NO STOPPING RAMS MOMENTUM

MINERAL RIDGE OH- In a night filled with celebration and dominance, Mineral Ridge’s basketball team honored their seniors in style with a commanding 74-33 victory over Maplewood on Wednesday.

Leading the charge for Mineral Ridge was Ava Hulett, who delivered a standout performance with an impressive 25 points. Gianna Gilbert contributed 13 points, while Sullivan Sandy added 12 points and Ava Carkido chipped in with 10 points, showcasing the team’s depth and scoring prowess.

With this resounding win, Mineral Ridge concludes their regular season with an outstanding 20-2 record, setting the stage for an exciting postseason journey. As they await their first tournament opponent, Mineral Ridge remains focused and determined to carry their momentum into the playoffs.

HEARTLAND’S HISTORIC RUN CONTINUES

COLUMBIANA OH- In another remarkable display of their historic season, Heartland Christian’s basketball team continued their record-breaking journey on Wednesday, overpowering Lordstown with an emphatic 62-21 victory. With each win, Heartland adds to their legacy, surpassing previous milestones to establish new standards of success for the program.

Leading the charge for Heartland were Rylee Shadowens and Rachel Reynolds, who each contributed 14 points to the scoring onslaught. Sarah Reynolds added 10 points to the scoreboard, while Mackenzie Lightly chipped in with 6 points, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive effort.

Looking ahead, Heartland prepares for another challenge as they hit the road to face Valley Christian on Friday.

FRANKLIN HITS 100; BULLDOGS SHINE ON SENIOR NIGHT

EAST PALESTINE, OH- In a thrilling Wednesday night showdown, the East Palestine Lady Bulldogs triumphed over the Toronto Red Knights with a final score of 30-23. The victory not only marked a significant win for the team but also held a special significance as they celebrated Senior Night. Adding to the jubilation, Coach Will Franklin achieved a remarkable milestone by securing his 100th career victory on the same memorable evening.

From the opening tip-off, the Lady Bulldogs displayed determination and resilience on the court. Led by the senior leadership of Leila Martin, East Palestine showcased their offensive prowess with Martin delivering an impressive performance, contributing 12 points to the team’s victory. Martin’s skillful play and leadership set the tone for the Bulldogs’ relentless pursuit of success.

Supporting Martin’s stellar performance, Jasmine Ludt and Alivia Magness added valuable contributions to the offensive attack, each tallying 6 points apiece. Ludt and Magness demonstrated their versatility and skill, complementing Martin’s scoring efforts with their own decisive plays throughout the game.

Gabby Andre and Marah Zimmerman also made notable contributions to the Bulldogs’ offensive output, with each player adding 3 points to the team’s tally. Their timely baskets and tenacious defense proved instrumental in securing the victory for East Palestine on this memorable occasion.

Despite the formidable challenge posed by the Toronto Red Knights, the Lady Bulldogs remained resilient and focused throughout the contest. Toronto’s leading scorer, Michelle Anderson, demonstrated her scoring prowess, while JJ Rebich and Ashton Thomas contributed 5 and 4 points respectively. However, the Lady Bulldogs’ cohesive teamwork and unwavering determination ultimately proved decisive in securing the victory.

The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered on their beloved Lady Bulldogs, celebrating both the team’s triumph and Coach Will Franklin’s remarkable milestone. Franklin’s dedication and leadership have been instrumental in guiding the Lady Bulldogs to numerous victories, and his achievement of 100 career wins is a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence.  Franklin has led EP since 2013 and is the only coach in the girls’ program to ever lead his team to a conference title.

As the final buzzer sounded, the East Palestine Lady Bulldogs celebrated a hard-fought victory and a momentous milestone in Coach Franklin’s career. The win not only serves as a testament to the team’s talent and determination but also underscores the significance of Senior Night as a tribute to the invaluable contributions of the team’s graduating seniors.

IRISH WIN BACK TO BACK STEEL VALLEY TITLES

By Matt Maher


YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Some may say Easter and others may say Christmas but I say Wednesday night was the holiest of nights as Ursuline hosted Cardinal Mooney for round 2 of the Youngstown Holy War! While the first meeting was very lopsided in favor of Ursuline, Mooney showed some great bouts of scoring and held a strong defense against the most dominant team in the Steel Valley Conference and only lost 43-36. 

