Unfortunately for the Streetsboro Rockets girls’ basketball team, time really does move in a flat circle. Streetsboro was defeated by Laurel 62-47 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV regional championship last Saturday afternoon at Canton McKinley’s Canton Memorial Fieldhouse.
“It was back-and-forth for most of the game. I feel like it was a battle until the fourth quarter,” said Coach Carl Singer. “They just made more plays down the stretch.”
It was the second consecutive season that the Rockets (22-5, 14-0) faced Laurel in the regional championship for a bid to the Division IV State Final Four. Last year, the Gators seized control early with a dominating first period to cruise to a 53-32 victory in the OHSAA Division II regional final.
Despite each team moving to Division IV this year, they still collided for a re-match to earn another Final Four bid. Although this was a more competitive game against Laurel than last year, the Rockets’ faltered in the second half.
Trailing 25-23 at the half, it appeared that the Gators were primed to assume total control, fueled by a 7-2 run at the start of the third quarter to push their lead to 32-25.
According to Streetsboro senior center Naomi Benson, when the Gators went on a run in the third period, it was not the time for the Rockets to hang their heads and she keyed 7-4 run, trimming Laurel’s advantage to 36-32.
“I was just telling the team, let’s pick it up, let’s pick it up,” said the 6-foot-4 center, who finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. “I did not want doubt. I told them don’t let doubt get in our mind because it will kill your mindset.”
The University of Illinoi commit, who scored 11 points in the first half, ignited the Rockets by scoring 12 points in the third period on four-of-four shooting while knocking down both pair of free throws. Benson feasted in the post, finding mismatches and overpowered Laurel defenders for some close-range baskets.
“I am just so proud of her,” noted the 10-year coach. “She obviously did not have her best game against Canfield in our last game and I am glad that we got another opportunity. I told her we needed to take advantage of that second chance and I feel that she played her butt off today.”
The Rockets continued chipping away and eventually made it a one-possession game at the end o the third quarter with as Laurel only holding 42-40 advantage.
The Gators extinguished Streetsboro’s spark in the fourth period, surging ahead with a 7-0 run to increase their lead to 49-40. Laurel constantly attacked the basket and converted on several drives, but it was its defensive pressure that swung the game in its favor.
The Gators’ aggressive defense bothered Streetsboro in the fourth quarter, forcing four turnovers and only surrendered three field goals.
Benson acknowledged that Laurel’s defensive intensity took the Rockets out of their comfort zone.
“When they started to man up and press a little bit, I think that is when we got a little off,” she said. “We kept looking at the scoreboard and I told them to stop looking at the scoreboard because it would mess up their mentality. We slowed down a bit and when we slowed down, they saw our mistakes and pressured us, and it worked for them.”
Ultimately, the Rockets could not sustain their momentum from the beginning of the game and once again were bested by Laurel. This time, the loss marked the end of the playing careers for not just Benson but also senior guard Sydney Abbuhl and Reagan Hendon.
Singer emphasized the impact that the small senior class had on the program.
“They have meant a ton and I told them in there, it is just not about your basketball abilities,” he added. “They are outstanding people, they bring our kids together and bring our team together and lead by example and all of those things that you would want from seniors, they bring to the table.”
Although the Rockets will be in uncharted territory next year as they move forward without the senior trio, Singer said that the bar has now been raised and it is up to the returning players to meet those expectations.
“We have set an expectation and standard now for the program,” he said. “Players graduate and it will always be the case and we were proud of them for the legacy that they left, but now there is that standard and expectation and we expect to keep battling.”
The trio leaves Streetsboro after back-to-back seasons earning OHSAA district championships, earning a share of the Metro Athletic Conference banner in the 2023-24 season and then winning it outright this year and making regional championship appearances in consecutive seasons.
As far as Benson is concerned, she would not have wanted it any other way.
“It has been amazing ride to play with a program like this and build history like this,” she said.
