Keystone clinches share of Lorain County League title with girls basketball win over Firelands

LAGRANGE — Vivian Cassell rebounded in more ways than one for Keystone. The senior put up 19 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs, while also helping the Wildcats shake off a tough loss with a 50-33 win against Firelands on Wednesday. The victory locked up a share of their fourth straight Lorain County League title. Keystone had a shot to clinch the title outright Saturday, but Columbia stayed alive with a thrilling 51-50 win. It was game in which Cassell fouled out with 3:38 to play, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds. "A loss like that definitely motivates us to come back on the court and prove everyone wrong that we are a good basketball team," Cassell said. "That we belong and that we own this conference." The Wildcats (19-2, 12-1) can still win the league outright, but have to defeat Wellington on Monday. A loss and Keystone shares the title with Columbia (16-5, 12-2). The Raiders completed their league schedule Wednesday with a 69-41 win against Oberlin. Firelands (14-6, 10-4) also has no more league games left and is locked into third place. The Falcons already faced a tall task in keeping their slim title hopes alive, and being without one of their tallest players, compounded the situation as 5-foot-10 forward Jordyn Copley — who leads Firelands in rebounds, steals and blocks in addition to averaging 10.8 points per game — missed her second straight game after spraining her left ankle against Columbia on Jan. 29. Coach Onyx Lopez was optimistic about the junior's chances to play again this season. Kendra Hardwick led the Falcons with 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Micah Lee, also 5-10, started in place of Copley. "I told them, regardless of today, we've got bigger things to play for," Lopez said. "I was very impressed with the way the girls played start to finish. The score might not show it, but our effort was there from the time of tip off until the end of the fourth quarter. (Keystone is) a great team. They are very tournament like. With our seed being 17, we are going to see a tougher team in the first round. This is great experience to go against before we head there." Without Copley, Cassell feasted in the paint as seven of her 13 rebounds led to second-chance opportunities. Fellow senior Brooklyn Barber also caught fire from 3-point range, going two-of-four in the first half and finishing three-of-seven with 11 points. "We were really pumped up getting into this game," Barber said. "We wanted another conference title. We don't want to share it, so that motivated us to start off hot. We do not like to lose. We really just want to win. Losing does not feel good. Everyone is expecting us to win, so there's a little bit of pressure, but we're all just having fun and trying our best." Keystone also excelled, defensively, forcing 19 turnovers. While Firelands won the turnover battle, nine of the Wildcats' 23 turnovers came in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. "It's tough when you lose a game. Everyone is coming after you and you feel sorry for yourself and you get upset," Keystone coach Rocky Houston said. "To recover from that, work hard in practice, take care of business and get past that, emotionally, then step on the floor and do what you need to do to be successful (is impressive)." Contact Chris Sweeney at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X. Keystone 50, Firelands 33 FIRELANDS (33): Addie Schrader 2-2-8, Kendra Hardwick 5-3-13, Aubrynn Reichle 2-0-4, Micah Lee 0-0-0, Lexi Schrader 0-0-0, Stella Frederick 0-0-0, Isabell Bermudez 1-2-4, MacKenzie Janosik 2-0-4, Dilynn Copley 0-0-0. Totals 12-7-33. KEYSTONE (50): Rylee Jedrzejek 1-2-5, Brooklyn Barber 4-0-11, Madyson Sokolowski 2-2-7, Vivian Cassell 8-3-19, Callie Crabeels 0-0-0, Mia Stefan 0-0-0, Jayda Gaines 3-2-8, Sophia Clarico 0-0-0, Kendal Crabeels 0-0-0. Totals 18-9-50. Firelands 6 7 7 13 — 33 Keystone 14 14 10 12 — 50 Three-point goals: Firelands 2-14 (Schrader 2), Keystone 5-14 (Barber 3, Jedrzejek, Sokolowski). Field goals: Firelands 12-48 (25 percent), Keystone 18-42 (43 percent). Free throws: Firelands 7-8 (88 percent), Keystone 9-13 (69 percent). Rebounds: Firelands 24 (Hardwick 9), Keystone 28 (Cassell 13). Total fouls: Firelands 14, Keystone 8. Turnovers: Firelands 19, Keystone 23. Junior varsity: Firelands, 33-16