IV sectional tournament action. The Tigers rolled, 72-18. Bridgeport’s Bailey Dyson (12) looks on as does the Tigers’ Gentry Brown.

SHADYSIDE — Getting off to a good start at tournament time is crucial. Shadyside did just that Wednesday night, Bridgeport didn’t.

The top-seeded Tigers netted the first 43 points of its Division IV sectional opener and cruised to a 72-18 victory over Bridgeport inside the Tigers Den. The game was played with a running clock for the entire second half per Ohio High School Athletic Association rules.

Shadyside (17-4) used its pressure defense to force an eye-popping 18 turnovers in the first quarter alone as it led 33-0 after eight minutes. It was truly a team effort as all five starters scored and charted at least two steals each.

“We got off to a good start. Our press was good for us. We were in good positioning and got some easy baskets out of it,” Shadyside head coach Serge Gentile said. “Offensively, we did a good job of moving the ball and we got good looks. That was a key to us being able to press.”

The senior trio of Baylee Wach, Kamdyn Elerick and Tory Hendershot combined for 25 of the Tigers’ 33 first-quarter lightings, with Wach and Elerick evenly dividing 18 and Hendershot adding seven.

Hendershot was all over the court on defense. She charted 10 steals, with many ending up in uncontested layups. She also handed out six assists and pulled down four rebounds. Wach charted five thefts and two helpers, while Elerick added four steals and two assists.

“I’ve been saying it for four years, Tory is one heck of an athlete,” Gentile noted. “She sees the court so well. She anticipates the next pass and gets in the (passing) lanes.”

Bridgeport (0-13) turned the ball over 18 times in the first quarter while only getting one shot off. It got the goose egg off the scoreboard when Hallee Lewis scored with 3:33 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs had 28 of their 33 turnovers before the half.

“Shadyside is a very good team and we knew that coming in,” Bridgeport head coach Greg Harkness said. “Hopefully, they make a long run for those two seniors — (Baylee) Wach and (Tory) Hendershot. They’ve had good careers.”

Shadyside received nine points off the bench from Kaelee Stewart and eight from Macy Hendershot.

“It’s absolutely important to get those girls some time,” Gentile said of his second five that played the entire second half. “We haven’t practice in the last two days due to the weather and we haven’t played much JV ball this season, so it was big for those girls to get some work. They could be needed. They’ve earned their playing time.”

Junior Paige Gorby grabbed eight rebounds as the hosts led 28-17 off the glass.

“I’m proud of my girls for sticking it out. It’s been a long season and it would have been real easy for them to quit,” Harkness praised. “I appreciate the fact that they stuck it out.

“We got quarantined early and then we got quarantined again,” he added. “They girls came every day to practice.”

Shadyside advances to host Beallsville Saturday at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils nipped Newcomerstown, 33-32, Wednesday night.

The Tigers were guilty of just seven turnovers.

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