BROOKLYN–Brooklyn’s 49-37 win over visiting Independence in a Division III sectional semifinal on Wednesday had a historical flair to it.
The Hurricanes, despite their past successes, had never hosted a home playoff game.
“I love this team,” said Brooklyn coach Jon Holko. “To win a playoff game, the first girls’ basketball playoff game on our turf in school history, we took care of it. This is the first time ever the girls had hosted a playoff game, so we’re going to enjoy this one for about three and a half hours. When the clock turns to tomorrow, we’re going to start preparing for Keystone. We’re familiar with them and obviously, they were here watching us, so they see what we can do. It’s going to be a battle. If we play with that type of energy and execution, I like our chances.”
Brooklyn trailed after the first quarter, 10-8, but went on a 7-0 run in the second to take the lead over the Blue Devils.
Independence’s Kara DeSmith scored on a layup just before the halftime buzzer sounded to cut Brooklyn’s lead to 28-23 heading into the break.
Whatever momentum the Blue Devils gained from that last-second shot didn’t carry over into the third quarter, largely because Brooklyn’s Shariah Gailes found her rhythm in the third quarter.
Gailes scored seven of her game-high 20 in the period and she continued that hot streak into the fourth quarter as she added seven more points in the final eight minutes of play.
“I kind of lit into her at halftime,” Holko said. “I said ‘Beast Mode’ needs to be activated if we’re going to win this game. I told her to snap out of it and play her game and she woke up.”
Gailes dominated the second half on both ends of the court.
She pulled down offensive and defensive rebounds, scored on several putbacks, and even hit jumpers from the outside.
Genesis Caraballo scored all 11 of her points in the first half to help the Hurricanes secure the lead. Delaney David contributed to the win with nine points, Jade Riedel added six, and Taylor Ruffin and Rayanna Cogburn pitched in with two and one point, respectively.
“We had energy for 32 minutes,” Holko said. “That’s what we were talking about leading up to this game after our last regular season game last Thursday. Independence is a team that’s fast, tall, athletic, and well-coached. We needed to have 32 minutes of effort and execution, and I think we played a pretty darn good game tonight.”
Emily Gibbons scored four of her seven points in the first quarter to help Independence jump out to its early lead.
Despite DeSmith’s six points in the second, the Blue Devils couldn’t match Brooklyn’s production and began playing from behind the rest of the way.
“We had a couple-minute stretch in the second quarter where we didn’t execute our offense really well,” said Independence coach Hugh McMahon. “When you’re playing from behind, that takes a lot of energy, and we didn’t really have a lot down the stretch.”
Independence rallied in the third quarter to match Brooklyn’s nine points, but the Hurricanes outscored the Blue Devils in the fourth, 12-5.
Cat Rieger added eight points for Independence while Gibbons finished with seven, Casey Adams scored six, Paige Priebe finished with four, and Addie Walker added three points.
Independence closed out the year with an 11-11 record.
“I’m really proud of the girls and how far they came from last May to where we’re at right now,” McMahon said. “I really like the future of the program. I hate to see (senior) Kara DeSmith go because she’s such a great person and a great leader, and I would love to coach her for another three years. We’re going to miss her, but we’re excited about the young ladies in the program.”
With the win, Brooklyn improved to 15-7. The 11th-seeded Hurricanes travel to No. 5 Keystone on Saturday for a sectional championship game.
Other CVC playoff scores from Wednesday:
Edgewood 71, Geneva 38
Berkshire 36, Jefferson 27
West Geauga 50, Kenston 39
Perry 48, Crestwood 27
Streetsboro 42, Harvey 21
Tallmadge 45, Lutheran West 17
Columbiana 34, Grand Valley 32
Lake Catholic 53, Wickliffe 31
Kirtland 52, VASJ 38
