CHESTERLAND–Perry had already proven it could beat West Geauga once this season. On Wednesday night, the Pirates made it official.
Perry pulled away in the second quarter and never let the momentum swing back, defeating host West Geauga 53-37 in a Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division showdown to clinch the league title. The win pushed the Pirates to 11-3 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play.
“Coming in with our prep for this game, we knew West Geauga is a team that makes a lot of runs,” Perry head coach Roy Infalvi said. “They get down and then make runs to get themselves back into it. They did that to us in the first game, and we didn’t handle it well.”
Infalvi said the difference this time was the response.
“I was really proud in this game,” Infalvi said. “We were eventually able to settle down and respond to their run and handle it, and then we did what we needed to do to build our lead back up.”
Perry led 13-6 after one quarter, then created separation with a 20-point second quarter to take a 33-18 lead into halftime. West Geauga cut into the margin in the third, outscoring Perry 13-6, but the Pirates closed the door with a 14-6 fourth quarter.
Emily Mechenbier led a balanced Perry offense with 19 points, while Aubrey Hopkins added 11 and Sophie Sivon scored eight. Brynn Trefzger finished with six, and seven different Pirates found the scoring column.
For West Geauga, Faelynn Beckrest carried the offense with 21 points, while Rachel Mason scored seven and Aubrey Sens added five. The Wolverines fell to 8-9 overall and 5-3 in league play.
Defense, however, was the tone-setter for Perry, particularly on the perimeter. Hopkins, a freshman, drew the assignment of guarding West Geauga’s top scorer and was disruptive throughout the night.
“Aubrey does a great job. We always put her on the toughest guard on the other team and the other team’s best scorer,” Infalvi said. “As a freshman, she does a really good job of taking that role and putting pressure on and causing mishaps for the other team’s offense.”
Infalvi said Hopkins’ effort defines the Pirates’ defensive identity.
“I can’t say enough about the way she gets after it defensively,” he said. “She makes our defense go.”
The win also marked a milestone for a Perry group that has steadily improved since its 65-59 win over West Geauga on Dec. 16.
“It says a lot about our group,” Infalvi said. “They are a pretty tight-knit team. They get along really well together, and they play for each other.”
Infalvi said earning a conference championship reflects that unselfish approach.
“To win a championship in a team sport as a team is big,” he said. “I’m really proud of them. They’ve earned it.”
Perry will look to keep its momentum going when it hosts Hawken on Jan. 24. West Geauga travels to Mayfield on Jan. 26.
