WARRIORS MAKE THE MOST OF FINAL HOME GAME

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BELOIT OH- In a commanding display of dominance, West Branch claimed the sectional championship on Saturday with an emphatic 61-10 victory over Hubbard. From the opening whistle, West Branch showcased their superiority on both ends of the court, overwhelming Hubbard with their relentless defense and high-powered offense.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Sophia Gregory, who poured in 14 points, setting the tone for her team’s offensive outburst. Mikayln Woods added 11 points, while Livvie Showalter and Ellie Tucker each contributed 7 points to the winning effort. Additionally, Chloe Dennison and Audrey Eaton both chipped in 6 points, highlighting the depth and balance of West Branch’s scoring attack.

The suffocating defense of West Branch limited Hubbard’s scoring opportunities, allowing them to cruise to a decisive victory and secure the sectional championship.

With the win, West Branch advances to the District Semifinals, where they will face off against Chagrin Falls on Wednesday at Nordonia High School. Tip-off for this highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for approximately 7:30.

CARDINALS RIGHT BACK INTO DISTRICTS

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CANFIELD OH- In a dominant display of basketball prowess, Canfield asserted their superiority on Saturday, bulldozing their way into the district semifinals with a resounding 58-14 victory over Cleveland Central Catholic. From the opening tip-off, Canfield left no doubt as to their superiority, overwhelming their opponents with suffocating defense and explosive offense.

Leading the charge for Canfield were Grace McQuiston and Cami Hritz, who each contributed 12 points to the team’s offensive onslaught. Carly Fleming, Aleen Barakat, and Marina Koenig also made significant contributions, with Fleming tallying 7 points and Barakat and Koenig each adding 6 points to the scoreboard.

The relentless intensity and teamwork displayed by Canfield proved too much for Cleveland Central Catholic to handle, as Canfield cruised to victory in emphatic fashion.

With the win, Canfield punches their ticket to the district semifinals, where they are set to square off against Salem on Wednesday at Uniontown Lake. Tip-off for this highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for approximately 7:30, as Canfield looks to continue their march towards postseason glory with their sights set on the district championship.

KNIGHTS CRUISE PAST COWBOYS

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By Ty Bartell

 

AKRON, Ohio — The Archbishop Hoban Knights boys basketball team secured a decisive 75-49 victory over the Chaney Cowboys in a spirited Friday night matchup.

Despite Chaney’s reputation for fearlessness and competitiveness, Hoban established an early lead, edging out the Cowboys 14-11 after the first quarter. Both teams traded advantages in the opening period, with the Knights showcasing a balanced offense while Chaney relied on freshman standout Austin Brown to keep them in contention.

Hoban elevated their performance in the second quarter, outscoring Chaney 23-18 to carry a 37-29 lead into halftime. The Knights continued to assert their dominance after the break, maintaining their momentum and thwarting any attempts by the Cowboys to mount a comeback. Behind a 17-11 third quarter, Hoban extended their lead to a commanding 54-40 advantage heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, the Knights sealed the victory with authority, outscoring Chaney 21-9 to clinch their 15th win of the season with a final score of 75-49.
Leading the scoring charge for Hoban were Jonas Nichols and Kenny Scott, each contributing 13 points, followed by Joey Hardman with 10 points. Meanwhile, Chaney’s offense was spearheaded by freshman sensation Austin Brown, who tallied a game-high 21 points with five made 3-point shots, supported by Dwayne Thompson with 11 points.

With the win, Archbishop Hoban concludes the regular season with a record of 15-7 as they prepare for the upcoming state tournament. The Knights, seeded 12th in the Division 1, Region 2, Northeast 5 bracket, will await the winner of the Massillon-Perry vs. Boardman Spartans matchup in the sectional final.
Chaney finishes their regular season with a record of 7-11 and will host the Lutheran West Longhorns (19-2) on Saturday in their final game before postseason play.

For the latest updates on Hoban Knights and Chaney Cowboys basketball, including live games, scores, stats, and stories, fans can stay tuned to YSN throughout the season.

LAKERS SEIZE A SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE FINAL SECONDS

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PYMATUNING OH- In a thrilling contest that came down to the wire, Pymatuning Valley seized the opportunity to showcase their prowess on their home court, edging past Poland in a heart-pounding 50-48 victory. The Lakers, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, delivered a performance to remember, capped off by sophomore standout Sadie Paul’s clutch game-winning layup with just 2 seconds remaining on the clock.

Leading the charge for Pymatuning Valley was Zoey Painter, who poured in a staggering 30 points, dominating the offensive end with her scoring prowess. Paul contributed 6 points, while Taryn Tisch also chipped in with 6 points to bolster the Lakers’ attack.

Despite the formidable challenge posed by Poland, led by Sophia Generalovich with 15 points, Leanne Williams with 11 points, and Elliana Thompson with 9 points, Pymatuning Valley remained resilient and composed, ultimately securing the hard-fought victory.

With the win, Pymatuning Valley advances to the District Semifinals, where they will eagerly await the outcome of the Warrensville Heights versus Northwestern matchup. The highly anticipated semifinal clash is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 6:00 at North Ridgeville High School.

