SENIOR KNIGHTS SLAY THE DRAGONS

By Ty Bartell

AKRON, Ohio — The Archbishop Hoban Knights celebrated their “Senior Knight” in style, cruising to their 13th win of the season with a dominant 74-26 victory over The Akron East Dragons on Friday night.
From the opening tip-off, the Knights asserted their dominance, building a commanding lead early on. After the first quarter, Archbishop Hoban held a commanding 19-4 lead over the Dragons. Their momentum only grew stronger in the second quarter, outscoring East 25-9 to take a formidable 44-13 lead into halftime.

Despite a more even third quarter, with both teams scoring 13 points apiece, Archbishop Hoban maintained their control of the game. In a relentless display of offensive prowess, the Knights utilized a running clock to shut out the Dragons 17-0 in the fourth quarter, sealing the emphatic 74-26 victory.
Leading the charge for Archbishop Hoban was Jonas Nichols, who poured in 19 points on the evening. Nichols was well-supported by John Johnson, Brady Lucey, and Josh Greer, who each contributed 9 points to the scoreboard. For the Dragons, Raheem Armstead led the scoring efforts with 6 points, followed by Malcom Ellen with 5 points.

With the win, Archbishop Hoban improves to a 13-6 record on the season. Looking ahead, the Knights will shift their focus to a showdown with The Ursuline Fighting Irish (13-3) in Youngstown on Tuesday, February 13th.

As the regular season winds down, a special shoutout goes to the four seniors of the Knights — Joey Hardman, Sam Mazzola, Josh Greer, and Jonas Nichols. YSN extends its best wishes for continued success to these outstanding young men.
For live games, scores, stats, and more on Hoban basketball, stay updated with YSN throughout the season.

MUSTANGS GET STUNG BY THE HORNETS

Photo Credit: Joclyn Nicholas

Orwell, OH- In a thrilling matchup, the Kirtland Hornets emerged victorious over the Grand Valley Mustangs with a final score of 59-47. The game, played at the Hornets’ home turf, saw both teams fiercely competing until the final buzzer.

Quarter Scores:

  • Grand Valley Mustangs: 10 | 12 | 16 | 9 | Total: 47
  • Kirtland Hornets: 13 | 12 | 15 | 19 | Total: 59

Grand Valley Mustangs Total Points:

  • Jerry Schultz Arrington: 22
  • Braden Hart: 13
  • Logan Zirzow: 2
  • Ben Cozad: 2
  • Peyton Dryer: 2
  • Bobby Rogers: 2
  • Payton Plizga: 2
  • Teagan Fenton: 1
  • Sammy Goforth: 1

Kirtland Hornets Total Points:

  • Gino Blasini: 16
  • Vince Carriero: 15
  • Danny Alfieri: 10
  • Nick Barisic: 8
  • Jack Green: 4
  • Will Sayle: 4
  • Aaron Fortuna: 2

The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the game, with both teams displaying offensive prowess. The Hornets managed to take a slight lead, ending the quarter with a score of 13-10. However, the Mustangs quickly retaliated, keeping the game close as they entered halftime with a score of 25-24 in favor of Kirtland.

As the second half commenced, the intensity only grew. The Hornets managed to maintain their lead, but the Mustangs stayed within striking distance, refusing to let the game slip away. Heading into the final quarter, the Hornets held a narrow 40-39 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Hornets showcased their resilience and determination, pulling away from the Mustangs with a series of impressive plays. Despite a valiant effort from Grand Valley, Kirtland’s offensive firepower proved too much to handle, ultimately securing them the victory with a final score of 59-47.

Leading the charge for the Grand Valley Mustangs was Jerry Schultz Arrington, who delivered an outstanding performance with 22 points. Braden Hart also contributed significantly with 13 points of his own. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Hornets’ balanced attack.

For the victorious Kirtland Hornets, Gino Blasini led the scoring with 16 points, followed closely by Vince Carriero with 15 points. Danny Alfieri also made a significant impact, adding 10 points to the team’s total. With contributions from multiple players, the Hornets showcased their depth and cohesion on both ends of the court.

With this win, the Kirtland Hornets improve to a solid 13-5 record, further solidifying their position as a formidable force in the league. On the other hand, the Grand Valley Mustangs, now standing at 6-12, will look to bounce back as they prepare to face the Jefferson Falcons in their upcoming matchup.

