Rogers too much for Clyde, ends Fliers' season

PERRYSBURG – Over the season's final month, the Clyde girls basketball team showed poise and increased maturity as the youthful Fliers defeated three-loss teams Willard and Port Clinton.

But Clyde hadn't seen any team like Toledo Rogers. The Rams, with their starting five of non-seniors all of whom have already committed to Division I college programs, were a machine the Fliers were unable to slow down as Rogers ended Clyde's season in the district tournament semifinal, 70-30.

"This is just a different animal, Toledo Rogers," Clyde coach John Cahill said "They had one gap and they filled with a move-in from Youngstown (Tanaya Beacham) who is really, really good. That doesn't happen often in Clyde, Ohio."

A season that began with the Fliers embarking on a new era without long-established stars such as Amanda Cahill, ended with a new crop of young players who gained valuable experience en route to a 17-7 final record.

"I'm proud of what they've done," Cahill said. "With what we lost last year to go 17-7, I think says a lot about our kids and how well they've worked."

Facing a potent attack with bigger, more-experienced and more-talented weapons, Clyde scrapped its way to an early 6-4 lead. From 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the first quarter until just over a minute remained in the half, Rogers held Clyde without a field goal as the Rams went on a 27-3 run and took a 31-13 lead into halftime and cruised to the victory.

"The things we couldn't do was let them take the ball from us and shoot layups and get offensive rebounds," Cahill said. "It's easy to draw that up as a coach but it's more of a challenge (to do).

"They've got tremendous size and they're a tough match-up for anybody, but especially for teams like us."

As she has all season, senior Kelsey Michaels led the Fliers in scoring, netting 13 in her final game in a Clyde uniform. The only player who returned from last season with significant experience, Michaels added role of veteran leader to her responsibilities, providing guidance to the rest of the Fliers starters all of whom are freshmen or sophomores.

Fellow seniors Makaylin Lozier and Kaity Marcha also played their final game.

"(Michaels), MaKaylin and Kaity are kind of the branch of the past," Cahill said. "Kelsey was a part of that group that won all those games. It's a totally new group now. When you graduate those kids it changes the complexion of what we have. We're not going to replace Kelsey and what she gives us."

rmcgowan@gannett.com

419-334-1043

Twitter: RMcGowan1

Facebook: RMcGowanSports