BURTON—Kirtland didn’t have its best shooting night in its conference opener at Berkshire on Wednesday but it didn’t matter.
The Hornets’ defense came to the rescue by limiting the host Badgers to just one field goal in a 39-13 win.
“I think the defense was good,” said Kirtland coach Bob Bell. “It was intense. I don't think they had a good shooting night, just like we didn't. That certainly kept us in the game and gave us an advantage.”
Kirtland jumped out to a 12-3 lead after the first quarter and didn’t allow the Badgers to score from the floor until just three minutes were left in the second quarter. By the time Joanne Miller’s jump shot cleared the net with 3:07 left in the first half, Kirtland had built an 18-5 lead.
Berkshire finished the game just 1 for 34 from the floor and 11 of 16 from the free throw line.
“We kept them off balance,” Bell said. “I thought the shots they did get were forced and that was basically the defense in the game. We played a good defensive game. That was key because our shooting was not very good tonight. We were off.”
Sydney Snyder led the Hornets with a game-high 20 points. Jenna Sayle pitched in with nine, Lauren Snyder had four and Julia Camino, Lauren Bottesch and Riley McCrory each scored two.
“That's very important,” Bell said of having several different players find the net. “We know there are going to be teams that are going to key in on Syd and we have to step it up.”
Berkshire out-rebounded Kirtland, 33-28, but the Hornets had their way on defense.
Katie McCollister and Sydney Snyder both had a pair of steals and Sayle and Lauren Snyder each had one.
Lauren Lutz led the Hornets with six rebounds while Sydney Snyder pulled down four and Sayle, Lauren Snyder and Kara Aquila each had three.
“I think we just prepared really well on defense,” McCollister said. “We did a lot of defense in the past week preparing for them and I think we just came our really strong and intense and we played really well as a team.”
Miller posted a game-high 11 rebounds.
Kirtland improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division while Berkshire dropped to 2-2, 0-2. The Hornets travel to Fairport Harding on Saturday. Berkshire returns to action on Wednesday at Fairport.
Kirtland 39, Berkshire 13
Kirtland (VISITOR) (3-0, 1-0):
Points: S. Snyder 23, Sayle 6, L. Snyder 4, Bottesch 2, Camino 2, McCrory 2
Berkshire (HOME) (2-2, Conference 0-2):
Points: Miller 8, DeLong 2, Ritts 1, White 1, , Boyk 1.
Kirtland 12 11 10 6 –39
Berkshire 3 2 6 2 — 13
Field goals: Kirtland 13 of 45, Berkshire 1 of 34; Free throws: Kirtland 10 of 16, Berkshire 11 of 16; 3-pointers: Kirtland 3 (S. Snyder 3), Berkshire 0 (None); Rebounds: Kirtland 28 (S. Snyder 7) Berkshire 33 (Miller 11); Assists: Kirtland 4 (McCallister 2), Berkshire 1 (Boyk 1); JV: Kirtland 25, Berkshire 24