KRZNARIC HITS 1,000 CAREER POINTS IN WIN OVER SPARTANS

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Photo Credit: Kelly Summers Photography

Andover, OH- Looking to sharpen up before the playoffs the Pymatuning Valley Lakers and the Conneaut Spartans met for one final regular season game in Andover. The Lakers emerged victorious with a thrilling 92-80 win. Led by standout performances from Blake Krznaric and Caydence Wiser, the Lakers showcased their offensive prowess and celebrated a historic achievement by Krznaric.

QUARTER SCORES
Pymatuning Valley Lakers: 24 | 24 | 24 | 20 = 92
Conneaut Spartans: 17 | 22 | 15 | 26 = 80

Pymatuning Valley Lakers Total Points:

  • Blake Krznaric: 25
  • Caydence Wiser: 24
  • Zane Neczporenko: 14
  • Seth Bryan: 11
  • Max Smith: 8
  • Brady Tisch: 6
  • Ryan Croston: 4

Conneaut Spartans Total Points:

  • Chance Loomis: 28
  • Noah Hamm: 26
  • Jordan Kulko: 17
  • Cayson Hayes: 3
  • Ryan Turner: 3
  • JR Hutchinson: 3

The Lakers’ seniors rose to the occasion in this matchup, with Blake Krznaric leading the charge with an impressive 25 points. Krznaric’s outstanding performance also marked a significant milestone, as he reached 1,000 career points as a Pymatuning Valley Laker. The moment was made even more special as he was honored on his final regular-season game on his home court, adding a memorable touch to the evening’s proceedings.

Joining Krznaric in the scoring column, Caydence Wiser contributed 24 points, while Zane Neczporenko added 14 points, and Seth Bryan chipped in 11 points, highlighting the Lakers’ balanced offensive attack.

Despite a resilient effort from the Spartans, led by Chance Loomis with 28 points and Noah Hamm with 26 points, they were unable to contain the Lakers’ relentless offense.

With this victory, the Pymatuning Valley Lakers conclude their regular season with an impressive record of 17-5 and now set their sights on hosting the Lake Catholic Cougars in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs at home on 2/27/24. Eager to carry their momentum forward, the Lakers will look to make a statement in the postseason.

As for the Conneaut Spartans, they conclude their regular season with a record of 4-18 and now prepare to face the Canfield Cardinals in the OHSAA playoffs on 3/1/24. Despite the loss, the Spartans remain determined to showcase their competitive spirit and resilience on the road to postseason success.

TIGERS POUNCE IN OVERTIME FOR THE WIN

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By Matt Maher 


NEWTON FALLS, OH – The battle for second on the MVAC Gray division came down to the wire Friday night when Campbell Memorial visited Newton Falls. Newton Falls showed great defense combined with stellar offense right out of the gate but that defense and offense began to slip in the 2nd half and Campbell clawed their way back into it and forced an overtime thriller that came up just short for the Red Devils and saw the Tigers earn themselves a 50-45 victory.

 

Everyone knew this game was going to be a grind but the 17-8 first quarter score that saw Newton Falls on top started to question that. David Moore got his night started with the first triple for the Red Devils while Josue Rodriguez found 3 himself with a 2 and 1. Alex Stinson and Cameron Huff were money from the arc giving their team a huge 3 each while Jabriel Rufai found 5 points with a double then a triple. 

 

Campbell tightened their defense in the second quarter and only allowed Newton Falls to score 11 to their 5. It was Moore and Rodriguez leading the way again with Moore finding another 3 while Rodriguez found 2 more. Landon Mcgregor joined the party with his team’s only 3-pointer of the quarter and led his team in scoring this frame with that tally. Rufai was held scoreless this frame which is a testament to Memorials defense that they kept one of the deadliest Tigers from pouncing going into halftime.

 

Campbell knew they needed to improve on the defensive showing they put up in the last quarter and find simpler shots and boy did they deliver, with a 12-4 edge in the 3rd, Campbell got themselves right back into it and made Newton Falls nervous. Unlike the 2nd, the 3rd quarter saw Jabriel Rufai score all 4 for his team with a double and a perfect 2-for-2 from the stripe. David Moore seemed to have found Superman’s cape during the break because he went off on the Tigers with 10 points in the quarter starting with a 3 then continuing on with three made 2’s and an and-1 that hit.

 

The Red Devils would not and could not be stopped going into the 4th and man were they good with a 15-8 edge in scoring they had found enough to tie this game late and force overtime in this huge game. Rufai scored 4 points to lead his team this quarter with 2 hard fought 2’s. Moore and Rodriguez continued their dominance for their team with Moore putting up 4 more and Rodriguez adding 5 points to his teams total. 

 

The Red Devils went into overtime scoring the first 3 points quickly only to see McGregor respond immediately after with a 3 of his own and it didn’t take long for the Falls to find a narrow lead and force Campbell to foul which promptly sealed this game for the Tigers because Jabriel Rufai went 5-for-6 from the stripe.

