Waterford wins third straight district championship with a 48-26 win over Belpre
By: Jamey Spears
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WOUB) — The No. 3 seed Waterford Wildcats traveled to Southeastern High School to face the No. 7 seed Belpre Golden Eagles in the district championship. Waterford claimed the title with a 48-26 victory.
Elsie Malec opened the game with a steal on the first possession and converted an easy layup to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Julia Way responded with a three pointer to give the Golden Eagles their first lead. Gracie Bills followed with a jumper to put Belpre ahead 5-2.
It marked the final time Belpre would lead.
Waterford made stopping Bills their top priority. Head coach Jerry Close said, “As far as I’m concerned Gracie Bills is the best player in the TVC.” Bills entered the game coming off a 20-point and 20 rebound performance against Coal Grove on Tuesday.
Brynnlee Pottmeyer sparked the Wildcats after they fell behind 5-2, converting an and one to shift momentum. Pottmeyer was perfect inside the arc and finished with 24 points and nine steals.
Early in the second quarter, Pottmeyer connected with Malec on back-to-back possessions for a layup and a three pointer, extending the lead and forcing a Belpre timeout.
Waterford’s defense continued to create transition opportunities throughout the night. The Wildcats forced turnovers and turned them into easy points, steadily building a double-digit advantage by halftime. Belpre struggled to find consistent offense against the Wildcats’ pressure, and Waterford controlled the pace in the second half to secure the district championship.
The Wildcats continued to execute on both ends of the floor in the final two quarters. Strong rebounding limited Belpre to one shot possessions, while patient offense allowed Waterford to work for high percentage looks. The balanced effort sealed the program’s district title.
With the win, Waterford advances to the regional semifinals, where the Wildcats will face Harvest Prep on Wednesday.
This loss for Belpre marks the end of their season. They went 8-16 this season, and 3-7 in conference play.