The Western Reserve Academy Girls Varsity Basketball team faced a significant challenge on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Pennsylvania to take on nationally ranked No. 13 Westtown School. Despite a strong and spirited effort, the Pioneers fell to the Moose, 85–44.
WRA came out with confidence and energy, trading baskets in a competitive first quarter. Junior captain Emerie Davis '27 set the tone defensively with several key plays as the Pioneers held a one-point lead with 1:30 remaining in the opening frame. Westtown responded with a late 9–0 run to close the quarter ahead 20–12. Buckets from Maliyah Lofton '26 and a three-pointer by Tara Nachbar '28 helped slow the momentum, but another extended run by the Moose midway through the second quarter gave Westtown a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
The Pioneers showed resilience in the second half, continuing to compete on every possession and refusing to back down against one of the top teams in the country. Maliyah Lofton '26 led WRA with 10 points, while Tara Nachbar '28 added eight points along with four rebounds and two assists. Nina Bilic '28 contributed six points, two rebounds, two steals, and a block, and Kobi Marsden '28 chipped in four points, five rebounds, and two steals.
The girls now turn their focus to a demanding upcoming week, preparing for two major events next weekend: the Classic in the City (Pickerington, OH) and the Classic in the Country (Millersburg, OH). The Pioneers will face two of the top four teams in OHSAA Division I—Olentangy High School and Kettering Fairmont High School—as well as the No. 2 team in Canada, Niagara Prep.
