LOWRY GETTING LOOKS

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CANFIELD OH-  South Range has a  sophomore sensation in Gwen Lowry has emerged as a shining star this season for the Raiders, stepping into the limelight this season as the team’s leading scorer. Her remarkable journey from a promising talent to a formidable force on the court has been fueled by dedication, hard work, and an unwavering determination to excel.

During the offseason, Lowry devoted countless hours to honing her skills, particularly focusing on her shot. Alongside her teammates, she immersed herself in rigorous training sessions, determined to elevate her game to new heights. The hard work paid off as Lowry returned to the court with a refined shooting stroke, ready to make her mark on the season.

One notable aspect of Lowry’s game this year has been her boost in confidence. With a newfound self-assurance, she fearlessly takes any shot she gets on the floor, unafraid to seize the moment and make an impact for her team. This unwavering confidence has not only elevated her individual performance but has also inspired her teammates to raise their level of play.

What sets Lowry apart on the court is her versatility as a scorer. Whether driving to the basket with finesse or draining shots from beyond the arc, she poses a constant threat to opposing defenses. Her ability to score inside and out makes her incredibly difficult to defend, a nightmare matchup for any opponent.

Lowry’s standout performances against powerhouse teams like Poland further solidify her status as a rising star. In a pivotal matchup against the six-time reigning conference champions, she showcased her scoring prowess by tallying 21 points in a crucial win. In the rematch, she proved her consistency by contributing 15 points, further cementing her place as a standout performer. That 36 combined is more than any player in the program’s history has had in two games against Poland in league play.

Looking ahead, the future of South Range basketball shines brightly with Lowry at the helm. With two more seasons to write her legacy, she has the opportunity to continue growing as both a player and a leader, guiding her team to new heights of success. As she continues to hone her skills and inspire those around her, the sky’s the limit for Gwen Lowry and for South Range.

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CRESTVIEW COMPLETES PROGRAMS FIRST PERFECT SEASON

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In a historic regular season finale, Crestview made program history by finishing undefeated for the first time ever, with a stellar 22-0 record. The Rebels sealed their remarkable achievement with a commanding 64-33 road victory over LaBrae.

Leading the charge for Crestview was Addison Rhodes, who delivered a standout performance with 27 points, supported by Luvrain Gaskins contributing 18 points and Emily Downey adding 8 points to the winning effort.

Despite a spirited effort from LaBrae, with Ella Kuszmaul scoring 11 points, they couldn’t overcome Crestview’s dominance.

Now, Crestview (22-0) eagerly awaits the start of tournament play on February 21st, where they will face off against Andrew’s Osborne Academy. The Rebels enter the postseason with momentum and confidence, poised to make a deep run.

On the other hand, LaBrae (16-4) looks to fine-tune their game in a tournament tune-up opportunity against Cardinal on Monday, gearing up for postseason action.

DARNEY JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB; BOARDMAN WALKS AWAY WITH WIN

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BOARDMAN, OH- It’s not easy to cross the 1,000 point threshold in the first place, having to do it in enemy territory presents an additional challenge, but last night in Boardman, the community gave Warren JFK’s Ava Darney a warm, standing ovation as the JFK Senior sank the first bucket of the game from beyond the arc.  Darney came into the contest with 998 points in her historic career, and as JFK and Boardman did battle, the Boardman Spartans took center stage to celebrate their senior players in a  62-47 victory over the Eagles.

The game unfolded with a thrilling rhythm, as the Spartans’ seniors—Sam Duble, Mackenzie Riccitelli, and M.C. Werth—lit up the court with an impressive display of three-point shooting. All 11 of Boardman’s three-pointers came from the hands of these seasoned players, with Werth sinking 5, Duble nailing 4, and Riccitelli contributing 2.

Boardman’s dominance wasn’t just about long-range shots. They showcased a balanced offense, with four players reaching double digits. Duble and Sarah Bero led the charge with 16 points each, while Werth added 15 and Riccitelli battled foul trouble to secure 10 points.

Despite the intense competition, the Spartans’ victory was more than just about the scoreline. It was a heartfelt farewell to the seniors, who bid farewell to their home court in style. As the game concluded, Mikayla Rivera and Jocelynn Torres stepped up, allowing the seniors to bask in the well-deserved applause from the crowd.

Warren JFK’s Ava Darney led her team admirably with 17 points, reaching the milestone of 1,000 career points during the contest’s opening bucket. Didi Ryan and Gianna Pompelia also contributed with ten and eight points respectively for the Lady Eagles.

The Spartans expressed immense gratitude to their fans, whose energy and support fueled their performance throughout the game. With the regular season drawing to a close this Saturday against Salem, the team now gears up for the playoffs, with a home game scheduled against Massillon Perry on February 17th.