WARRIORS BOUNCE BACK AT HOME IN A BIG WAY

East Ashtabula, OH- In a dominant display, the Edgewood Warriors showcased their skills on the court, securing a commanding victory over the Conneaut Spartans with a final score of 79-24. From the opening tip-off, it was evident that the Warriors were in control, leaving the Spartans struggling to keep pace throughout the contest.

Quarter Scores:

  • 1st Quarter: Edgewood Warriors 15 – Conneaut Spartans 2
  • 2nd Quarter: Edgewood Warriors 28 – Conneaut Spartans 3
  • 3rd Quarter: Edgewood Warriors 23 – Conneaut Spartans 14
  • 4th Quarter: Edgewood Warriors 13 – Conneaut Spartans 5

Top Performers:

  • Edgewood Warriors:
    • Jacob Ernst: 32 points
    • Payton Williams: 20 points (including 6 three-pointers)
    • Mason Thorr: 6 points
    • JJ Dufour: 6 points
    • Russell Thomas: 4 points
    • Logan Kray: 3 points
    • Geno Measel: 2 points
    • Brady Andrejack: 1 point
  • Conneaut Spartans:
    • Chance Loomis: 12 points
    • Davonte Harris: 7 points
    • Jordan Kulko: 3 points
    • Ryan Turner: 2 points

Game Summary:

Amidst the excitement of the game between the Edgewood Warriors and the Conneaut Spartans, one particular moment stood out as a highlight of the night. Prior to tip-off, Edgewood High School honored veterans in a heartfelt ceremony as part of Veterans Night. As the crowd gathered in anticipation, veterans from various branches of the military were brought out to center court, where they were met with a thunderous applause from the audience. A hush fell over the gymnasium as a moment of silence was observed, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In a touching display of respect and gratitude, players from the basketball teams walked in a line, each shaking the hand of every veteran present. The gesture was met with smiles and nods of appreciation from the honored guests, as the players expressed their gratitude for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women.

The atmosphere was filled with emotion as the community came together to recognize and honor the veterans in attendance. It was a reminder of the importance of honoring those who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Amidst the fierce competition on the court, this moment of unity and respect served as a poignant reminder of the values that transcend sports and bring communities together. It was truly a special moment that will be cherished by all who were in attendance.

The Warriors’ offense was firing on all cylinders, led by the stellar performance of Jacob Ernst, who dominated the scoreboard with an impressive 32 points. Payton Williams also made his mark with a remarkable display of sharpshooting, draining six three-pointers on his way to contributing 20 points to the team’s total.

Defensively, the Warriors stifled the Spartans’ scoring opportunities, forcing turnovers and limiting their chances to mount a comeback. Despite a valiant effort from the Spartans, led by Chance Loomis and Davonte Harris, they were unable to overcome the relentless onslaught from the Warriors.

With this victory, the Edgewood Warriors improve to 14-5 on the season and set their sights on their next challenge against the Fairport Skippers on February 13th, 2024. Meanwhile, the Conneaut Spartans will regroup and prepare for their upcoming matchup against the St. John Heralds on the same day.

The Warriors’ dominant performance serves as a testament to their championship aspirations, showcasing their depth, skill, and determination as they continue their pursuit of basketball glory.

URSULINE OUTLASTS THE CARDINALS

By Tim Corso


Ursuline outlasted Mooney in this year’s second installment of the Holy War 43-39.

It was the defensive effort of holding the Cardinals to four fourth quarter points and the game-sealing free throw from Jaylen Gunther that gave Ursuline the final say. 

That free throw was one of Gunther’s 8 points.

Ursuline went scoreless for nearly half of the fourth quarter before going on a run after a big three-pointer from Geno Lucente and the game go-ahead layup from Deshaun Will with barely 60 seconds left. 

Lucente finished with a game-high 16 ppints while Will pitched in 3.

To get to that point both teams faced a lot of adversity in the form of turnovers.

The first eight minutes were filled with numerous turnovers from both sides and gave everyone a feeling it would come down to that. 

Sharpshooting was the story for the Irish to start. Freshman Jace Ricardo buried a pair of threes in the opening quarter to propel them to a 17-9 edge early. 

Ricardo would finish with 6 points. 

However the Cardinals would storm back thanks to Jibri Carter and co. 

Carter was a catalyst all night and dished out multiple easy bucket opportunities for his team.

However, Carter sent the crowd into hysterics with a three-pointer at the second quarter buzzer to square the game up at 23.

Carter finished with 15 points in the setback. 

Mooney’s lead got as big as seven points in the third period as Carter kept making big plays.

