UB comes back, earns third-fourth grade girls title

UB defeated Miami of Ohio, 25-23, to win the Amherst Youth Basketball third-fourth-grade division. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Alexa Thomas, Zaira McCullough, Mary Frances Gage, Gabrielle Miranda, Kayla Boron, Haley Belote, Lexi Mulone, Kaylyn Breindel; second row - Emily Trotman, Margaret Moran, Ellen DiVita, Katelyn Stasiak, Noelle Gulick, Caroline Conway; third row - Jim McCullough, Scott Belote, Bob DiVita and Paul Stasiak.

Katelyn Kardaman's late bank shot sealed a 25-23 comeback win for UB over Miami of Ohio in the Amherst Youth Basketball third-fourth grade girls final.

Miami led, 8-2, early but UB rallied and trailed, 12-11, at halftime. Miami led, 18-17, after the third.

With less than two minutes remaining, Ellen DiVita scored in traffic. Miami came down and tied it at 23-23 on a foul.

Noelle Gulick had seven rebounds for UB.

In earlier playoff games, UB beat Toledo, 22-20, lost to Akron, 14-12, and in double elimination games, defeated Ohio, 19-10, Toledo, 15-14, and Akron, 26-16.

Miami (Ohio) 35, Akron 29

Miami defeated Akron last Tuesday night in a semifinal playoff game.

Miami was led by the outstanding guard play of Lexi Mulone (10 points) and Hayley Belote (four points).

Center Kaylyn Breindel was the high scorer with 16 points, giving her 34 points in two playoff games. Zaria McCullough and Kayla Boron each contributed two points.

Alexa Thomas, Gabrielle Miranda and Mary Frances Gage played excellent defense for Miami in the team's best game of the year.

Clare Ahern, Abby Feren, Amanda Green and Elise Hopkins helped the Zips keep the game close into the fourth quarter.

Miami (Ohio) 26,

Bowling Green 12

Miami of Ohio won a quarterfinal game over Bowling Green on Feb. 28.

Leading scorer Kaylyn Breindel had a career-high 18 points for Miami and Lexi Mulone had four points to pace Bowling Green.

Zaria McCullough and Kayla Boron scored two points each for Miami, which advanced to the semifinal game against the Akron Zips.

Hayley Belote, Alexa Thomas and Mary Frances Gage played great team defense, as Miami was challenged early by the Falcons.

Akron 14, UB 12

The Bulls exploded to a 6-0 lead with Noelle Gulick scoring four points and Emily Trotman adding two.

Amanda Greenwald scored three for Akron in the second period to close the gap to 6-3.

Greenwald had four and Elise Hopkins added two for Akron in the third, while UB got two from Gulick, giving the Zips a 9-8 advantage after three. Gulick scored again for UB in the fourth, but Akron answered with a point from Greenwald and two from Abby Ferenczy to win by two.

Greenwald and Gulick led their respective teams in scoring with eight points each.