Girls basketball: Eastwood girls play No. 1 Willard in regional

3/6/2001

BUCYRUS - Eastwood's quest for a Division II girls state basketball championship encounters a big challenge tonight at 6:15 when the eighth-ranked Eagles (22-2) take on top-ranked Willard (24-0) in a regional semifinal.

Coach Jim Gracyk's team - led by seniors Brianna Hartman (13 points per game) and Libbe Speck (10.6) and junior Stacey Weiland (11.9) - has won three straight Suburban Lakes League titles and 52 SLL games in a row. Eastwood had sectional victories over Swanton, 52-35, and Rossford, 63-41, and district triumphs over Upper Sandusky, 38-28, and third-ranked Clyde, 74-61.

Willard is led by senior Stacey West (13.9 points) and sophomore Rachel Carr (12.6).

The Eastwood-Willard winner plays the victor of tonight's second semifinal - No. 7 Canton Central Catholic (versus Lima Bath - at 7:30 p.m. Friday.