GIRLS

Gulley, Tanner and Harrer go out in style

Seniors Hannah Gulley, Tori Tanner and Alyssa Harrer enjoy special moment

Jake Furr
Mansfield News Journal
  • Gulley scores first ever varsity points after suffering three torn ACLs
  • Tori Tanner dishes out assist after suffering a season ending back injury
  • Alyssa Harrer scores final basket after a broken wrist sidelined her for the year

BUCYRUS – Tuesday was about more than basketball. Which was unusual given the Bucyrus Lady Redmen and Wynford Royals got together to do battle on the hardwood.

One of Ohio’s biggest rivalries turned into a show of respect to three seniors, Bucyrus’ Hannah Gulley and Tori Tanner and Wynford’s Alyssa Harrer.

As the starting lineups were announced, the Lady Red saw an unfamiliar name and number slated to be called out in Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium. “No. 34, 5-foot-11 senior forward Hannah Gulley” rang through the rafters of the Kish. Sporting a heavy knee brace, Gulley made her way around the gym to shake hands with the Bucyrus fans, slowly and carefully.

Gulley was no stranger to the Lady Red team as she has been a part of it for four years. Three ACL tears and a pregnancy later, Gulley had never seen the floor, until Tuesday.

The Lady Red faithful also saw the return of Tori Tanner to the starting lineup after the senior played the first two games of the season and suffered a lingering back injury that is likely to keep her out the rest of the season. Her No. 22 was also called.

On the Royals side, the familiar face of senior Alyssa Harrer returned to the opening announcements. Harrer suffered a season-ending broken wrist on Jan. 13 at Colonel Crawford. On Tuesday, she returned for the final time.

As the opening tipoff was tossed in the air, Bucyrus senior Gabby Seibert tapped the ball ahead to senior teammate Ashton Hawkins. Hawkins then passed ahead to Tanner on the right left wing who then tossed it inside to Gulley under the basket. Gulley laid the ball off of the glass for her first ever varsity points. The Kish went crazy.

“I was really nervous because I was afraid I was going to miss it,” Gulley said with a smile. “But it was awesome and I loved that Wynford gave me that opportunity to score because it was my first basket in my high school career.”

The following Wynford possession, Gretchen Harris dribbled the ball the length of the court and handed it to Harrer who lofted the ball off the glass with her left hand as she scored her final varsity points of her career. Again, the Kish went crazy.

“It meant a lot to me,” Harrer said. “I know my team has really been working hard since I have been gone so it really meant a lot to score my last bucket with them on the floor with me.”

Although the Royals and Redmen are bitter rivals, Bucyrus coach Bethany Guinther and Wynford coach Amy Taylor-Sheldon decided that the start of their Tuesday night matchup was about more than the sport. The two agreed to let their seniors make their plays and experience the thrill of high school hoops.

“Unfortunately, I was not smart enough to think of it last week,” Taylor-Sheldon said. “When Bethany asked us about this, of course we are very familiar, it never occurred to me that Hannah Gulley had never played. We had seen her through junior high. It is heart breaking when you see seniors who go down with injuries and do not get to finish. We had it this year with Alyssa (Harrer). Every senior has in their mind what their senior year is going to be like and when it is cut short significantly by an injury, it makes me very sad.”

The moment almost did not happen for Harrer as she was not planning to suit up and did not bring her uniform. A fellow teammate’s, Tara Zinser, mom took off a mile down the road to grab the No. 22 Royals jersey so Harrer could enjoy the moment.

For the Lady Red, senior night was an emotional night in its self. Throw in the moment Tanner dished to Gulley for two, and more tears hit the floor than basketballs went through the net.

“One of Hannah’s dreams was to play basketball here for four years,” Guinther said. “She told me a month ago she was getting a doctors excuse to play in this game but she was not allowed to run or jump. Knowing how much it meant to get her in and get Tori an assists, it was special.”

There was still a game to be played and the Lady Red (10-10, 7-8 N10) rode the emotion of senior night and brought their brooms as the swept the season series with their cross town rival. A 44-20 final let the seniors ride out in style.

The Royals (7-14, 4-12 N10) kept it close for two and a half quarters trailing just 20-17 midway through the third. But a 24-3 Bucyrus run to the final buzzer was too much for the Royals.

Wynford struggled offensively being led by Sarah Ogden and Gretchen Harris sharing team-high scoring honors with four points. They will travel to Willard on Thursday for their regular season finale.

Bucyrus’ Hawkins put on a show in her final game in the Kish. She drilled a halftime buzzer-beating 3-pointer and connected on three more in the third quarter. In all she finished with a game-high 16 points and six assists. Isidora Burling scored eight and Gabby Seibert chipped in with seven. They will be back in action on Thursday at Seneca East in a makeup game.

jfurr@gannett.com

419-610-5034

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

Stat Book

Wynford 6-4-7-3 — 20

Home Team 8-7-14-15 — 44

Wynford: 8-42 FG, 4-6 FT, 0-12 3pt. 35 rebounds (Ogden 9), 13 turnovers, 1 Assists, Steals 3. Scoring: Sarah Ogden 2 0 4; Gretchen Harris 2 0 4; Tara Zinser 1 1 3; Abbi Leuthold 0 3 3; Jade Stuckman 1 0 2; Maci Cooper 1 0 2; Alyssa Harrer 1 0 2.

Bucyrus: 18-49 FG, 4-15 FT, 4-12 3pt. (Hawkins 4) 35 rebounds (Simms 7), 9 turnovers, 11 Assists (Hawkins 6), Steals 8 (Hawkins 3, Burling 3). Scoring: Ashton Hawkins 6 0 16; Isidora Burling 4 0 8; Gabby Seibert 3 1 7; Kelci Simms 2 2 6; Shaina Orewiler 2 0 4; Hannah Gulley 1 0 2; Brooklyn Spears 0 1 1.