PURCHASE GAME PHOTOS HERE

 

MALITO KEEPS GIRARD’S HOPES ALIVE

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By Matt Maher 


GIRARD, OH – The final conference game of the regular season for these two squads came on Senior Night for Girard where the teams sole member of the class of 2024, Mia Malito, led her team to an impressive 69-44 victory of the Red Dragons.

 

The first quarter showed to be very close with Girard putting up 14 to Niles 16. Mia Malito got the game started with a pair of made free throws but Niles responded quickly and often. Malito found herself with 9 points with three 2’s and 3-of-4 made free throws; this would be her most dominant frame of the night. Ally Gassman found 3 points while Mackenzie White found the remaining 2. Emily Macik had the midas touch this quarter with two made 3’s both seeming automatic with no doubt of where they were going to land and a nice mid-range jumper she couldn’t be stopped. Hannah Grimm was also impressive with 4-of-4 made free throws.

 

Girard kept the pace in the 2nd while Niles had their struggles and a 15-7 quarter solidified that. Niles had trouble from the free throw line where, as a team, they went 1-for-6. Grimm found her first 4 points from the field while Caroline Cornell found her first points with a nice put back jumper. Carley Wilkes come on down! Wilkes rose to superstar quality in the 2nd with 7 points all through traffic that would clog most other players up. Whistle and Gassman both scored 2 points while Malito found 1-of-2 free throws.

 

The Indians kept the ball rolling after halftime with another 15 point frame while Niles found a mere 2 points. Emily Macik would find the only bucket of the frame for Niles while Mackenzie White took the lead on the other side with 5 points (two 2’s and 1-for-2). Malito, Wilkes and Gassman all found 2 while Ivory Hewitt went 2-for-2 from the stripe.

 

if you love high scoring by both teams then the 25-19 4th quarter was the quarter for you! Niles found the 19 points with Kherington Stanford and Grimm both finding 6 points with Stanford finding two 3’s while Grimm had two 2’s and went 2-for-3 from the stripe. The remaining points came from the free throw line. Girard found the majority of their points from the field with White scoring 7 points while Malito and Wilkes both scored 5. While those three showed up, so did Ally Gassman, who found two very unexpected 3’s late in the quarter that showed us a glimpse of what we could see as her career continues. 

 

Girard played very well with Mia Malito leading all scorers with 17 points which was only fitting on her night of recognition! Hannah Grimm led the Red Dragons with 13 points with Emily Macik trailing her by only 3. Girard will finish in 2nd place in the NE8 1 game behind Poland but after the rocky start they had and the fantastic ending they found this team is going to be fun to watch come playoffs. Niles (7-14, 3-9) will finish off their season on February 8th when they travel to Badger for a 7:00PM tilt. Girard (12-8, 10-2) will play their last home game on February 10th when they host Ursuline at 2:30PM.

 

TIGERS GRAB THEIR PIECE OF THE MVAC ON SENIOR NIGHT

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NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- In a memorable senior night celebration, Springfield High School’s basketball team made their mark by claiming a share of the MVAC Scarlet tier championship with a dominant 49-23 victory over McDonald.

Led by standout performances from their seniors, Springfield showcased their talent and determination on the court. Jameka Brungard led the scoring charge with an impressive 17 points, followed closely by Ava Vecchione with 16 points. Marianna Tuscano added 10 points to the winning effort, highlighting the team’s depth and versatility.

With this significant win, Springfield improves their record to 15-6, setting their sights on a tournament tune-up on February 14th as they host Salem. Meanwhile, McDonald, with a 6-11 record, will head to Jackson Milton on Friday for a boys-girls doubleheader, eager to bounce back from the defeat.

 

RAMS WIN MVAC ON THEIR HOME COURT

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MINERAL RIDGE OH- In a thrilling matchup that determined the fate of the MVAC Scarlet Tier Championship, Mineral Ridge wasted no time establishing their dominance, sprinting to a fast start en route to a commanding 66-39 victory over Jackson Milton.

Led by stellar performances from Ava Hulett, who contributed 20 points, and Sullivan Sandy, who added 15 points, Mineral Ridge showcased their depth and skill on both ends of the court. Gianna Gilbert chipped in with 9 points, while Lily Merolillo added 7 points to the Rams’ impressive offensive display.

Despite a valiant effort from Jackson Milton’s Emma Johns, who notched a game-high 23 points, the Rams’ relentless defense proved too much for the opposition.