 

The first quarter started off slow as neither team could find a rhythm for the first two minutes of action but it would be Ursuline who would get on the score sheet first and from there the flood gates began to open as Ursuline outscored Mooney 13-5. Katie Pregibon and Sophia Diorio brought the 5 points to light for Mooney as Pregibon hit a 3 and Diorio found herself 2. Carly Casey and Kennedy Carpenter would each score 3 points with Casey finding a long 3 and Carpenter pushing in a 2 and going 1-for-2 from the stripe. Lily Scott would also find her first 2. 

 

Mooney found a better response in the next frame as their defense held Ursuline to just 7 points and their offense found 8. Carpenter found the most impressive score for Ursuline with a beautiful drive to the hoop that resulted in the score plus 1. Lily Scott got herself another 2 more points and started to show everyone she would be one of the more consistent of the Fighting Irish. Pregibon found herself another phenomenal 3 as Ta’lecia Huff and Sam Rotunno both got on the board with a 2 pointer each. 

 

Cardinal Mooney came out of halftime energized and ready and the score of 15-7 showed they turned the dial up to 11. Carpenter and Scott both found points from the free throw line where Carpenter went 1-for-2 and Scott hit 2-of-4. The free throw line would prove to be fortuitous for Mooney as well as they went 6-for-7 as a team. Delanie Olesh found 4 points with a field goal and 2-of-2 free throws drained while Pregibon found herself 4 more points as well with the exact same score line as Olesh. Sophia Diorio hit the stripe twice where she went 1-for-2 on her first trip then sank her third on an and-1 opportunity.

 

While The Cardinals showed they weren’t going to be pushed around in the third the Irish successfully unraveled all of Mooney’s work and scored 16 to cardinal Mooney’s 8. Ursuline’s defense from the first quarter showed up again and completely blocked out most of Mooney’s attempts to just get into the paint. Since Mooney couldn’t find any luck in the paint they looked towards Pregibon who found her third triple of the night and Sam Rotunno went 1-for-2 from the stripe while Sophia Diorio went 2-for-2. Ursuline was led by Kennedy Carpenter once again with an 8 point quarter including a 3 and 5-for-6 from the line while Brooke O’Palick found a 3 and went 2-for-2 from the line and Lily Scott scored 3 off of and-1.

 

Ursuline once again showed everyone why they’re the queens of the Steel Valley Conference after taking down their arch rivals in the second chapter of the Holy War and their second to last regular season game. Sophia Diorio finished the night with 9 points while Katie Pregibon led her team with an impressive 13 points. Lily Scott matched Diorio with 9 points of her own and Kennedy Carpenter led all scorers with 15 points. Cardinal Mooney (7-11, 2-3) will be back home on February 9th when they host New Castle (PA) at 3:30PM while Ursuline (11-10, 6-0) will travel north to Girard to take on the Indians on February 10th at 2:30PM.

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/2-7-g-bb-ursuline-mooney/2-7-g-bb-mooney-ursuline/104EOS1D

LADY MUSTANGS RACE PAST BOMBERS

Orwell, OH- In a dominant display of skill and teamwork, the Grand Valley Mustangs emerged victorious over the Windham Bombers with a final score of 54-26. With this win, the Mustangs concluded their regular season on a high note, boasting a commendable record of 15-6 as they prepare to enter the OHSAA postseason tournament.

 

Box Score:

Teams 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
Grand Valley Mustangs 8 23 8 15 54
Windham Bombers 6 7 8 5 26

Player Stats:

Grand Valley Mustangs:

  • Kaelyn Hart: 18 points
  • Morgan Crawford: 12 points
  • Chloe Freeman: 8 points
  • Kaitlyn Bauman: 5 points
  • Reagan Boiarski: 4 points
  • Dixie Miller: 4 points
  • Abbey Eland: 3 points

Windham Bombers:

  • Briah Daniel: 8 points
  • Mariah Woods: 4 points
  • Abby Simpson: 4 points
  • Lorena De Oliviera: 4 points
  • Skylar Bailer: 3 points
  • Makenzi Blockenger: 3 points

The Mustangs showcased their offensive firepower with a balanced scoring effort, led by standout performances from Kaelyn Hart and Morgan Crawford. Their relentless defense stifled the Bombers’ offense throughout the game, allowing the Mustangs to maintain control and secure the decisive victory.

