Eastlake North shook off an early deficit and turned a Western Reserve Conference rivalry game into a decisive 44-26 win over visiting Willoughby South on Wednesday night.

South scored the game’s first basket 2:18 in and still led 5-0 with 2:13 left in the opening quarter, but North answered with a 9-0 run that flipped the game and never gave the Rebels a way back.

“It feels good all-around,” said North coach Staci Greene. “I told the girls it’s a rivalry game and it’s going to be a good game regardless. We had to focus on what we do well and expose some of their weaknesses, and I think we did just that tonight.”

North closed the opening quarter with a 15-13 lead and continued to widen the gap in the second behind Kaitlin Dobida and Angelie Cisternino. Dobida finished with a game-high 22 points, while Cisternino drained four 3-pointers and scored 14. Paylin Oostdyk added four points, and Sophia Petro and Gillian Forwick chipped in two apiece.

“It’s always fun to see some threes go in,” Greene said. “Ang is a really good shooter, and it’s really fun to watch her when she’s on. She was feeling it tonight. You could tell when she got it, she wanted to shoot it. They were playing a zone, and that’s a shooter’s dream.”

South struggled to find consistent offense after the first quarter. Morgan Hayek led the Rebels with 10 points, including two 3-pointers in the opening period. Lanila Fatica scored six, Charlotte Tierney added five, Sydney Isabella and Riley Kaminsky had two each, and Tia Jackson finished with one.

"I saw after North began pulling away, our senior got injured, yet we were still able to push through," Hayek said. "We communicated well, and we were able to work together and not give up."

North outscored South 10-6 in the second quarter and 12-3 in the third to take firm control, building a comfortable cushion by the fourth quarter.

“It was a lot of fun to win the rivalry game. We wanted and needed to get this win tonight to set the tone for the rest of the season,” Dobida said. “What helped us shake off the slow start was that we regrouped and worked better together as a team, got some momentum, and worked off of that for the rest of the game.”

The win snapped a six-game skid for the Rangers, who improved to 6-10 overall and 1-4 in the Western Reserve Conference. South dropped to 4-7 and 0-5. North hosts Mayfield on Saturday, while South returns home to face Riverside.

Eastlake North used a decisive second-quarter surge to turn a close game into a runaway, rolling past visiting Euclid 46-15 in a nonconference matchup Saturday.

The Rangers broke things open with a 15-point second quarter, sparked by Kaitlin Dobida, who scored six of her game-high 20 points during the run as North steadily built separation and never looked back.

“It was a great one for us,” said North coach Staci Greene. “It was definitely a good win getting ready to go into conference play a week from today.”

North led 8-5 after one quarter before tightening the defense and finding a rhythm offensively. Gillian Forwick provided a steady scoring presence with nine points, while Madelyn Ferrari added seven and Amaya Majette chipped in six to keep the pressure on throughout the middle quarters.

The Rangers continued to extend the lead after halftime, holding Euclid to just six points over the final two quarters. Paylin Oostdyk and Mir Ashley each added two points as North closed the game with a 13-point fourth quarter.

“I think giving them goals to achieve each game, they really want to achieve those which is great, and we've been really practicing all the little things,” Greene said. “It was exciting to see it be implemented today and actually achieve our goals.”

Defense was the story as much as scoring, as North limited Euclid to 15 points for the game. A shift to a 3-2 defense in the second half helped fuel that effort, with Sophia Petro setting the tone through active hands and strong communication.

“We went to a 3-2 in the second half, and Sophia Petro really had some nice steals,” Greene said. “The communication down low was a big help in holding them to a certain amount of points.”

Petro credited film study and team preparation for the defensive success.

“My mindset going into this game after watching film, we felt as a team, we were going to be able to expose their offensive weaknesses and take advantage of them,” Petro said.

With the win, North improved to 5-4 overall and extended its winning streak to four games heading into Western Reserve Conference play. The Rangers open league action Jan. 3 at Mayfield, carrying confidence built on balanced scoring, defensive discipline, and momentum.

“This winning streak has definitely been something to be proud of as we get ready for conference play next Saturday,” Petro said. “We have been working as a team very well and trusting our coaches and our abilities and using that to our advantage.”

