CLEVELAND: Just minutes before tipoff, Ashley Kannal got up from her courtside seat at Quicken Loans Arena and approached a member of the officiating crew to chat.
The clock was ticking down for Friday’s Mid-American Conference women’s basketball semifinal between the University of Akron and Buffalo. But the female referee willingly spent a few moments with the 31-year-old blonde from Youngstown who has been the tournament’s most dedicated fan.
Kannal has that effect on people.
With her disability, Kannal can’t participate in athletics. But Kannal is passionate about basketball, Kent State in particular, and loves the connections she makes.