he Streetsboro Rockets girls’ basketball team and is one they do not want to end any time soon. The Rockets’ historic season continued when they outlasted Metro Athletic Conference rival Norton 40-36 to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Northeast 5 district title last Saturday evening at Normandy High School.
“It means everything,” said senior forward Ella Kassan. “In my freshman year we had a losing season and just to see how far we have come is unbelievable. For my senior year, I said this would be our year. I knew it from the start that we going to go out with a bang and we definitely did.”
Should the Rockets (22-4, 13-1) defeat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the Division II regional semifinal on Tuesday evening, it will face either Gilmour or Laurel for a berth in the Final Four at Barberton High School on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
Streetsboro’s season of accomplishments already included winning a share of the MAC title, marking the first time in school history the Rockets had achieved that feat, in addition to also setting a new record for most wins in a season.
Although Streetsboro won a share of the league title, its goal was to win it outright but because it split the season series with Norton, it had to settle for a share because there is no conference tiebreaker.
According to senior center Naomi Benson, the district championship was the perfect opportunity for the MAC rivals to prove who was the better team.
“We wanted it more,” said the 6-foot-3 post player. “We were hungry for this. Ever since Wednesday our mindset was, we wanted this more than them. We needed this and we proved it on Saturday night.”
In a game where the winner would earn a berth into the Sweet Sixteen, it was a physical battle as both teams struggled to find consistency as they were issued a combined 50 fouls, including two technical fouls. That led to several players dealing with foul trouble, including Benson, who was charged with her fourth foul at the beginning of the third period and had to sit for an extended time.
Despite Benson’s playing time being limited, the Rockets’ depth helped them overcome her absence.
“The one thing that we have that most teams don’t is our kids that come off of the bench; they are four seniors,” noted Coach Carl Singer. “To have that experience was so big tonight. Them coming in and doing what they do. They stepped up but I cannot say I was surprised.”
After shooting only six-of-16 from the foul line in the first half, Streetsboro’s free throw shooting improved in the third quarter. The 6-foot Kassan sparked the Rockets’ improved foul shooting, knocking down all five of her foul shots to help keep Streetsboro in front with a 30-23 lead at the end of the period.
“We talked about it at halftime,” acknowledged Streetsboro’s nine-year coach. “We said this game would come to free throws with the way it was being called. Ella is the heart and soul of this team. She is the one we know that wants this more than anybody else and to have her being the one to step up like that, it could not be more special or more right.”
Every made free throw counted in a big way for the Rockets, who only made one field goal in the third quarter.
“Trying to find our shot was definitely a battle for us,” Kassan noted. “I knew we just had to keep moving the ball. We just had to slow down a little bit, keep our composure and not get sped up.”
Norton made a 10-6 run at the beginning of the final quarter, trimming the Rockets’ advantage to six points. When Benson re-entered the game, she said she knew she had to be careful and not pick up her fifth foul.
She helped spur Streetsboro to go on a 7-0 run by assisting on a pair of baskets, one to junior forward Carlee Bedford and another to sophomore guard Olivia Johnson-Wilson.
“I realized tonight would not be my scoring night or an offensive night so let me do the little things to rebound the ball, pass the ball and all of the little stuff,” Benson added.
Although each team had to fight through a plethora of whistles to maintain any sort of offense, it did not stop Streetsboro from playing another stout defensive game, holding the Panthers to 36 points.
“We have talked about defense all year long,” Singer said. “Especially in this game with so many fouls called, to only give up 36 points, I am so proud of our effort and attitude and just our focus on what we knew would get us the win.”
