×

Sun sets on Snap Fitness

Lacey Claar and Lysa Mealing have topped plenty of obstacles during their successful basketball careers, but Snap Fitness’ top two scorers ran into a problem Wednesday evening that isn’t an issue in District 6 finals or state playoff games.

The sun.

Freedom Basketball Club, led by Marrysa Moyer, Shelby Reimer and Kristi Kaack, avenged its only loss of the season by topping Snap Fitness, 53-43, in the Mansion Park Summer Basketball League’s women’s championship game.

Freedom took an 11-0 lead to begin the game as Snap Fitness struggled shooting into the basket facing the setting sun.

“The basket at the far end was really tough with the sun,” Mealing said. “The wind wasn’t as bad, but the sun was tough. We just started out slow. We couldn’t get the ball in the basket, but after the first few minutes we regained our composure.”

The lull, however, turned out to be the difference in the game.

Freedom maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the game until Snap Fitness made a run in the second half to trim a once 17-point lead to seven. Freedom, which had to shoot into the sun in the second half, stopped the run when Reimer connected on a 3-pointer with 12 minutes to play.

“That was definitely a big 3,” Moyer said. “We know to find our shooters, and Shelby is one of our best. So is Kristi. When we need a big shot, we find those girls.”

Reimer tied Moyer for high-scoring honors with 17 points. Kaack added 11, nine of which came during the first half. Moyer also contributed a game-high 18 rebounds.

Snap Fitness defeated Freedom Basketball Club by a point in the regular season.

“We knew we had to come out and get a big lead, because we knew the sun would be a big factor for us in the second half,” Moyer said. “Our only loss of the whole summer was to them, so that was a big motivating factor for us.”

Mealing led Snap Fitness with 14 points, and Claar and Amanda Grannas scored eight each.

“We were a little bit more tired this time, playing back-to-back games earlier in the week,” Mealing said.

FREEDOM BASKETBALL CLUB (53): Kaack 4 2-4 11, Sh. Reimer 5 5-6 17, Moyer 6 4-11 17, Leach 2 0-0 4, Thomas 2 0-0 4, Ehredt 0 0-0 0, Conrad 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals – 19 11-21 53.

SNAP FITNESS (43): Brown 1 0-0 2, Claar 4 0-1 8, Mealing 6 0-0 14, Hannah 1 0-0 2, Worthing 3 1-5 7, Hatch 0 0-0 0, Becker 0 0-0 0, Grannas 4 0-0 8, Gehret 1 0-0 2. Totals – 20 1-6 43.

Halftime: Freedom, 34-19. 3-point goals: Freedom Basketball Club 4 (Sh. Reimer 2, Kaack, Moyer); Snap Fitness 2 (Mealing 2).

Officials: Curtis Miller, Denny Betar, David Day

Records: Freedom Basketball Club (11-1); Snap Fitness (10-2).

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today