Waterford claims victory over Tuscarawas Valley in The Classic in the Country

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MILLERSBURG, OH – In the 22nd edition of The Classic in the Country, the Waterford Wildcats squared off against the Tuscarawas Valley Trojans. Waterford cruised to victory behind Kendall Sury’s performance. The senior guard finished with 24 points and six rebounds. The Wildcats benefitted from solid performances across the board as they earned a 45-24 victory over the Trojans.  

Tuscarawas Valley and Waterford were in a slugfest in the first quarter. Despite the best efforts of both squads, the Wildcats and Trojans combined for only 11 first quarter points. For the Wildcats, grinding defense battles are a staple. Neither squad was able to carve out much of an advantage as they entered the second with Waterford leading 6-5.  

When Waterford’s junior guard Elsie Malec opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, the Wildcats found their footing on offense. While their defense continued to contain the Trojans, Waterford strung together long, grueling possessions that found them high-quality looks beyond the arc and under the hoop. It helped that the Wildcats also dominated the offense glass, constantly granting their offense opportunities to continue attacking the Tuscarawas Valley defense. Heading into the locker room, Kendall Sury alone matched the points of the Trojans with 10 points. Waterford led 22-10 at the break.  

In the fourth, the Wildcats continued to build their lead as Sury was a force. Kendall paced Waterford with 10 points in the quarter. While the Trojans found open looks, struggles beyond the arc and stout Wildcat defense kept them behind by double-digits. Waterford’s defense, battle-tested by the best of Ohio, added another impressive performance on the year. The Wildcats entered the fourth ahead 36-20.  

Avery Smithberger and Wagner took command in the fourth. Smithberger hit a three as apart of a nine point, seven rebound performance. Wagner exercised her authority in the paint, earning two tough buckets. The duo brought Waterford across the finish line, winning 45-24.