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A win is a win

Ugly victory still advances Brookfield

Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Brookfield’s Lauren Pesa, left, and Chloe Willrich, center, apply pressure against Berkshire’s JoAnne Miller on Wednesday in Brookfield. The Warriors won this Division III sectional first-round game, 59-29.

BROOKFIELD — Marc Morgan is looking at the bigger picture.

Normally a 59-29 Division III sectional first-round victory would be a good thing for a basketball team.

Considering the defense forces 35 turnovers and only gets 59 points in return is something that troubles the fourth-seeded Brookfield girls basketball coach as his team defeated Berkshire Wednesday night.

“We won by 30, but it didn’t feel like a 30-point win tonight,” Morgan said. “We struggled with things offensively and defensively at times. I felt like we were out of place, not where we usually are. I guess that’s going to happen with some younger players. They still make those mistakes. We’ve got to work that out.”

Mackenzie Drapola led the Warriors (18-5) with 18 points and five assists, while Bailey Drapola had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Brookfield’s McKenzie Drapola, right, forced a turnover of Berkshire’s Lexi Boyk during Wednesday’s Division III sectional first-round game in Brookfield.

“Kenzie played a great game, both ends of the floor,” said Morgan of his senior point guard. “Sometimes senior leadership takes over. I’m hoping if we get in a game where I need her to do that, she can do it.”

Tori Sheehan had 15 points — 11 in the first quarter as Brookfield began the game 17-2 after one.

Eighth-seeded Berkshire (11-12) had 11 of their 35 turnovers in the first quarter.

“We dribbled too much against their pressure,” Berkshire coach Dennis Lory said.

The Badgers have had their setbacks this year. Berkshire had three starters out and the team’s point guard was Lexi Boyk, a 5-foot-4 freshman, making only her second varsity start. She had a team-high 13 points. Berkshire only loses one senior, but the Badgers get a player back next season from an ACL tear, one with a torn labrum and another from a concussion.

Berkshire forced seven of Brookfield’s 22 turnovers in the second quarter as the Badgers closed the gap to 28-13 at halftime as Boyk had seven points the break.

“The kids always play hard, and they’re very resilient,” Lory said.

Brookfield outrebounded Berkshire 35 to 28, but didn’t capitalize on the team’s defense. The Warriors also held the Badgers to 12 of 44 from the floor, but only shot 23 of 63 from the floor themselves. Brookfield was 2 of 16 from 3-point range and 11 of 22 from the foul line.

Morgan wasn’t so worried about the 22 turnovers. Brookfield likes to push tempo and deals with those miscues.

“I understand we’re going to have some of those issues with our pressure,” Morgan said. “We’re going to turn the ball over because I want us to play faster. Just got to deal with that. Hopefully we make enough shots to counteract what they’re making or what they’re not doing on the other end.”

Making the defense work to the Warriors favor is something Brookfield wants to do prior to hosting fifth-seeded Hawken Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Hawks beat Berkshire by 14 in their meeting. Morgan compared Hawken to a LaBrae-type team.

“We’re going to have to play a much better game,” he said. “They’re going to come in here seeing us play like that, knowing that there’s some things that troubles us. We’re going to have to make sure we can counter that.”

Brookfield has been close or passed 20 wins in the last couple of seasons, including making last year’s Division III Ravenna District title game.

“It’s up to them,” Morgan said. “I asked our seniors, ‘Are you good with where we are, 17-5, finishing second or third in the league? Or, do you want to make a run and get somewhere again? Do you know where Cuyahoga Falls (site of the Division III regional) is?’ I’m not saying we can get there, but just get it in their mindset.

“If you’re going to step it up, let’s try to get there.”

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