Looking ahead, the Windham Bombers (11-9) will face a tough challenge in their next game against the Rootstown Rovers (17-2) on 2/12/24, on the road. The Rovers are coming off an impressive 66-46 win over the Mogadore Wildcats, making them a formidable opponent in what promises to be an exciting matchup.

As the Grand Valley Mustangs shift their focus to the postseason, they aim to carry the momentum from this victory into their playoff campaign, confident in their ability to compete at a high level and make a deep postseason run.

WARRIORS SOLE CHAMPS WITH WIN OVER MADISON

Photo Credit: Edgewood Athletics

Madison, OH- In a thrilling matchup that showcased the resilience and determination of both teams, the Edgewood Warriors emerged victorious over the Madison Blue Streaks, claiming a historic league title for the first time in the program’s history. The final score stood at 58-50 in favor of the Warriors, cementing their dominance in the 2023-2024 CVC Lake Division League.

Box Score:

Team 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
Edgewood Warriors 14 12 15 17 58
Madison Blue Streaks 14 19 8 9 50

Edgewood Warriors Total Points:

  • McKenna Vencill: 19
  • Leigha Guyton: 12
  • Faith Vencill: 10
  • Katie McCollister: 7
  • Avery Vencill: 4
  • Carly Kray: 3
  • Annie Johnston: 3

Madison Blue Streaks Total Points:

  • Zoey Delagianis: 23
  • Sidney Sorber: 10
  • Kendra Smith: 7
  • Leah Brock: 5
  • Alyssa Snider: 3
  • Kaylee LaMarco: 2

Despite a valiant effort from the Blue Streaks, spearheaded by Zoey Delagiais’ impressive 23-point performance, they couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure from the Warriors in the latter stages of the game. Sidney Sorber contributed 10 points for the Blue Streaks, but it wasn’t enough to halt the Warriors’ march to victory.

With this crucial win, the Edgewood Warriors secured their place as the undisputed champions of the CVC Lake Division League, finishing the regular season with an outstanding record of 17-1. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the program and serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaching staff.

Looking ahead, the Warriors will aim to carry their momentum into their next game against the Conneaut Spartans on February 10th, 2024. Meanwhile, the Madison Blue Streaks will regroup as they prepare to face off against the Harvey Red Raiders on the road on February 9th, 2024.

LADY HERALDS WIN OVER BRISTOL IN FINAL HOME GAME

Saybrook, OH- In a thrilling girls’ basketball matchup, the St. John Heralds emerged victorious against the Bristol Panthers with a final score of 43-31. The game, which took place at the St. John gymnasium, saw intense action from both teams as they battled it out on the court.

Team 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
St. John Heralds 14 7 8 14 43
Bristol Panthers 9 12 0 10 31

 

Game Recap

The Heralds started the game strong, taking an early lead in the first quarter with a score of 14-9. Led by standout performances from Mickey Zheng and Alyssa Cevera, the Heralds maintained their momentum throughout the game. Zheng showcased her scoring prowess, contributing 17 points to the team’s total, while Cevera added 11 points of her own.

However, the Panthers fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the Heralds 12-7 to narrow the gap. Bri Hingersmith led the Panthers’ offensive efforts, scoring 8 points in the game. Despite their efforts, the Panthers struggled to contain the Heralds’ offense in the second half, allowing St. John to secure the win.

