The Continental eNews staff went on a road trip!:
Defense wins games and that was no truer than on Saturday as Springboro, 2024 DI State Runnerup, continued that tournament path with holding Cincinnati Seton scoreless the first 12 minutes of the second half. The Panthers were the second seed in the SouthWest DI North Dirstrict drawing out of 6 teams. The Saints were the tenth seed in the SouthWest South district out of 16 teams. DI tournament starts at the District level with 64 teams being in the total field.
It looked like it was going to be the Panthers day as they put up the first 5 points of the game on with Bryn Martin making a pair of free throws and Brooke Clear hitting a 3. The Saints matched that 5 to make it a tie. A basket by Aniya Trent put the Panthers up by 2 7-5. The Saints went on a 5 point run to finish off the quarter and take a 12-7 lead after 1.
A basket by Trent was followed by a Saint basket. Saints 14-9. Martin hit a 3 so it was a 2 point game Saints 14-12. A pair of Saint free throws put their lead back up to 4 16-12. An 8 point Panther run put them up by 4 20-16 with Clear making a 3, Martin a 3 and a free throw, and Mckenzie Jones a free throw. The Saints would respond with a basket and a 3 and retook the lead 21-20. A basket by Martin was followed by a Saint free throw. 22 all at half.
It was all Panther D in the second half as they shut out the Saints in the third while adding 6 to their total on a Clear 3, a Ava Wade and a Jones free throw. Panther 28-22 after 3. The Panthers would hold the Saints scoreless the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter and added 5 to their total as Martin hit a 3 and Jones a pair of free throws. Panthers 33-22. A 3 by the Saints ended their scoring drought and it was an 8 point game 33-25. The Panthers would finish off by scoring 8 of the last 10 points of the game with Martin going 4-4 from the line and making a basket and Carly Turman making a pair of free throws. Panthers 41-27.
Continental eNews had Bryn Martin with 20 points, Brooke Clear with 9. Mckenzie Jones and Aniya Trent 4 each and Ava Wade and Carly Truman with 2 each. Springboro improves to 20-4 and will take on the Central District #1 seed Upper Arlington on Wednesday at 7:00 at Fairborn. Seton falls to 16-8.
The game was held at Fairborn High School which is a new school in the 2024-2025 school year and an excellent facility fitting for the contest. The Fairborn Skyhawks Arena was a site to see!
Bryn Martin is a Senior at Springboro High and is the school’s career leading scorer and assists. Bryn will play next year for Washington University. She and her sister Ady (a Junior on the team) are the daughters of Kyle and Michelle (Harter) Martin. Both Kyle and Michelle are Continental High grads. CHS grads Ron and Susan Harter are grandpartents and Dupont residents, Claude and LaDonna Kesler, are great grandparents. Jim and Kathy Martin are the other grandparents. Jim was a former principal at Continental High School.
Continental eNews is based out of North Creek Ohio and strives to report stories that interest the greater Continental area.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
