Coleman, Calvert roll by Stockaders 65-38

Calvert played so well Thursday that the student section clapped continuously for the last six minutes of the game with rival Old Fort.It was more of a standing ovation as the young Senecas ended the first half with an incredible 33-9 run, which eventually led to a 65-38 SBC River win. Calvert improved to 12-8 overall and finished 11-7 in the SBC River. The 12 wins are the most since the 2015-16 season.The Senecas, who have now won seven of their last eight games, actually trailed early 9-8 in the first quarter. But then freshman Megan Rombach banked in a 3-pointer to spearhead the Senecas' 10-0 run to finish off the period as sophomore Kaleigh Concepcion drilled a triple and then freshman Kate Coleman scored the last four points. All of a sudden, the Stockaders trailed 18-9.The Senecas didn't stop.Junior Alyssa Rishty started off the second frame with a three-point play to begin a 23-4 run. Coleman — who led the Senecas with 23 points — began swiping steals left and right leading to transition buckets for herself and teammates at the other end. Old Fort stopped the bleeding a bit before half by making five free throws to enter halftime down 41-18. But the damage was done. "We got down early like 6-2, but we knew it was going to happen. We knew they'd get us a few times in our 2-3 zone, but we stayed with it, but scoring 41 points in that opening half … I mean they only give up 42 a game," Calvert coach Aaron Sheets said. "I don't think we've lost a second half in like 14 straight games, so we're really rolling right now and we're trusting each other out there. We're spreading the ball around. "We're just running five-out on offense and I just keep the girls in their spots, like Kate was hot in the corner tonight. Everyone on this team scored well tonight, but Kate just had a heck of a game tonight. I told her about three weeks ago that: 'Alyssa Rishty is going to be the all-time leading scorer here next year, but then you're going to beat her.' She looked at me like I was crazy, but since that talk she's scored like 15, 16, 12, 23 … I mean she's a scoring threat and her instincts are just so good."Old Fort (10-12, 9-9) battled and didn't give up in the second half, but Coleman was just too good.She tallied 10 straight points for Calvert in the third quarter as the Senecas led 56-30 after three.The Senecas got the score up to 59-30 after a Concepcion trey and a Brooklyn Brown jumper before the second unit came onto the floor.While getting beaten soundly on a rival's floor, the Stockaders also lost Ryen Smith and Addy Gillmor to injuries Thursday. It certainly hasn't been a warm welcome back for coach Tim Ritzler the past two seasons in Tiffin."I thought we actually got off to a pretty decent start up 9-8, but they went on that run and I think it was like 16-9 or something when I called a timeout, but our body language was terrible. It looked like the game was already over," Ritzler said. "Calvert has been playing really well down the stretch, so you know they're going to make a run and play hard, but giving up 41 points in the first half or any half, you can't do that. "Things that bothered me was our transition defense with girls not getting back, and you could tell they wanted it more than us, which is disappointing to see, that lack of effort when they went on their run. It looked like we gave up there a little bit. We battled in the second half, but overall it's not the way you want to end the season going into tournaments with some injuries and just getting your butt kicked like that." Lucy King paced the Stockaders with nine points, while Gillmor had seven and both Smith and Trinity Quaintance had six.Rishty dropped in 12 points for the Senecas, followed by Concepcion with 11 and Brown with seven on Senior Night."I've been coaching for 29 years and Brooklyn is one of the best players I've ever coach," Sheets said. "She's so sweet, but comes in every day and works hard and takes everything serious, including her school work, she shows up to practice on time, is one of the last two leave, she's quiet, but is a vocal leader. Everyone keeps saying that we're young and that we have a great future and I've been preaching that to them too, but for Brooklyn, we have to do this for her right now."Even though we know we're young and should be pretty good next year, it's all about her and the day-to-day for us right now and do what we can for Brooklyn. The girls all love her. She's the team captain for a reason. She's a role model. She's just been a pleasure to coach." Calvert 65, Old Fort 38Old Fort (10-12, 9-9 SBC River): Lucy King 3-1-9; Addy Gillmor 3-1-7; Abby Ward 2-0-4; Lexi Quickle 1-0-2; Alexis Ward 0-2-2; Ryen Smith 1-4-6; Trinity Quaintance 3-0-6; Ryanne Benner 1-0-2. Totals: 14-8-38.Calvert (12-8, 11-7): Brooklyn Brown 3-0-7; Kaleigh Concepcion 4-0-11; Alyssa Rishty 4-3-12; Breanna Ronski 0-0-0; Megan Rombach 2-1-6; Carleigh Meier 1-0-2; Bella Steyer 0-0-0; Sydney Michaels 1-0-2; Addison Sheets 0-0-0; Izzi Jones 0-0-0; Kate Coleman 8-4-23; Sofie Lee 1-0-2. Totals: 24-8-65.Old Fort 9 9 12 8 — 38Calvert&emsp;&emsp;18 23 15 9 — 65Field goals: Old Fort 14; Calvert 24.3-point goals: Old Fort 1 (King); Calvert 8 (Coleman 3, Concepcion 3, Brown, Rombach).Foul shots: Old Fort 8-10; Calvert 8-12.Turnovers: Old Fort 17; Calvert 17.