2019 Holiday Hoopla at Walsh University

November 29th – December 1st saw Hall of Fame Huddle host the first ever Holiday Hoopla. There was a nice line-up of 13 competitive games for this event –  featuring teams from all over Ohio. The event was organized and Walsh University was a top-notch host for the weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the top performers and great games following the weekend at Walsh.   5 Great Players (+ a few more): Kira Philpot – Stow Kira finished with 22 points in an impressive 63-45 victory over Solon. The front-court player is impressive around the rim. She plays with a high motor and has the ability to single-handedly change the game as a rebounder when she decides to hit the glass. Karli Anker and Rylee Bennett – Akron Manchester There was a point in the last decade where Manchester was one of the top small-school programs in the state of Ohio. They haven’t enjoyed that kind of success in recent years, but if there is a duo that can help them get back to that point, it is Anker and Bennett. Anker – one of the top guards in Ohio – finished with a dominant performance of 28 points, 17 rebounds and a handful of assists. Bennett – only a freshman – finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 61-44 win against Columbiana. Zoe Miller, Morgan Yoder and Brynn Mullet – Berlin Hiland These 3 juniors are all scholarship-level kids. Miller is headed to Bowling Green, Yoder to Ashland and Mullet – with a handful of offers – is still undecided. They balance each other and lead their team so well. Miller is a relentless rebounder in the paint who also possesses great touch for a post player. Yoder runs her team as good as anyone in the state and has a knack for making big shots when her team needs them. Mullet is a silky-smooth shooter with unlimited-range on her jumper.  In the win over Cornerstone Christian, Miller finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds, Yoder had 13 on 4 3-pointers and Mullet ended with 12. Lexi Lemire – GlenOak Lexi has waited her turn – serving as a serviceable bench player during her first 3 years at GlenOak behind some outstanding guards. She is smooth with the ball in her hands and can finish with a number of different floaters and runnners. She is also a great 3-point shooter with her feet set. Lemire had 18 points in GlenOak’s win over Tusky Valley. Danielle Vuletich and Alyssa Serensky – Western Reserve The duo combined for 51 points in the only real blowout of the weekend. Vuletich’s length is a problem for most teams around the basket. Serensky really impressed – the Bethany commit has improved a lot. Her play down the stretch is vital if WR wants to return to the regionals and have a shot at beating the Cornerstone Christians and Daltons of the D4 world.   5 Great Games: Olentangy Liberty – 48                                   Akron Buchtel – 47 Akron Buchtel and Olentangy Liberty battled in the finale of the Holiday Hoopla and they certainly didn’t disappoint. This contest was tied at the end of the 3rd quarter and ultimately regulation – giving area basketball fans an overtime game to finish their Thanksgiving weekend. It was Buchtel who went coast-to-coast to take a 2-point lead with 17 seconds left, before Liberty raced the ball down the court and hit a walk-off 3-pointer as time expired. Berlin Hiland – 59                                             Cornerstone Christian Academy – 39 These two small-school powers – who have eyes on Columbus and the State Final 4 in March – battled for 4 quarters in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate. Cornerstone was actually up 6 points entering halftime and only down 1 at the end of 3 quarters, before Hiland’s depth (playing up to 12 girls in a given game) carried them to a 20-point victory and early season statement. West Branch – 50                                             Louisville – 48 A much improved Louisville squad give West Branch all that they could handle in another overtime classic. It took both teams a little while to settle in – with an 8-8 stalemate at the end of 1. Louisville was actually down 9 points entering the 4th quarter – going on a huge run to force extra time. West Branch drained a long jumper to go up 2 and Louisville was unable to get a good look at the basket on their baseline out of bounds play to end the game. Peyton Alazaus (pictured above; photo credit - Morning Journal) led the way with 19 points for West Branch. Southeast – 50                                                  Waynedale – 42 Waynedale jumped out to a quick start – leading 11 to 7 at the end of the first frame. It was all Southeast the rest of the way. The Pirates – who won a district championship a year ago – led 28-21 at the end of the 1st half and 39-31 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Waynedale, behind stellar guard play, did keep it close – getting to within a few baskets at numerous times in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to get the victory. GlenOak – 64                                                     Tusky Valley – 44 In another game that was much closer than the final score shows – Tusky Valley, who most would probably have considered a big-time underdog coming in, was tied at the end of both the 1st quarter and the 1st half. The 2nd half showed why GlenOak was a State Final 4 team in Division 1 a year ago and also shows glimpses of enough firepower to get them back there this winter. The Golden Eagles are still a very deep and talented squad.