The Irish stormed back to end the quarter to cut it to a two point Cardinal lead 35-33.

From that point, the defensive final frame began and two Mooney turnovers in the final 10 seconds sealed the deal for Ursuline.

Ursuline (14-3) will host Akron Hoban next on Tuesday 2/13.

Cardinal Mooney (14-5) will host Chaney next on 2/13.

DRAGONS SOAR IN THRILLER OVER PIRATES

Photo Credit: CM Photography

Ashtabula, OH- In a nail-biting showdown on the court, the Lakeside Dragons clinched a thrilling victory over the Perry Pirates with a final score of 57-56. The game was marked by intense competition and clutch performances from both teams, making it an unforgettable matchup.

Quarter Scores:

  • Lakeside Dragons: 10 | 21 | 11 | 15 = 57
  • Perry Pirates: 11 | 15 | 12 | 18 = 56

Player Stats – Lakeside Dragons:

  • Dyln Newsome: 29 points
  • Aiden Hathy: 12 points
  • Alex DiSalvatore: 6 points
  • Connor Mead: 5 points
  • Chase Newsome: 5 points

Player Stats – Perry Pirates:

  • Vincent Tomasic: 20 points
  • Derreon Malone: 11 points
  • Braylen Richards: 10 points
  • Allen Morris: 8 points
  • Ryan Zurinsky: 5 points
  • Walter Moses: 2 points

The Dragons’ Dyln Newsome showcased his scoring prowess, leading all scorers with an impressive 29 points, while Vincent Tomasic led the Pirates with 20 points.

The intensity peaked in the fourth quarter as both teams battled fiercely, trading the lead back and forth. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Dyln Newsome of Lakeside drew a foul on a crucial drive to the basket, sinking both free throws to put the Dragons ahead 57-53. However, the Pirates refused to back down, as Vincent Tomasic launched a desperate three-pointer with just one second left, narrowing the gap to a single point.

In a heart-stopping finale, Lakeside managed to secure the victory as Perry’s Braylen Richards intercepted a full-court inbound pass and attempted a shot from long range, which fell short as time expired, sealing the Dragons’ win.

With this hard-fought victory, the Lakeside Dragons (5-11) will look to carry their momentum into their next game at home against the Hudson Explorers (11-7) on February 13, 2024. The Explorers are entering the matchup fresh off a convincing 68-52 win over the Twinsburg Tigers, posing a tough challenge for the Dragons.

On the other hand, the Perry Pirates (9-9) will aim to bounce back in their next game against the Chagrin Falls Tigers (6-12) on February 13, 2024. The Tigers are coming off a disappointing 64-49 loss to the Fairview Warriors, presenting an opportunity for the Pirates to regain their winning form. Both teams will be hungry for victory as they seek to make their mark in the remainder of the season.

EAGLES DROP A TIGHT ONE

WARREN OH- In a hard-fought contest on Friday, Warren JFK’s basketball team found themselves locked in a battle with Lake Center Christian. Despite their best efforts and determination, they fell just short, with Lake Center Christian emerging victorious with a final score of 69-65.

Leading the scoring effort for Warren JFK was Jaden Rishel, who delivered an impressive performance with 18 points. Nick Ryan contributed 16 points, while Nico Ciminero added 14 points and Michael Condoleon chipped in with 12 points, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Despite the setback, Warren JFK, with a 13-5 record, remains focused and determined as they look to bounce back in their upcoming matchup against Gilmour Academy on Saturday.

HOWLAND KEEPS THE RAIDERS AT ANCHOR

In an electrifying matchup at home, Howland’s basketball team rose to the occasion on Friday, facing off against a formidable South Range squad and clinching a hard-fought 53-43 victory.

Leading the charge for Howland was Alex Henry, who delivered a stellar performance with an impressive 22 points, showcasing his scoring prowess and leadership on the court. Anthony Chieffo added 10 points to the scoreboard, while TJ Douglas and John Perry each contributed 6 points, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive effort.

Despite a strong effort from South Range, led by Landon Moore with 12 points and Luke Rohan with 7 points, they couldn’t overcome Howland’s determined performance.

With this crucial win, Howland improves their record to 10-10 as they prepare for their next challenge, a road matchup against Niles next Friday. Meanwhile, South Range, with a 12-6 record, turns their attention to their upcoming game against Lowellville on Tuesday, looking to bounce back from the tough loss.

