Findlay brings the D against Southview

Defense can often get overlooked in the run-and-gun, bombs-away, 3-point barrage of basketball. But not at Findlay High. "I think defense is the most important part of the game," said senior guard Madilyn Stechschulte. "We need good defense to get the offense going." Findlay High coach Brian Rosendale agreed, and he had Tuesday's 52-18 win over Sylvania Southview to back up his claim. "We wanted a good start defensively. That's why we started out in the press," Rosendale said after Findlay forced 11 turnovers in the first quarter and six more in the second in building a commanding 34-6 lead. "Defense is something we really hang our hat on." In winning for the fifth time in six games, Findlay held its fourth opponent under 30 points. "We've struggled defensively in the past, but we've worked really hard on it," Stechschulte said. "We're helping in the gaps, we're getting steals, we're rebounding … We're relying on our defense by not giving up points on the defensive end and turning around and getting points on the offensive end." Facing a strong defensive team like Findlay was not a favorable matchup for a rebuilding Southview. The Cougars graduated all five starters from last year's team and had averaged just 23 points a game against a stacked and loaded schedule that included running-clock losses to Sylvania Northview (71-13), Anthony Wayne (61-21) and Perrysburg (67-21). For a tentative first few minutes, though, it was close, with Findlay managing just a 4-3 lead. Then the turnovers started piling up, and the transition game kicked in. Katelyn Stechschulte nailed a 3-pointer after a Sophia Myers steal, Myers put back an offensive rebound and Madelyn Stechschulte converted two turnovers into lay-ups. A 12-0 run put the Trojans up 16-3 late in the first quarter, a 13-0 run to end the half made it 34-6, and a 14-4 run to start the third period put Findlay well out in front. "Offensively I thought we shared the ball quite well. We made some nice passes," Rosendale said. "Defensively, I'm really pleased with the way we're playing. Zoe McCormick is a prime example of that. She's diving on the floor, she's talking, she's switching, she's boxing out …. The kids are playing hard and that's all you can ask." Madilyn Stechschulte pumped in 16 points and Aleksyss Arredondo had 12. Overall balance has been a key component to Findlay's 5-1 start, though, and it was again on Tuesday, with Katelyn Stechschulte tossing in seven points and McCormick, Olivia Mangas and Myers adding five each. Madelyn Stechschulte and Mangas both had six rebounds and Myers grabbed five. Findlay did struggle from the line, converting only 12-of-23 free throws, and was 2-of-10 on 3-pointers, two areas Rosendale said the Trojans need to improve on as they step into the Friday Night spotlight for the second straight week and face Sylvania Northview in an NLL Buckeye Division game. The Wildcats improved to 5-2 with Tuesday's 61-37 win over Napoleon. "We missed some lay-ups – more than usual – and have do better with our free throws," Rosendale said. "We're usually better than that, but those are things we can clean up." Findlay and Northview are both 0-1 in NLL Buckeye Division games. SOUTHVIEW (1-5) Shinaver 0-3 0-0 0, Filas 3-6 0-0 6, Rigg 0-2 0-0 0, Schramm 1-4 0-0 3, Huffman 2-4 0-0 4, Nguyen 0-1 0-0 0, Hollar 0-0 0-0 0, Woodard 0-0 0-0 0, Murray 1-3 0-0 2, Curth 0-1 0-0 0, Dorn 1-2 1-2 3, Arwen 0-0 0-0 0, Danzeisen 0-1 0- 0. TOTALS 8-26 1-2—18. FINDLAY (5-1) Arredondo 4-8 4-6 12, McCormick 2-4 1-1 5, K. Stechschulte 2-9 1-2 7, M. Stechschulte 6-12 4-8 16, Mangas 2-3 1-2 5, Myers 2-5 1-4 5, Boes 1-2 0-0 2, Cox 0-0 0-0 0, Saito 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Shinn 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 19-45 12-23—52. Southview &emsp;&emsp;4 &emsp;&emsp;2 &emsp;&emsp;6 &emsp;&emsp;6—18 Findlay 18 &emsp;&emsp;16 &emsp;&emsp;14 &emsp;&emsp;4—52 3-POINT GOALS: Sylvania Southview 1-11 (Schramm); Findlay 2-10 (K. Stechschulte 2). REBOUNDS: Sylvania Southview 21 (Filas 4); Findlay 36 (M. Stechschulte 6, Mangas 6, Myers 5). TURNOVERS: Sylvania Southview 27; Findlay 11. JUNIOR VARSITY: Findlay 30-24.