Eastlake North leaned on its defensive identity on Saturday, stifling host Shaw in a 54-18 nonconference victory that stretched the Rangers’ winning streak to three games. North allowed just five points in the first half and only 13 after halftime, turning pressure and discipline into a wire-to-wire win.

The Rangers steadily built control in each quarter, improving to 4-4 overall and continuing an early-season surge that has them playing their best basketball of the winter.

“Our coach praises good defensive principles, and I think today we just did our best to apply that,” said North senior Maddy Ferrari. “I just worked hard on doing my best to make them uncomfortable, being aggressive, and trusting that my help line will be there.”

North jumped out to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter and carried a 32-5 advantage into halftime. Kaitlin Dobida led all scorers with 14 points, while Ferrari added 13 as the Rangers consistently turned stops into scoring opportunities.

“What went well for our offense was really just the trust we all kept in one another,” Ferrari said. “A big part in our offense, not just today but every day, is trusting each other and genuinely just finding the girls who are hot at the time.”

Paylin Oostdyk finished with eight points, Amaya Majette scored seven, and North continued to spread the scoring across the lineup. Mir Ashley had three points, Angelie Cisterino, Gillian Forwick, Ava Kirchner, and Sophia Petro each added two, and Cammy Vo chipped in one as the Rangers pushed the margin to 51-13 through three quarters.

Ferrari said her own scoring came largely from the unselfish play of her teammates and a mindset focused on attacking when opportunities presented themselves.

“The majority of my points this game were good looks from my teammates, and I credit them with my success when it came to scoring,” Ferrari said. “I also have been working on just being aggressive and not being scared of failure on the offensive end.”

Eastlake North will look to keep the momentum rolling when it hosts Euclid on Dec. 27.

Eastlake North wasted little time setting the tone Wednesday night, racing out to a 20-7 first-quarter lead and never looking back in a 60-28 nonconference win over visiting Shaker Heights. The victory marked the second straight for the Rangers, who improved to 3-4 and continue to build momentum as conference play approaches.

North’s fast start was fueled by Kaitlin Dobida, who scored 12 of her game-high 30 points in the opening quarter as the Rangers established control early. The lead grew to 33-9 by halftime and stood at 44-13 after three quarters, as North continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor.

“It was exciting. It was a full team effort,” said North coach Staci Greene. “We had some good scores. Mir (Ashley) hit three big threes for us, and Kaitlin had a 30-point game. Everyone just played a nice role in that win. It's exciting to see the girls work together to get the win.”

Dobida credited the team’s execution on both ends for her strong opening stretch.

“What helped me to get off to a great start in the first quarter was our ball movement and defense,” she said. “We got good stops on defense and pushed in transition as well as good open looks on offense.”

Ashley complemented Dobida’s scoring with nine points, knocking down three 3-pointers that helped stretch the defense and open driving lanes. Paylin Oostdyk and Madelyn Ferrari each added seven points, while Angelie Cisternino chipped in three. Gillian Forwick and Amaya Majette rounded out the scoring with two points apiece as North saw contributions throughout the lineup.

That balance is exactly what head coach Staci Greene wants to see as the Rangers prepare for the heart of their schedule.

“I think it's just good for our overall confidence,” she said. “We keep getting closer to conference play, and we have some high goals and stuff for conference. We really want to compete in the conference, and we’re really starting to click.”

Greene pointed to offensive patience as a key to the night’s success.

“Just movement. We're really working on our patience, and we're getting good looks the more patient we are,” she said.

Dobida echoed that sentiment when discussing North’s recent back-to-back wins.

“The key to success this week has been applying what we are told in practice and being patient,” she said. “The team and I know that we need to play the pace of our game and work together to get the wins.”

Defensively, North held Shaker Heights to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters, finishing with 28 points allowed. Still, Greene said there is room for improvement.

“We have the goal to hold them to seven points a quarter. They finished the 28 points, but I'm never satisfied,” she said. “I told the girls that at the end of the game, we played solid defense for three quarters, and then to give up that much in the fourth quarter, that can't happen. We told them we already have stuff we need to work on, and so we're ready to keep working.”

Ashley’s perimeter shooting also played a role in freeing up Dobida inside, something the senior appreciates.

