By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

GIRLS BASKETBALL

ROOTSTOWN 51, CANTON SOUTH 33

The Rovers won their seventh consecutive game with a double-digit non-league triumph over Canton South in Rootstown on Saturday.

Nadia Lough scored 17 points and six rebounds to lead the effort, while Brooklynn McIntyre added 12 points for the Rovers, who are now 9-1 overall.

Sasha Nichols stepped up for Rootstown, scoring nine points.

Rootstown’s pressure defense got to Canton South to create 30 turnovers. However, the Rovers were a bit careless with the ball, too, totaling 26 miscues of their own.

CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC 39, MOGADORE 33

The Crusaders leaned on the production of three Beldens to pull out the win over the Wildcats.

Lily Beldne scored 10 points, Sarah Belden had six and Kristen Belden added four points to account for just over half of the Crusaders’ overall scoring.

Canton Central Catholic took control of the game by winning the middle quarters, outscoring the Wildcats 23-9 in the second and third quarters.

Mogadore’s offense was led by Ari Tompkins’ 10 points — as she was the only Mogadore player to reach double figures.

Jocelyn Lawrentz grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Cats.

BOYS BASKETBALL

CRESTWOOD 69, CONNEAUT 47

After giving up 22 first-quarter points, the Crestwood boys basketball team’s defense got stronger and stronger to highlight a large victory over Conneaut on Saturday in Mantua.

The Devils held Conneaut to 12 points in the second quarter, then continued to shrink tighter and held them to eight third-quarter points and only five in the fourth quarter.

Crestwood’s offensive, in the meantime, continued to put up points to turn around a 22-21 deficit after the first quarter that became a 50-42 lead going in to the fourth quarter.

Dekota Johnson had another hot-shooting night and finished with game-high 27 points. He hit nine field goals, including a pair from beyond the 3-point line, and was 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Charlie Schweickert also played well with 17 points and three 3-pointers. Ty Fannin, who also hit a pair of 3s, added 11 points for the Devils, who improved to 2-4 with the win.

The loss dropped Conneaut to 3-3 on the season.