POTTERS TAKE ANOTHER ONE FROM BEAVER LOCAL

EAST LIVERPOOL OH- In a highly anticipated OVAC consolation game, East Liverpool’s basketball team emerged victorious in a thrilling matchup against their arch-rival Beaver Local, securing an 80-68 win.

East Liverpool’s offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Preston Kerr who delivered an outstanding performance with a game-high 25 points. Preston Dawson added 18 points to the scoring tally, while Quinton Conrad contributed 14 points and Nate Birch chipped in with 12 points, showcasing the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Despite a valiant effort from Beaver Local, led by Austin Cline with 22 points and Owen Hill with 19 points, they couldn’t overcome East Liverpool’s dominant performance.

With this important win, East Liverpool improves their record to an impressive 16-4 as they enjoy some time off before hosting Ursuline on February 19th. Meanwhile, Beaver Local, with a 9-12 record, turns their attention to their upcoming matchup against Salem on Tuesday.

EAGLES KEEP AN EYE ON WINNING

EAST LIVERPOOL OH- In an impressive display of skill and determination, United delivered a commanding performance on Thursday night, securing a decisive victory on the road against Beaver Local with a final score of 52-23.

United’s offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Grace Knight who delivered an outstanding performance with a game-high 18 points. Kate Dees added 10 points to the scoring tally, while Addy Blazer and Grayson Kidder each contributed 7 points, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Despite a valiant effort from Beaver Local, led by Calli Sorge with 7 points and Karsyn Bowyer with 6 points, they couldn’t overcome United’s dominant performance.

With this important win, United improves their record to an impressive 15-6 as they prepare to close out their regular season with a road matchup against East Liverpool. Meanwhile, Beaver Local, with a 6-16 record, completes their regular season and now awaits their tournament matchup on February 21st at Steubenville.

LAKERS RIDE INTO TO BROOKFIELD AND COME OUT ON TOP

By Matt Maher 


BROOKFIELD, OH – Pymatuning Valley and Brookfield squared off Thursday night in a game that saw the Lakers show a consistent stream of offense and enough defense to keep Brookfield at arms length and win the game 45-42. The Lakers found themselves an early lead and never let it go, showing Brookfield that the home court isn’t always an advantage.

 

Quarter one saw Pymatuning Valley outscore Brookfield 10-7, The Warriors saw scores from Cailey Wellman with 3 points from a 2 and 1-of-2 free throws made and MaRae Craig who found two scores in the paint. Leah DeMoss accounted for 7 of the 10 Py Valley points with a strong 3 to start off her night and two more scores from within the arc while Zoey Painter found the other 3 from beyond the arc. 

 

Both teams looked about even in the second frame with the two squads recording 9 points each before halftime. Wellman led the Warriors this quarter with 5 more tallies including her first made 3 and a 2. Mya Jumper found 2 points on the field while Craig and Jasmine Hubbard both went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe. The Lakers saw Painter find another triple while Sadie Paul, Jolene Sharp and Mae Struna all found 2 points on the field.

 

Both teams went into double digit scoring out of the break with Pymatuning Valley staying on top of Brookfield this time 17-12. Hubbard and Wellman both found 4 points all from within the arc while Craig found 2 more points and Jumper went a perfect 2-for-2 from the line. If you want a lot of scoring from one player, you look towards Zoey Painter who went off with 11 points with 4 2’s and a huge 3! Paul found 5 more points this frame as well with a 2 and a 2. 

 

The Lakers slowed down their offensive production while Brookfield cranked up the pressure and pushed themselves within one score but unfortunately for the Warriors their 14-9 fourth wouldn’t be enough to overcome the Lakers lead. Pymatuning Valley saw Sharpe put up 5 points with a 2 and a decent 3-for-4 from the line while Kelsie Britton and Taryn Tisch both found 2’s. The huge comeback effort was led by Mya Jumper who found 10 of the 14 points with two 3’s, a 2 and 2-of-3 free throw sunk. Craig added two more points while Wellman went 2-for-2. 

 

The Lakers never truly lost control of this game despite what that 4th quarter score might tell you, they played a strong offensive game and refused to leave Brookfield with much room to breathe on offense. Zoey Painter led all scorers with an impressive 17 points on the night and is a big reason for her team’s success. Cailey Wellman and Mya Jumper both finished with 14 points for the Warriors and showed great leadership in a tough loss. Pymatuning Valley (12-6) will be back at home on February 12th to take on the Jefferson Area Falcons at 6:15Pm while Brookfield (8-13) look to finish off the regular season at Newton Falls on February 12th at 6:00PM.