Girls Basketball | Aurora splits against Barberton and Medina Highland

Aurora’s schedule isn’t for the weak, as shown by Saturday’s Suburban League American Conference girls basketball game at home against Medina Highland.

The Hornets (5-0, 2-0) are one of several strong clubs in the league this year and it was evident in a 55-36 loss for Aurora, which fell to 1-1 in league action.

Eight straight points by standout Highland senior guard Madison Miller late in the first half broke open a close game as the Hornets led 33-20 at the half.

Miller, who scored 21 points in the first half, was limited to just three by the Greenmen defense in the second half and finished with 24 points, four assists, and three steals.

It was a 21-7 second period by the Hornets that broke open a tight contest while Aurora not only had to fight against some youth, but some cold shooting stretches, an exhausting full-court defense, ball pressure, and also some length by Highland.

“This game was not for a lack of effort, I thought our kids worked hard,” said veteran Aurora head coach Erika Greenberg.

Greenberg realizes her team is looking for more ball handlers and shooters to emerge to help a few experienced players, including standout senior guard Ava Ryncarz.

Aurora fared well against Highland’s full-court pressure, but then struggled with some turnovers against the Hornets' ball pressure in the half-court defense. In all, 14 of the 20 turnovers came in the first half.

The Greenmen cleaned up the turnovers and improved on the defensive boards in the second half, but couldn’t catch up against Highland, which moved the ball non-stop against Aurora’s zone defense.

“Highland is so tall at a few spots and it makes it tough with turnovers, but we tried in the second half and did not turn it over as much, but I think we were tired as well,” said Greenberg.

“We need more ball handlers and the great thing about this team, is that these girls are very coachable,” she added.

After a driving layup in traffic and subsequent free throw to convert a conventional three-point play with 1:57 left in the first half, Miller had Highland surging and led 28-20.

Then came a triple by Miller and she made another layup to push it to 33-20 with 38.5 seconds left in the first half.

Despite some outstanding play by Ryncarz, Aurora had trouble making shots.

Hawked by 5-foot-11 junior forward Alayna Tessena, Ryncarz dropped in 21 points, 12 coming in the first half, but the Greenman star had to work for every point and had to bring the ball up the court often against the Highland pressure.

Behind an incredible work rate and drive, Ryncarz also battled for six rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a pair of 3-pointers.

“Ava works so hard out on the court, she is great,” said Greenberg. “There are times when Ava tries to do it all, but she works extremely hard.”

Highland’s defense held Ryncarz to just five second-half field goals as Aurora was looking for other athletes to step up and knock down shots.

Sophomore guard Samantha Stask was held to just three field goals and ended with seven points, three boards, two thefts, and a triple.

Another sophomore guard, Camryn Cohn, worked hard with some ballhandling skills against the Highland press and added five points, plus junior forward Grace Barbour grabbed five boards and added a free throw.

Freshman Kennedy Morgan stung the Greenmen with 16 points and six rebounds off of the bench for youthful Highland, which got 12 boards from sophomore forward Emily Miller and freshman forward Aleena VanKirk (eight points).

Thus far, the tough schedule has included Rocky River Magnificat, undefeated Green, and league rival Barberton.

Limiting Barberton to just 14 first-half points and 23% shooting for the game, Aurora cruised to a 50-32 home victory in the league opener on Dec. 1.

The win marked the 175th career victory for Greenberg.

Ryncarz had an outstanding game with 18 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and three 3-point buckets. Aurora outrebounded the Magics 48-37.

Stask excelled with 11 points, four caroms, three triples, and she dished out three assists for the Greenmen (1-3).

Also canning two 3-pointers was Cohn, who had 10 points and two assists. Junior wing Hannah Rogge had six boards and two points while junior guard Cailyn Ries added four points and sound defense.

An’taniyah Easter, a four-year guard, led the Magics (2-1, 0-1) with 18 points.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: The Aurora Greenmen girls basketball report for December 8.