HIRAM, Ohio – The Medina girls basketball team opened its season with a 50-41 win over Twinsburg on Sunday afternoon at the second annual Ohio Tip-Off Classic at Hiram College’s Price Gymnasium.

It wasn’t easy for Medina (1-0), however.

After trailing by 14 at the half, Twinsburg (0-1) clawed its way back into the game in the second half, using the 3-pointer as a catalyst, knocking down five triples over the final two quarters and had the ball down by one three straight possessions in the fourth quarter with a chance to take its first lead of the game.

But when push came to shove, Medina had just enough to come out on top and finished the game on a 9-1 run after the Tigers had cut the lead to one.

The Bees took control of the game early, getting out to a 21-7 lead after one quarter, finishing the frame on an 8-0 run.

Twinsburg scored the first seven points of the second quarter on a free throw by Taylor Dye and then 3-pointers by Jaci Hutton and MacKenzie Sweeney, but Medina responded by going on a 9-0 run with a pair of baskets by Abby Dress and then a 3-pointer and a layup by Molly Gilbert to extend the lead to 30-14, which was eventually 30-16 at the half.

Twinsburg made a run in the third quarter, led by junior guard Taylor Dye who went into her bag and found a three 3-pointers and an and-1 where she was fouled, bobbled the ball in midair and still finished the layup.

Senior guard Olivia Klanac was the Player of the Game for Medina with 15 points. Gilbert and Dress each scored 11, Addy Shook had five and Vivian Kelps and Gillian Kurka chipped in four each.

For Twinsburg, the Player of the Game was Dye with 16 points. Hutton had 11, Kayla Cellura added eight and Sweeney scored six.