“They’re just really, really good,” said Avon coach Adam Castrilla. “They make you earn every single inch.”

Returning four starters from last year’s team that made its third consecutive state Final Four appearance—including winning the Division I state title in 2024—the Bulldogs have experience and they have size. And they know that everything starts on the defensive end of the court.

The defense was on display right from the start, as Avon turned the ball over 11 times in the opening quarter, which ended with the hosts on top, 17-4. Actually, when freshman Chloe Collins hit a long jumper from the right side for Avon’s first points, the score was 5-2, which certainly is manageable. But the Eagles only scored two more points until the middle of the second period, as the Bulldogs went on a 24-2 run to open a 29-4 lead.

At halftime the score was 32-8, and things didn’t get any better for Avon in the second half. One highlight was the play of freshman Isla Anderson, who came off the bench to lead the Eagles with six points.

“She has been slowly coming into her own as far as being aggressive,” said Castrilla. “I think the sky’s the limit for her. She does a really good job. It’s okay if she’s a little more selfish, meaning getting the ball into spots where she can score.”

Anderson is one of three freshmen who see lots of court time on the varsity level. Avon also has three sophomores in its regular rotation.

“(Olmsted Falls is) one of the best teams in the state, and we’re going to keep working hard to eventually get to that level,” said Castrilla. “I’m proud of our kids. It’s not easy to come here and play against them. For a lot of our freshmen and sophomores, it’s their first experience playing them. I’m happy just with the fact that we hung in there and we battled.”

Castrilla also is hopeful that the young Eagles can take the example set by the Bulldogs and incorporate it into their own play.

“I think what we can build on is take how they play when they play so hard and cut so hard and screen so hard,” he said. “All of those things. I want them to say, ‘Hey, we just saw that and that’s the level we need to get to.’”

Things don’t get any easier for the Eagles, as their next game is Friday at Berea-Midpark as part of a girls-boy doubleheader. The Titans are currently 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the SWC.