Eagles have their best performance of the season in loss to Avon Lake

Visiting Avon stepped up to play its best game of the season when facing rival Avon Lake Wednesday, but it wasn’t quite enough, as the Eagles lost, 55-49, to fall to 5-10 overall and 4-4 in Southwestern Conference action.

It was quite a contrast from when the teams first met early in the season. In that one, Avon missed its first 22 shots of the game before eventually falling by 16 points, 47-31. This time the game was close throughout, and the Eagles held a 39-38 lead entering the final period after battling to a 25-25 tie at halftime.

The main difference in the game was that Avon Lake has three very experienced players who were major contributors to their team’s journey to a state runner-up finish last year, while Avon is playing lots of young players who are still learning what varsity basketball is all about.

Those three experienced players, Olivia Miller (23 points), Molly Milligan (17 points) and Evelyn Ritt (7 points) combined to score 47 of Avon Lake’s points. Milligan scored 11 of her points after halftime to help secure the victory. In addition, Lake made 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to maintain its narrow lead.

The Eagles were led by Sophia Sharp with 13 points. She was backed by Chloe Collins with 10, and Alaina Pagan and Abby Owens with seven each.

Avon will be in action again on Saturday when they host SWC foe Elyria.