 

Campbell showed grit and heart in this game but just fell short after finding their game and forcing this one to overtime. The Tigers will end their season on a 6 game winning streak and will host Chippewa on February 27th for round 1 of the OHSAA playoffs while Campbell gets ready for their first round brawl against Trinity on the 27th as well, both game will be played at 7:00PM EST. 

WARRIORS TAKE A STANCE

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By Michael Ginocchi 


Beloit, OH- The West Branch Boys’ Basketball team won their final game before tournament play by defeating Heartland Christian 64 to 42. West Branch finished the regular season with an 18-4 record and were EBC champs. 

 

The Warriors led 35 to 23 at the half, but Heartland showed a lot of heart by cutting the lead to eight points in the second before the Warriors pulled away. West Branch will play at home on Tuesday against the 13-9 Youngstown East Golden Bears in the first round of the state playoffs. The matchup between the two teams should be an exciting first round game. West Branch won the first meeting 73 to 71 in overtime a few weeks ago.

 

Leading the Warriors’ offense was Jeremiah Thomas with 16 points and Gavin Gregory with 10 points. Jaxon Robb contributed 9 points and Cooper Anderson and Joey Jackson each had 8 points.

 

The Heartland Lions were led in scoring by Will Morgan with 12 points and Jake Walker with 11 points. Their regular season record ends with a 13-9 record. The Lions will face Southington Chalker at home on Tuesday at 7 pm. in the first round of the state basketball playoffs. 






ROCKETS WIN DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE STRUGGLE

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LOWELLVILLE OH- In a gritty defensive showdown, Lowellville emerged victorious over conference rival McDonald, prevailing in a hard-fought battle by a final score of 38-33. In a game characterized by tough defense and intense competition, Lowellville managed to secure a crucial win.

Leading the charge for Lowellville was Matt Lucido, who paced the team with 11 points, while Michael Ballone added 7 points and Drew Modelski contributed 6 points, helping to power Lowellville’s offense against McDonald’s stout defense.

On the McDonald side, Drew Zajack led all scorers with 13 points, followed closely by Wyatt Wolford with 12 points, but their efforts ultimately fell short against Lowellville’s defensive resilience.

With the win, Lowellville improves to a 14-8 record on the season and looks ahead to their next challenge in the tournament. They are set to face the winner of Springfield vs. Open Door Christian on March 1st in what promises to be an exciting postseason matchup.

Meanwhile, McDonald will regroup and prepare for their own tournament game, as they are slated to host Kidron Central Catholic on Tuesday. Despite the setback, McDonald remains a formidable opponent and will surely bring their A-game as they look to make a statement in the postseason.

 

CLIPPERS EARN A SHARE OF THE LEAGUE IN THE SEASON FINALE

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COLUMBIANA OH- In a pivotal matchup on Friday night, Columbiana seized their chance to claim a share of the EOAC championship, exacting revenge on Lisbon with a convincing 51-39 victory. Led by a balanced scoring effort, Columbiana showcased their depth and determination on the court.

Seth Struharik led the charge for Columbiana, pouring in 14 points, while Devin Daugherty added 11 points of his own, and Maddox Brown contributed 10 points to the winning cause. Ian Less chipped in with 8 points, rounding out a formidable offensive performance for Columbiana.

On the Lisbon side, Hunter Dailey and Tate Wallen each tallied 11 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Columbiana’s tenacious defense and efficient scoring.

With the win, Columbiana finishes their regular season with an impressive 17-5 record, securing a share of the EOAC title. Now, their focus shifts to the upcoming tournament, where they will host Chagrin Falls on Tuesday in what promises to be an exciting postseason opener.

Meanwhile, Lisbon, with an 18-4 record, also looks ahead to tournament play. They will host Cornerstone Christian on Tuesday, aiming to make a statement as they pursue postseason success.

 

MOONEY PUTS A BOW ON THE REGULAR SEASON

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YOUNGSTOWN OH- In a commanding finale to their regular season, Mooney’s boys’ basketball team showcased their dominance on Friday night as they hosted Struthers in an electrifying showdown. Despite a brief setback in the second quarter, where they only managed to tally 5 points, the Cardinals rallied back with sheer determination to secure a convincing 63-39 victory.

Leading the charge for Mooney was Ashton O’Brien, whose stellar performance on the court yielded an impressive 18 points, supported by the dynamic duo of Eddie Nieves and Rocco Turner, each contributing 11 points to the scoreboard. Jibri Carter and Nick Genova also made significant contributions, chipping in with 9 and 8 points, respectively.

On the opposing side, Struthers put up a valiant effort, with Lucas Patti leading the charge with 13 points, while Jason Dukes and Tommy Cole each added 8 points to the team’s total.

With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, Mooney (17-5) sets their sights on the upcoming tournament, eager to carry their momentum into postseason play. Their journey begins with a home matchup against Academy of Urban Scholars on Tuesday, where they will look to make a statement on their quest for championship glory.

Meanwhile, Struthers (9-11) will also turn their attention to tournament action, determined to make a splash as they host Marlington on Tuesday.