Cardinals Stars Lead The Way To Much Needed Victory Against Princeton

Al Gabriel
WeAreColerain.com


Colerain High School-

Before the game Colerain senior guard, Katie Comello, was honored for scoring her 1,000th point in a loss to Lakota West on Saturday. The points moved Comello into fourth place on the all-time Lady Cardinal scoring list and just 26 points shy of third place in school history. After receiving a standing ovation and a commorative game ball, that she promptly delivered to her father in the stands, Comello did her best to claim third place all by herself on this night. Comello scored 21 points and junior gaurd Ashley Wanniger, Colerain's leading scorer this season, chipped in 17 to lead the Cardinals to a much needed victory over GMC rival Princeton on Monday night, 62-48.
"I am just so proud of Katie. She has really stepped up her game as of late and is really taking charge of our team on the floor. Her and Ashley shot the ball very well tonight. This was a much needed win and boost for our confidence...I think our kids were really down from our last two losses because we knew we didn't play our best against Sycamore and came up short" said Cardinal head coach, Christi Mack.

Princeton, playing without its star player and Ohio State recruit, Brianna Sanders (Torn ACL), jumped out to an early 8-1 lead midway through the 1st quarter. After a time out by Colerain, the Cardinals found their composure and began attacking the Vikings inside. Starting center, Barbara Heinrich, scored 4pts and added 4 rebounds but it was her physical pressence inside along with F/C Kelly Bolden (7pts/4RB's in 16 minutes) off the bench that opened up things on the outside. "Kelly Bolden came off the bench and gave us a huge lift on the inside which in return opened up shots for Katie and Ash on the outside" Colerain went on a remarkable 31-11 run to end the first half taking a 32-19 lead into the locker room.

But Princeton would not go down without a fight. Lead by Jerrhonda Stallworth's 20 points and Karen Nelson's 14 the Vikings had whittled an 18 point Colerain lead down to 8 with 10 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Using a screen set by Heinrich, Comello burried a 3 point basket from the left of the key that pushed the lead back to 11. And when Wanniger connected on a deep 3 from the right wing to start the 4th, Colerain was back in control and hit its free throws down the stretch to cement the win. Colerain is now 9-4 in the GMC and 14-4 overall. The Cardinals host Mercy on Thursday night. Come out and support this fantastic basketball team as they gear up for the OHSAA Playoffs!