“When other shooters are hitting big shots, it helps my game a lot,” Dobida said. “Once someone gets going, we all feel the energy and feed off of it. It’s also good that we can all trust each other to make those shots at crucial moments.”

Eastlake North will look to keep the momentum going Saturday when it travels to Shaw.

Kaitlyn Dobida delivered a breakout performance Monday night, scoring 28 points to lead North past host Maple Heights, 52-23, in a non-conference victory that snapped the Rangers’ four-game losing streak.

North used Dobida’s scoring to seize control early and then pull away for good during a dominant second and third quarter stretch, when the Rangers turned defensive stops into steady offense and widened the gap on the scoreboard.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, and right now, we’ve had a couple of games where we were going down the rollercoaster, and now we have a really good opportunity this week to continue to go up it,” said North coach Staci Greene. “We’ve been cleaning up a lot of things in practice, and the girls keep working hard.”

After surrendering 11 points in the opening quarter, the Rangers tightened up defensively, allowing just five points combined in the second and third quarters as Dobida continued to find open looks and attack gaps in the defense.

“I really got on them about giving up offensive rebounds and giving them second-chance points. Those are things that we've been talking about all year that have to be our focus in order to have a successful season,” Greene said. “In that first quarter, we gave up 11 points, which is just way too much. We’ve got to get our defense going a lot better.”

Dobida said the shift came as North began working together more effectively on both ends of the floor.

“It was very important to get this win tonight, not only to improve our record, but to give ourselves some confidence going forward,” Dobida said.

As the Rangers’ defense improved, Dobida’s offensive rhythm followed.

“During the second and third quarters, my teammates and I were overall working better together,” she said. “We got stops during defense, which led us to get into our offense and find the best shot.”

Greene credited Dobida’s recent form and the work of her teammates for creating opportunities.

“She's been playing really well the past two games,” Greene said. “I think she's feeling relaxed. Her teammates are doing a really good job of getting her screens and getting her open. I think the game is just starting to flow with her.”

Dobida said her approach was to stay aggressive and let the game come to her.

“I was trying to get into the open gaps and get shots off as well as drive to the basket to get some action going,” she said. “My teammates found me at the right times, which led me to have a high scoring game.”

Dobida’s 28 points led all scorers, with Madelyn Ferrari adding eight points. Amaya Majette scored six, Gillian Forwick had five, Paylin Oostdyk finished with three, and Mir Ashley added two as North improved to 2-4 on the season.

The Rangers return to action Wednesday at home against Shaker Heights.

Eastlake North opened its season with a tight 47–46 win over Bay on Saturday at the Berkshire Hoopfest, giving first-year head coach Staci Greene her first career victory.

North trailed 27–20 at halftime and struggled to find rhythm early, but Greene said the halftime adjustments made the difference.

“It felt so good,” Greene said. “They executed exactly what I told them we needed to do at halftime in the locker room, and that was we had to talk more on defense, and we had to hold ourselves accountable out there. And they did just that. We outscored them in the third and fourth quarters, and ultimately, we got the win from it.”

The Rangers were down one in the closing seconds when senior Kaitlin Dobida drove the lane, drew a foul with 4.8 seconds left, and hit both free throws to put North ahead. Bay’s final 3-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.

“That was huge,” Greene said. “She stayed composed at the free throw line. I had no doubt in my mind that those free throws were going to go in and that she had it under control. She does a great job at keeping the team involved but taking control when it's needed, and that was two free throws that we needed.”

Dobida finished with a game-high 21 points, including 13 in the second half and three 3-pointers. She said the final possession came down to staying aggressive.

“It was so exciting to be back and battle to pull out the win,” Dobida said. “My teammates and I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy game. We worked together, played for each other, and got the job done.”

She knew what was at stake when she drove the lane.

“I knew the time was running low and we needed to get a shot up,” she said. “I saw an opening and decided to drive and either get a layup off or get to the line. When I got fouled, I stayed focused to hit both shots for the team.”

North also got nine points from Angelie Cisternino, including two 3s, along with eight from Gillian Forwick, six from Madelyn Ferrari, and three from Amaya Majette.

Greene said she was encouraged by how the lineup moved the ball and created scoring chances, especially in the second half.

