Girls Basketball: Avon Lake gets past much improved Avon

AVON LAKE — The Avon team that traveled to Avon Lake on Wednesday was a far cry from the one that missed its first 22 field goal attempts in a 16-point loss six weeks ago, but the improvement was not enough to save the Eagles from a 55-49 defeat. As the Eagles have gotten healthier and their young players have gained experience, they have become a much better team, and that was evident as they hung with the defending state runners-up all night, including holding a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. "I'm just so proud of them and how they fought," said Avon coach Adam Castrilla. "They believed that we had every chance to win this game that (Avon Lake) did, and there's a difference between when people tell you that and when you believe it. They believed it, and that's really important." Unfortunately for Avon, one thing that Avon Lake does not lack is experience in close games, particularly in its three returning contributors from last season: Olivia Miller, Molly Milligan and Evelyn Ritt. "Our communication is key," Milligan said. "We're always talking to each other and looking for each other." The three combined to score 47 of the Shoregals' 55 points. While Miller led the way with 23, it was Milligan who dominated in the second half, scoring 11 of her 17 after halftime to bring home the win. "We challenged Molly a little at halftime," said Avon Lake coach Paul Appel. "We made it a point to get the ball inside. She did a great job and had some really tough finishes playing through contact." "I just started being more physical under the hoop," Milligan said. "I usually do better under the hoop anyway, and in the first half I was trying to shoot on the perimeter more, so I stopped that and did what I'm best at. I was going up strong and trying to finish instead of looking for a foul." Milligan perhaps exemplified it best, but Avon Lake played a much more aggressive, physical brand of basketball than it did in last week's loss to Olmsted Falls in which it did not shoot a free throw. On Wednesday, the Shoregals shot 35 free throws and made 24 of them, including going 9-for-10 from the line in the fourth quarter to close out the win. "Olivia and Molly spent a lot of time at the line, and they're really good free throw shooters," Appel said. "We have confidence when they're there, and then we had some other kids step up and hit big ones. So we wanted to play more physically and attack the rim, and the girls did a good job of that." For Avon, even though it was unable to pick up what would have been a massive win, Wednesday was a sign of the progress it has made this season. "All these kids are playing so well," Castrilla said. "They've gotten a ton of experience, and it showed tonight. All the credit goes to the kids, and tonight was the most proud I've been in my last two seasons here, and it came in a loss." Contact Will Cunningham at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Avon Lake 55, Avon 49 Avon (49): Emma Fitch 0-0-0, Molley Kennedy 0-0-0, Emily Mangan 1-0-3, Audrey Lammers 0-2-2, Sophia Sharp 4-3-13, Janelle Antrum 0-0-0, Isla Anderson 2-0-4, Alaina Pagan 2-2-7, Ava Mitchell 0-3-3, Chloe Collins 4-1-10, Abby Owens 1-5-7. Totals 14-16-49. Avon Lake (55): Riley Koury 0-0-0, Bri Droke 0-0-0, Frankie Persia 1-0-2, Mariela DiTullio 0-2-2, Olivia Miller 5-11-23, Evelyn Ritt 1-5-7, Rachel Besaw 1-2-4, Erin Dean 0-0-0, Molly Milligan 6-4-17. Totals 14-24-55. Avon&emsp;9&emsp;16&emsp;14&emsp;10&emsp;—&emsp;49 Avon Lake&emsp;11&emsp;14&emsp;13&emsp;17&emsp;—&emsp;55 Three-point goals: Avon (Sharp 2, Mangan, Pagan, Collins), Avon Lake (Miller 2, Milligan). Field goals: Avon 14-48 (29.2 percent), Avon Lake 14-47 (29.8 percent). Free throws: Avon 16-30 (53.3 percent), Avon Lake 24-35 (68.6 percent). Rebounds: Avon 26, Avon Lake 37. Turnovers: Avon 10, Avon Lake 14. Team fouls: Avon 24, Avon Lake 17. Junior varsity: Avon, 38-19.