ThisWeek Hilliard Northwest News
Page A22
October 17, 2013
Sponsored by:
CALL 740-888-6054
WEB www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
FAX 740-888-6006
Girls Volleyball
Jaguars garner share of OCC title By SCOTT HENNEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
The Darby boys team lost to Gahanna 3-2 on Oct. 10 to drop to 4-12 overall and end its regular season on a threegame losing streak. Midfielder Brian Lee had two goals against Bradley. Seeded 24th, the Panthers opened
Senior leadership has played a key role in the Hilliard Bradley High School girls volleyball team winning its second league title in three seasons and earning the program’s highest postseason seed. The Jaguars finished 12-2 in the OCC-Cardinal Division to tie Westerville Central for the league championship ahead of third-place Dublin Scioto (11-3). They won the OCCCapital title two years ago. “This is the second OCC championship for our senior class, who also won as sophomores,” coach RyAnne Ufferman said. “Their leadership has been essential to our success.” Bradley, which finished the regular season 18-4 overall, is seeded third in the Division I district tournament and played 43rd-seeded Walnut Ridge in the first round Oct. 15. The winner plays host to 45th-seeded Dublin Jerome in the second round Thursday, Oct. 17. The Jaguars swept the Celtics in league play, winning 25-11, 25-13, 25-3 on Aug. 27 and 25-11, 25-12, 25-14 on Sept. 19. “We know that tournament time is a brand new season and we need to enter every game with fire and consistency,” Ufferman said. “We’re taking every game one step at a time.” The second-round winner will face 15th-seeded Gahanna, 16th-seeded Thomas Worthington or 25th-seeded Olentangy Orange in a district semifinal Oct. 24 at Whitehall. The district final is Oct. 26 at
SOCCER >> A29
VOLLEYBALL >> A28
Bradley’s Jeff Ireland is congratulated by teammates after scoring one of his three goals Oct. 8 during a 5-3 victory over Darby to clinch the OCC-Cardinal title. JOHN HULKENBERG/THISWEEKSPORTS
Soccer
Bradley boys win first OCC title
By AARON BLANKENSHIP THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
The Hilliard Bradley High School boys soccer team rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Hilliard Darby 5-3 on Oct. 8 to capture its first league title. Midfielder Jeff Ireland had three goals, including the game-winner, and midfielder Tyler Dillow scored two for the Jaguars, who improved to 9-1-6 overall and finished atop the OCC-Cardinal Division at 5-0-2. Canal Winchester (5-1-1) was second, followed by Westerville South (30-4), Westerville Central (3-1-3), Dublin Scioto (2-4-1), Dublin Jerome (1-3-3),
Darby (1-6) and Westerville North (16). The victory over Darby also gave Bradley a share of the Hilliard Cup with Davidson. The Jaguars and Wildcats played to a 1-all tie on Sept. 19 and Davidson defeated the Panthers 10 on Sept. 5. “This is one of the greatest moments I’ve had as a coach and winning the OCC and Hilliard Cup on the same day means a lot to our players, too,” coach Pat Billman said. “This was a boxing match and Darby came out and hit us in the mouth with two goals right away, but our kids answered the bell and won this game in the second half.”
Seeded fourth of 45 teams in the Division I district tournament, Bradley had a first-round bye and will play host to 18th-seeded Scioto or 40th-seeded Whetstone in the second round Saturday, Oct. 19. The Jaguars defeated Scioto 3-2 on Oct. 1. The second-round winner will face 13th-seeded Upper Arlington, 17thseeded Jerome or 35th-seeded Walnut Ridge in a district semifinal Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the site of the higher seed. Bradley defeated UA 3-1 on Oct. 3 and beat Jerome 8-2 on Aug. 27. “Our draw is very difficult and every
game is going to be a dogfight,” Billman said. “We need to play together and stay unselfish because we’re tough to beat when we play that way.”
Darby boys entered postseason on slump
Mobile Internet data charges may apply. Please contact your mobile service provider for details. Subject to internet banking terms and conditions. Fifth Third Bank, Member FDIC.