Elyria Catholic Dominates Lake Catholic in NCCL Game

In basketball, height can often be the deciding factor in a game. On January 3, Elyria Catholic showcased their advantage and secured a 50-33 victory over Lake Catholic in the North Coast Conference (NCC).

The Panthers had a clear height advantage over the Cougars, with three players on their starting five standing at least 5-foot-11. This physical edge played a crucial role in their dominance during the game.

“Coach (Eric Rothgery) said that we had to be aggressive today,” said Elyria Catholic forward Ari Dimacchia. “He said that (Lake Catholic) is shorter than you guys, so we just need to dominate the post.”

Despite being significantly shorter, with their tallest player standing at 5-foot-9, Lake Catholic managed to keep up with the Panthers for much of the game. They trailed 18-8 after the first quarter but cut the deficit to 26-20 by halftime.

The closest the Cougars came to leading was a 30-28 deficit near the halfway point of the third quarter. However, they were slightly outrebounded 33-32, which limited their ability to gain momentum.

“Every player on the floor at one point was taller than ours, and we have been like that all year,” said Lake Catholic coach Michael Pecjak. “We have gotten better at boxing out and (are learning) to be physical. I thought they did a great job.”

Key Factors in the Game

Elyria Catholic’s defense played a pivotal role in the outcome of the game. The Panthers outscored Lake Catholic 20-5 in the second half and didn’t allow another field goal for the rest of the game.

“They get hands on a lot of balls,” said Rothgery. “Gabby (Rodriguez) has so many deflections, Claire (Petrus) had a number of blocks today. Our size should be an advantage in situations like that.”

Claire Petrus led the defensive effort, blocking three shots in the second half and finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. She emphasized the team’s focus on playing harder and smarter.

“Coach (Rothgery) said that we needed to play harder and smarter, so we took that to heart,” Petrus said.

Sophia Niederst was the team’s top facilitator and defender, recording a team-high eight steals and five assists. She also contributed eight points to the score.

Ari Dimacchia set the tone for the Panthers, scoring 10 of her 20 points in the first quarter. She added nine rebounds and four steals to her stat line.

“I expect that every time,” said Rothgery. “She is a heck of an athlete. Once she gets rolling and has confidence, that is all she needs. … I don’t think sometimes she realizes just how good she is.”

Impact of Injuries and Team Dynamics

Lake Catholic suffered a major setback when four-year starting point guard Ella Zampedro went down with an injury. This forced younger players into different roles, which affected the team’s performance.

“(Zampedro) brings calmness, she knows what is going on, and can handle the ball,” said Pecjak. “When we need to get organized, she is there for us. She is a presence that they all rely on. We forced some younger girls to be in (different) roles.”

Despite the loss, Zampedro still managed to contribute as the Cougars’ second-leading scorer with 10 points in 3 1/2 quarters.

Lizzie Bammerlin was Lake Catholic’s top scorer, hitting two three-pointers to help cut the lead to 26-20. She finished with 13 points, including four three-pointers.

Looking Ahead

Elyria Catholic improved to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in the NCC with the win. The team is looking forward to facing fellow NCC co-champion CVCA on January 7. Three days later, they will take on Padua, a projected strong contender for the league crown.

“I feel like we are going in the right direction,” said Rothgery. “There are moments where I think (something) is really good. Then, there are moments where I think we have to pick that up. You just want to make the good moments last longer.”

Lake Catholic will look to bounce back when they travel to Villa Angela-St. Joseph on January 7.