Staff photograph / Brian Yauger
Champion’s Kayla Haynie brings the ball up the courtroom as Poland’s Elliana Thompson defends.

CHAMPION — After a disappointing 2022-23 marketing campaign, the Champion Golden Flashes wish to make waves this 12 months.

Through three video games, Champion is ideal, choosing up this system’s first-ever win over Poland in coach Michael Cole’s tenure, toppling the Bulldogs 51-39.

Champion maintained a lead for almost your entire contest, however the Bulldogs would inch again into the sport every time — precisely what Cole expects in opposition to that program.

“We’ve had some close ones, but they’ve had our number there,” Cole stated. “That’s a program. They’re pretty good. You play a team like that and they’re into you. They dig in. We didn’t wither away. We fought back pretty good. I still think, there’s areas to improve. We’ve got to get better rebounding, but I thought it was a pretty good team effort. Everybody did a really nice job.”

The Flashes return plenty of expertise from final season, together with the three-headed monster of Addie Warzala, Bella Meyer and Kayla Haynie on the guard spots.

Meyer led the best way for Champion on Thursday, scoring a game-high 17 factors. Haynie added 11.

Last season’s 6-17 mark has been a rarity for the Flashes’ program beneath Cole, so the women had some added struggles. They weren’t simple classes to be taught, but it surely’s hardened the group.

“Last year was a little bit of a lesson for us,” Cole stated. “We had a rough year. It was the first rough year we’ve ever had here, and we learned some things. You get a little more resilient. We didn’t panic. We’re led by seniors, and that’s what seniors do. They don’t panic. They just do what they got to do. They made plays and that was it.”

Poland is on the opposite finish of the spectrum with a principally contemporary rotation. The Bulldogs are changing 4 starters and their sixth man from final 12 months.

Coming in and pushing an skilled Champion squad the best way they did is one thing that Poland coach Nick Blanch was thrilled about. The effort was there, and early within the 12 months, that’s the primary factor he desires.

“These are all young kids coming up (on our roster). He has an experienced senior-led team. They’re going to be a great team, they’re not going to lose a whole lot this year,” Blanch stated. “As you may see, they shoot the heck out of the ball. I’m tremendous pleased with my children. I don’t candy-coat issues, like if I wasn’t pleased with effort or one thing they might find out about it.

“They played extremely hard tonight. It’s just the other team just didn’t miss a whole lot. It was not anything about lack of effort. You’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some. Like I told the girls, if losing a basketball game at Champion High School is the worst thing that happens to us today, we’re doing pretty good for ourselves. So I’m really excited.”

The loss drops Poland to 1-1 on the season. The schedule doesn’t get any simpler for the Bulldogs as they host a state closing 4 crew in Springfield on Monday and Boardman subsequent Saturday.

Champion hosts Kennedy on Saturday. Kennedy is 2-1 and is trying like one other problem for the Flashes. Start time is ready for 11:30 a.m.

byauger@tribtoday.com