Here’s a look at Portage County high school sports results from the week of Feb. 23, 2026.
All varsity high school coaches are encouraged to send box scores to sports@recordpub.com.
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Wednesday, February 25
Girls Basketball
Warrensville Heights 56, Aurora 46
The Greenmen got a tough reward for their 17-5 regular season.
They had to face Warrensville Heights, winner of five straight district championships, in the district semifinals.
The Tigers raced to a 22-4 lead behind furious defensive pressure and excellent work on the offensive glass.
Warrensville Heights sophomore guard Skyler Ballard helped break a slow start for both teams, scoring the first six points of the night, including a couple of impressive driving bank shots.
“She was our starting point guard as a freshman and she took us to the regional finals last year, so she’s been here before,” Tigers coach Ourtney Bryant said. “She’s been in this situation before. She’s a real even-keel kid.”
Taniyah Gaines had a game-high 23 points for Warrensville Heights, including 10 in the fourth quarter as the junior repeatedly got behind Aurora’s press.
“We can really play her anywhere on the floor and she can guard a post,” Bryant said. “She’s only like 5-7 maybe but she plays like she’s 6-2, so it’s a luxury to have her and have her for another year.”
While the Tigers advance to take on another Suburban American team, Tallmadge, in pursuit of their sixth straight district title, the Greenmen finished the year with an 18-6 record.
Aurora’s comeback was worth noting. Down 22-4 early in the second quarter, the Greenmen got within seven in the fourth. Senior Addison Witting scored 11 of her team-high 15 points in the second half and made all eight of her free throws.
“This is such a special group of girls,” Aurora coach Erika Greenberg said. “To be able to come back, I mean we could have folded at halftime and it could have been a 40-point loss, but they fought. They didn’t want to go out that way, so as a coach that makes you proud.”
The Greenmen also provided a tantalizing look at their future, including Caitlyn Pierce scoring seven of their 13 first-half points and fellow sophomore Brooke Warnke adding eight points on the night. Freshman Lela Buleski tallied five points and five rebounds.
“We know we have some young kids that are pretty talented,” Greenberg said. “So it’s just continuing to develop them and get them ready for this style of play and this pace of play.”
Contact Jonah L. Rosenblum at jrosenblum@recordpub.com and follow him on Twitter at @JLRSports.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County high school sports recaps for Feb. 23-28
Reporting by Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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