Player Stats

  • St. John Heralds Total Points:
    • Mickey Zheng: 17
    • Alyssa Cevera: 11
    • Grace DiSalvatore: 8
    • Izzy Holler: 4
    • Alexa Jordan: 3
  • Bristol Panthers Total Points:
    • Bri Hingersmith: 8
    • Payton Brock: 7
    • Sam Mansfield: 6
    • Lauren Church: 4
    • Destiny Crass: 6

Looking Ahead

With this win, the St. John Heralds improve their record to 11-9 and will head into their final game of the regular season on the road against the Mathews Mustangs on 2/10/24. Meanwhile, the Bristol Panthers (9-11) will face off against the Garfield G-Men (3-16) in their next game on 2/15/24.

The Heralds will aim to carry the momentum from this victory into their upcoming matchup, while the Panthers will look to bounce back and secure a win in their next game.

Stay tuned for more exciting basketball action as the season progresses!

YSN HSGBB POWER RANKINGS RELEASED FOR 2/7/24

EAST PALESTINE, OH- Based on the RPI rankings, here’s the ranking of the girls’ high school basketball teams along with their RPI scores:

1. Crestview (Columbiana) – 0.68119

2. Badger (Kinsman) – 0.648771

3. Edgewood (Ashtabula) – 0.694629

4. West Branch (Beloit) – 0.688583
5. Boardman (Youngstown) – 0.672539
6. Mineral Ridge – 0.63779
7. Howland (Warren) – 0.633738
8. Canfield – 0.61737
9. Columbiana – 0.624582
10. John F. Kennedy Catholic (Warren) – 0.626647
11. LaBrae (Leavittsburg) – 0.602654
12. Grand Valley (Orwell) – 0.600121
13. Springfield (New Middletown) – 0.595854
14. Southern (Salineville) – 0.565383
15. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown) – 0.606227
16. Champion (Warren) – 0.605771
17. Poland Seminary (Poland) – 0.556943
18. Girard – 0.537074
19. East Liverpool – 0.535219
20. East (Youngstown) – 0.48047
21. Ursuline (Youngstown) – 0.53533
22. Western Reserve (Berlin Center) – 0.539171
23. Jefferson Area (Jefferson) – 0.519706
24. South Range (Canfield) – 0.485101
25. Edison (Richmond) – 0.447779

Teams on the bubble:
– Archbishop Hoban (Akron)
– Lakeside (Ashtabula)
– Chaney (Youngstown)
– Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown)
– Pymatuning Valley (Andover)

These teams on the bubble show promise and potential to impact the rankings further as the season progresses. Their performance in upcoming games will determine their final standings and influence the competitive landscape of girls’ high school basketball. Keep an eye on these teams as they strive to secure their positions and make their mark in the league.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN WINS BATTLE OF THE EAGLES

YOUNGSTOWN OH- In a thrilling matchup between EOAC rivals, Valley Christian asserted their dominance on their home court as they welcomed United and secured a commanding 58-42 victory.

Leading the scoring charge for Valley Christian was RaShaun Bell, who delivered a standout performance with an impressive 29 points. Jaylen Robinson contributed 9 points, while Alfred Coward added 7 points to the scoreboard, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Despite a valiant effort from United, led by Jason Pratt with 14 points and Luke Courtney with 13 points, they couldn’t overcome Valley Christian’s determined performance.

With this important win, Valley Christian improves their record to 11-7 and looks to build on their momentum as they stay at home to host Heartland Christian on Friday. On the other hand, United, with an 8-11 record, will regroup and prepare for their upcoming matchup against Lisbon at home on Friday.

The game showcased Valley Christian’s strength and resilience, setting the stage for continued success as they push forward in the season.

POTTERS DROP A SHOOTOUT WITH ST CLAIRSVILLE

In a high-scoring showdown, East Liverpool’s basketball team engaged in an offensive battle against St. Clairsville but ultimately fell short with a final score of 96-81.

Despite their best efforts, East Liverpool couldn’t quite keep pace with St. Clairsville’s potent offense. Leading the scoring charge for East Liverpool were Preston Dawson with 19 points, followed closely by Preston Kerr contributing 18 points. Nate Birch added 16 points to the scoreboard, while Quinton Conrad chipped in with 15 points.

With this loss, East Liverpool’s record moves to 15-4, but they will have the opportunity to regroup and bounce back in the OVAC Consolation game on Friday, with their opponent yet to be determined. Despite the setback, the team remains determined and focused on finishing the season strong.