Port Clinton continues unbeaten start

VERMILION — Port Clinton's girls basketball team takes the court on a mission. This year's entire team was in elementary school the last time PC had a winning record. They want to change that. "We keep talking about trying to raise the bar again," Port Clinton coach Kevin Belden said. Port Clinton took another step in the right direction Monday night with a 62-39 win at Vermilion (1-3). The Redskins are off to a 3-0 start, their best opening to a season in at least eight years. "Coming into this year, we knew we could surprise some teams and be a little bit better than we've been lately," Belden said. "... 3-0 is a great start, but a long way to go still." Junior standout Da'Cariya Lanier led PC with 26 points (10-21 FG, 2-4 3FG, 4-4 FT), six assists and five steals. Chloe Klein, a senior returning to basketball after a year away, added 12 points off the bench. "We're very excited to get (Klein) back," Belden said. "She's quick, can shoot it a little bit. She's been a great addition, and the girls get so excited for her." Claudia Gillum, a 5-foot-5 senior guard, grabbed 17 rebounds and scored seven points. Erieyonna Buckley also had seven points. "(Buckley) is a sophomore still learning the game," Belden said. "She has size, length and athleticism. With DC and Claudia being able to punch the gaps, (Buckley) can be on the receiving end of some passes and just finish." Just like Port Clinton's fast start to the season, PC started quickly on Monday night. Lanier fed Taylor Bollinger for a right elbow jumper to open scoring, then Olivia Spencer scored in transition. "We were just connecting," Lanier said. "Just knowing where we're at and where each other is." After that, it was Lanier's turn. A Gillum steal led to a Lanier layup, and she scored 12 of the next 14 PC points to take an 18-9 lead late in the first on a smooth reverse layup. "We did think we could get them sped up and get some transition buckets to get us going," Belden said. "DC and Claudia are very good at anticipating (passes)." Klein dished to Buckley for a lefty finish inside with a few seconds remaining in the first quarter, the epitome of what Port Clinton didn't have last year. The returned-to-the-game senior and promising sophomore give PC a bench presence that it needs to keep playing well. "We needed to add that coming into this year, more girls contributing," Belden said. "We're definitely getting that early on." Lanier also showed off her passing ability in the first half, threading a pinpoint pass to Buckley for an and-1, then throwing over the top of the defense for a Klein layup. "DC is a very good passer," Belden said. "I know she scores a lot, but she's also a very good passer." Foul trouble slowed Lanier down, as she picked up her third midway through the second quarter, but Port Clinton kept rolling with a couple of hoops by Olivia Emerson to go to half up 36-18. Lanier made a pair of 3-pointers from the right wing for Port Clinton's first two hoops in the third. Buckley added another and-1. Then in the fourth quarter, the lefty Klein showed off her outside shot with two 3-pointers that didn't even scrape the rim, dropping precisely through the net. "Those 3s gave us energy," Lanier said. "I'm very proud of her. She's been working on her shot and getting back into basketball movement." Gillum polished off PC's all-around strong showing with her 17th and final rebound, which came as she laid on the floor after falling on the defensive glass. "Claudia, when it comes to the defensive glass, for her size I've never seen anything like it," Belden said. "She just says the ball is in the air and she's gonna go get it." Port Clinton will get a few days to recover after the contact-filled contest led to Lanier tweaking her back in the closing minutes. Belden expects her to be fine for a Saturday matchup with Oak Harbor. A bit unexpectedly, the Ottawa County rivals are both off to 3-0 starts to the season. Port Clinton hopes it's the one that gets to 4-0. "There's three things (to keep winning)," Lanier said. "Mental, staying together and trusting in each other." --- PORT CLINTON (3-0) Chloe Klein 5 0-1 12, Claudia Gillum 3 1-4 7, Olivia Spencer 2 0-0 4, Taylor Bollinger 1 0-0 2, Erieyonna Buckley 3 1-2 7, Da'Cariya Lanier 10 4-4 26, Olivia Emerson 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 26 6-11 62 VERMILION (1-3) Landri Naill 1 0-0 3, Kaitlin Colahan 4 1-3 9, Abby Gawry 1 0-0 3, Joscelyn Alvarado 3 6-10 13, Claire Bartlome 1 0-2 2, Abi Rhoades 4 0-0 9. TOTALS 14 7-18 39 Port Clinton 22 14 10 16 — 62Vermilion 11 7 7 14 — 39 Three-point goals — Port Clinton 4 (Klein 2, Lanier 2); Vermilion 4 (Naill, Gawry, Alvarado, Rhoades)