WESTLAKE, OHIO — If there is one word that can best describe the way Westlake senior guard and co-captain Natalie Bechtel felt after the 58-53 upset win over Midpark on Saturday afternoon, that word would be relief.
With less than one minute remaining in the girls basketball game, Bechtel was fouled and missed both free throws, which could have stretched Westlake’s lead to five points. After the Demons grabbed a defensive rebound, Bechtel found herself in the same situation, being fouled, walking to the other half of the court and shooting a pair of free throws.
On this trip to the free-throw line, Bechtel eyed the rim, aimed for the net and sank both free throws. She showed a big smile after hitting the first.
"I was pretty angry actually; I was hoping somebody else would get fouled," Bechtel said with a laugh. "I don't shoot with my retainer in during practice, so I just took it out. I thought I'd make them and I did."
Bechtel had only four points in the win over Midpark, including a lay-up at the end of the first half. However, making those two free throws completed a hectic week for the senior.
Bechtel signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for the Ohio University Bobcats on Wednesday and was able to control the offense against the Meteors while having some of her usual post players in and out of the lineup with foul trouble.
"It's just leadership," said Chip Weiss, Westlake's coach. "She's been in a situation before like that. We played Brecksville a month ago and had the same situation. She missed a couple throws, but she's got to concentrate and get in her routine. I love to have a kid come back and make up for it."
In addition to Bechtel helping to deliver a victory for the Demons, the low-post play of senior forward Lauryn Smith was a critical factor. Smith had added responsibilities when junior forward and University of Notre Dame verbal commit Kalpana Beach picked up two fouls less than 70 seconds into the game.
With Beach's athleticism and scoring ability on the bench and foul trouble for Katie Carroll, Smith answered the challenge. She scored six quick points, including a three-point play and a put-back off an offensive rebound in the first quarter.
When Midpark went on a 6-0 run over the span of 30 seconds late in the second quarter, Smith again responded by hitting back-to-back layups, which put Westlake back in front of the Meteors.
"We lost two bigs; Katie Carroll had three right away and K.P. (Beach) had three, so we just did the best job we can and we relied on our bench," said Weiss. "We have the height, so keep going inside. Sooner or later, they'll keep fouling us, which they did. That was good."
Smith led all scorers with 20 points, six each in the first three quarters.
"I really wanted this game," said Smith. "Midpark, they were undefeated in the conference and that just can't happen. We have way too much pride to let them do that. It's great."
When the girls basketball playoff pairings were drawn Sunday night, Westlake (14-4, 9-3 Southwestern Conference) earned the No. 1 seed in the Medina District. After a first-round bye, the Demons will take on either Grafton Midview or North Olmsted in the 6 p.m. game on Feb. 25.
The Meteors, who suffered their first loss since Dec. 5, are now 14-4 overall and 11-1 against the SWC. They earned the No. 2 seed and will face either Cleveland St. Joseph Academy or Cleveland Rhodes on Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
"You can take this season that you worked so darn hard for and you can throw it away in the next two games," Midpark coach Stephanie Mentz said. "You can go into your first-round playoff and not do a darn thing. We need to play. You can see that out here. This is Game 18 for us and we're still making mistakes we made in the first game."
Matt Florjancic currently works as a freelance reporter and sports announcer for WOBL and WDLW radio.
