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Celina's Lilly Shreffler (32) and Miley Werntz (22) double team Minster's Josephine Hoying during Tuesday's game at the Fieldhouse in Celina.
CELINA - The battle between Minster and Celina was about as even as a game could get.
Both teams' defenses came up big at times, but Celina was able to get through with a bucket by Rachel Rammel with 33 seconds remaining. which held up the rest of the game to give the Bulldogs a 37-35 win over the Wildcats in non-conference girls basketball action on Tuesday at the Fieldhouse.
The win is the second straight for Celina to level the season ledger at 2-2. Minster drops to 3-2.
"Two teams that played some phenomenal defense," said Celina coach Bret Baucher. "Every basket was earned and every girl on the floor left it out there. We were fortunate to make a couple big shots towards the end and be able to hold on."
"It was scrappy," said Minster coach Mike Wiss. "I don't know how many turnovers there were (40 total, 21 by Minster), but we made our fair share. It was hard, in-your-face defense."
Minster took a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter after being up 9-5 early in the game. Josephine Hoying knocked down a 3-pointer 43 seconds into the second quarter to extend the lead to 16-12, but Celina battled back with a 5-2 run as Brinley Korte's stickback with 3:42 to play in the half gave Celina its first lead at 19-18, but just over a minute later, Reece Albers' trey put Minster back in front 21-19. Brinley Korte came up big again with 74 seconds to play to send the game to the half knotted up at 21-all.
Kali Schmiesing broke the tie 34 seconds into the second half with a pair of free throws, which was followed by over six minutes of back-and-forth scoreless play. Rachel Rammel finally broke the spell with a bucket with 1:22 to play in the quarter to tie game at 23-all. Sophia Dirksen followed with a trey to put Minster in front 26-23, but Brinley Korte got a bucket to fall with 11 seconds remaining to keep Celina within a point heading to the final quarter.
"I think there was one possession where (Minster) held it for a minute and a half, and we were able to get the stop," said coach Baucher.
Celina's Brenna Korte (15) tries to drive past Minster's Elise Albers.
Dirksen started the fourth quarter with another 3-pointer to put Minster up four. Celina was stopped on its next two possessions before Alaina Vehorn knocked down her own trey to get the margin back to one. After a Minster turnover, Rachel Rammel hit a free throw with 5:03 to play to tie the game at 29. After another Wildcat turnover, Miley Werntz hit a free throw to give Celina the lead again. Minster went back up by one, then Dirksen hit a bucket with 2:46 to play to make it a three-point game.
Minster tried to work the ball around to drain the clock, but Celina got a turnover and Vehorn was fouled going to the basket with 1:06 to play. Vehorn made both tries to get Celina to within a point. On the inbounds, Annie Hemmelgarn got free and got a layup to fall with a minute to play to make it a three-point game again, but Brinley Korte came up big again, knocking down a trey with 51.3 seconds to play to tie the game. After a Celina timeout, Minster tried for an open shot with Dirksen getting fouled. Both shots were off the mark as Rachel Rammel got the rebound and went on the fast break, finally getting inside for the bucket with 33 seconds left. After a timeout, Minster tried a shot but missed as Vehorn rebounded and called a timeout. Minster, needing to foul twice to put Celina in the bonus, got the fifth foul with 11.7 seconds remaining as Rammel went to the line. Rammel missed both shots as Reece Albers rebounded. Minster had one try at tying that missed but rebounded. After a timeout, Minster tried to inbound the ball, but could not within five seconds. Celina threw a deep pass on its inbounds to help run out the clock.
Celina's Rachel Rammel goes up for a shot as Minster's Reece Albers defends.
"Hats off to our girls. They continue to play defense," said coach Baucher.
"It was tough to shoot," said Wiss. "People were in your face all night. At this point in time, that's what you need to see because that's how things are going to be down the road."
Vehorn scored 10 points to lead Celina. Brinley Korte added nine points.
Dirksen and Reece Albers each scored eight points for Minster.
The two teams are in league play on Thursday. Celina travels to Wapakoneta for a Western Buckeye League contest and Minster hosts St. John's in a Midwest Athletic Conference contest.
