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Springboro girls adjust to top No. 1 Fairborn

Panthers beat No.1-rated Skyhawks after coach gets their attention.

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By Dave Long, Contributing Writer 11:12 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2011

FAIRBORN — Springboro took the correct steps when needed Wednesday for a 45-35 girls basketball win over Fairborn.

It was a meeting of two the area’s best Division I teams and the two power players in the South Division of the Greater Western Ohio Conference.

Fairborn was No. 1 in the Dayton Daily News D-I ratings at 6-0, Springboro (5-0) No. 2. Both were tied for the lead in the GWOC South at 2-0. Last season they tied for the title.

In the first half, Springboro didn’t step into the gaps defensively, letting Fairborn get to the basket for easy shots. On offense, the Panthers were not stepping back coming off screens allowing Fairborn to contest almost every shot.

The result was no field goals in the first quarter, 4-for-20 shooting in the first half and Fairborn leading at intermission, 20-13.

“I got their attention at halftime about what we weren’t doing,” Boro coach Tom Benjamin said. “The second half we did what we’re supposed to do.”

Boro opened the third quarter on a 14-0 run. Jordan Trimarco and Lindsey Rosendale had the correct spacing coming off picks and hit uncontested, square 3s from the top of the key. Katie Schubert stepped around screens for a pair of clear driving layups. Jenny DeGraaf got an easy fast break layup and Rosendale got a stick-back.

“We were just a half-step slow all over the floor in the third quarter,” said Fairborn coach Steve Hannaford. “Even after we called a time out, we couldn’t seem to stop them or get the shots.”

Schubert and Trimarco did a good job in the second half defensively of staying a step ahead of Fairborn’s Alexis Gassion (17.5 points per game) and not allowing her to get to the basket.

Springboro built a 38-29 lead with 3:39 to go. Gassion was able to get loose and score seven straight and get the Skyhawks within three at 38-35 with 1:40 to go. Boro answered by running the clock and making 7-of-9 free throws in the final 1:01.

DeGraaf led Boro with 14 points and nine rebounds. Gassion had 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

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