“It was great to see Ang hit some threes,” Greene said. “I think she really needed that to kind of get her going, and they were really at clutch times, too. It was really good to see Gill Forwick, all the work that she put in over the summer, and that's exactly what we need her to do each game. She has put in the work, and it was good to see that it was paying off on the court, because all those scores played huge roles in today's win.”

Greene said she also learned something important about her team’s mentality.

“They want to win,” she said. “Even when we were down, I think 10 or 11 points going into the third quarter, we were down by seven at half, they didn't fall apart. They stuck together. They want to move the ball. They want to get each other involved. Their heart and their effort is unbeatable.”

Dobida echoed that sentiment after the victory.

“Today, I learned that my team and I will always have each other’s backs no matter the circumstance,” she said. “It was great to get back on the floor with them and play together and open the season on a win.”

The Rangers (1-0) return to action on Tuesday when they host North Royalton.

The Staci Greene era begins at Eastlake North with optimism, energy, and a focus on competition.

Greene, who is entering her first season at the helm of the Rangers, takes over a program that went 13-11 overall and 5-5 in the Western Reserve Conference last winter. With two returning starters and five additional varsity returners, Greene is confident that her team’s work ethic and chemistry will keep them competitive every night.

“I think we have the potential to compete in every game we play,” Greene said. “That is our main goal this year—to compete in everything we do. No matter the outcome of a game, we will never leave the court doubting the work we put in. If we continue to put in the work during practice, film, warmups, and games, the scoreboard is going to take care of itself.”

Greene has been impressed by the togetherness and positivity of her team, traits she believes will serve as the foundation for success in her first year.

“The girls genuinely enjoy being around each other,” she said. “They are always throwing ideas out for team bonding, and they get along so well. The environment on the court is better because they want to be there for one another. When the attitude on the court is positive, we can use this to our advantage. The girls really trust what we are doing.”

Still, Greene acknowledges that the team’s relative inexperience presents an early challenge.

“One challenge this season will be our overall experience level,” she said. “We have players stepping into new roles. As long as we remain focused and disciplined, we are going to be just fine.”

Leading the way is senior guard/forward Kaitlin Dobida, a returning starter and one of the area’s top players after averaging 17.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season.

“Kaitlin is a true leader on and off the court,” Greene said. “She sets the tone for the team and constantly challenges herself and her teammates to give full effort.” Dobida is also closing in on a milestone—she’s just 369 points shy of 1,000 for her career.

Junior point guard Madelyn Ferrari returns after a strong sophomore campaign in which she averaged 5.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

“Ferrari brings intense energy that is contagious,” Greene said. “She competes in everything she does, and everyone needs a player like her on their team.”

Rounding out the projected starting five are senior forward Gillian Forwick, senior guard Angelie Cisternino, and junior forward Amaya Majette.

“Gill gets better every day,” Greene said. “She takes a lot of pride in her role on the team.”

Greene is also happy to welcome Cisternino back after a year away from the program.

“Angelie is returning after taking a year off from basketball,” Greene said. “We are thrilled to have her back on the court. Angelie works hard and holds herself to a high standard.”

Additional depth will come from juniors Paylin Oostdyk and Sophia Petro, along with seniors Mir Ashley, Cammy Vo, and Addie McCarthy.

Greene’s first-year goals are centered on accountability, intensity, and consistency.

“Our team goals are to compete in everything we do,” she said. “We must hold each other accountable to bring high-pressure intensity in every drill, play, and game. Another goal is to control what we can control. I tell the girls all the time that there are non-negotiables and things I cannot teach. These non-negotiables include bringing full effort and winning the 50-50 balls. If we handle the things we can control, everything will take care of itself.”

As for what it will take to win, Greene keeps it simple.

“One key to each victory this season will be to out-rebound our opponents,” she said. “If we take time to focus on boxing out and not giving up second-chance points, this puts us in a great position to win. Another key to victory this season is focusing on our game. We have to remain true to what we do well and stick with it. We can’t let another team get us out of our norm, which is a full-on mental mindset.”

With Greene’s fresh approach and the leadership of Dobida and Ferrari, the Rangers are poised to make noise in the final year of the WRC this winter—and to compete, just as their new coach intends, in every moment that matters.