With the win, Mineral Ridge secures the MVAC Scarlet Tier Championship, boasting a formidable 18-2 record. Their sights now turn to one final tournament tune-up as they host Maplewood on Thursday, gearing up for postseason action. On the other hand, Jackson Milton (8-9) will hit the road for a Thursday matchup against Campbell, looking to bounce back from the defeat and finish the season strong.

CANFIELD SHOWS OUT FOR THEIR SENIORS

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In a senior night celebration to remember, Canfield delivered a resounding performance on Monday, thumping Cardinal Mooney with a convincing 57-22 victory. The seniors led the charge, showcasing their skills and commitment to mark the occasion.

Cami Hritz led Canfield’s scoring efforts with an impressive 12 points, closely followed by Lorieonna Jannone and Carly Fleming, both contributing 9 points. Grace McQuiston added 7 points to the dominating win.

With this emphatic victory, Canfield, now boasting a 13-7 record, gains momentum as they head into a crucial matchup on the road against Poland on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mooney, with a 7-10 record, will embark on a road journey for their second matchup against rival Ursuline on Wednesday.

MORE WILLIAMS HEROICS GIVE POLAND ANOTHER NE8 TITLE

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In a nail-biting showdown, Poland secured their reign as NE8 champions for the sixth consecutive year by narrowly escaping Struthers with a 33-32 victory. The Bulldogs’ Leanne Williams once again proved herself as a clutch player, sinking her second buzzer-beater of the season to seal the win.

Poland’s scoring efforts were led by Elliana Thompson with 10 points, while Williams contributed 7 points. Avery Jakubovic and Sophia Generalovich each added 6 points to the hard-fought victory.

On the Struthers side, Ava Croyle led the scoring with 10 points, supported by Gianna Martin and Natalie Wolikow, both contributing 6 points.

With the win, Poland, now 12-7, looks ahead to hosting arch-rival Canfield on Thursday. Struthers, with a 7-14 record, will close out their regular season with a Thursday matchup on the road against Champion.

FITCH CHASES AWAY THE RAIDERS ON SENIOR NIGHT

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AUSTINTOWN OH-  In a senior night celebration to remember, Fitch dominated the court on Monday, chasing away South Range with a resounding 65-27 victory. Kylie Folkwein led the Falcons’ scoring charge with an impressive 18 points, complemented by Destanie McCullough contributing 13 points, Kaliana Ray with 9 points, and Ayla Ray adding 7 points. Remarkably, a total of 9 Falcons contributed to the scoring spree, highlighting the team’s depth and versatility.

On the South Range side, Gwen Lowry led their scoring efforts with 12 points, while Sydney Penick added 11 points in a spirited effort.

With this convincing win, Fitch improves their record to 13-7 and now looks forward to a road matchup against Salem on Thursday. South Range, with a 9-12 record, will return home on Saturday night to host Western Reserve for their senior night.

LADY HERALDS WIN REMATCH AGAINST THE SPARTANS

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Photo Credit: Joclyn Nicholas Photography

Conneaut, OH- In a thrilling girls’ basketball encounter, the St. John Heralds demonstrated their prowess, securing a solid 60-48 victory against the Conneaut Spartans. The game, divided into four quarters, showcased the Heralds’ consistent performance, with each period contributing to their ultimate triumph.

Box Score

Team 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
St. John Heralds 13 13 16 18 60
Conneaut Spartans 8 17 11 12 48

Top Performers:

St. John Heralds:

  1. Mickey Zheng: 22 points
  2. Alyssa Cevera: 17 points
  3. Alexa Jordan: 17 points
  4. Marissa Arieta Williams: 2 points
  5. Grace DiSalvatore: 2 points

Conneaut Spartans:

  1. Kayla Farley: 11 points
  2. Alexis Kiser: 11 points
  3. Findlay Evans: 9 points
  4. Alexis Warner: 9 points
  5. Maddy Drew: 5 points
  6. Emma Catazaro: 2 points
  7. Anna Ring: 1 point

Game Highlights:

  • Mickey Zheng Shines: Sophomore sensation Mickey Zheng led all scorers with an impressive 22-point contribution to the Heralds’ scoreboard.
  • Dynamic Duo: Senior Alyssa Cevera and sophomore Alexa Jordan showcased their scoring prowess with identical 17-point performances, each sinking three 3-pointers during the game.
  • Long-Range Success: Findlay Evans of the Spartans displayed accuracy from beyond the arc, connecting with three successful 3-pointers.

Upcoming Matches:

The St. John Heralds (10-9) are gearing up for their next challenge against the Bristol Panthers (9-10) on 2/7/24. The Panthers, coming off an 80-41 loss to the Warren JFK Eagles, will be looking for redemption.

Meanwhile, the Conneaut Spartans (8-12) are set to face the Lakeside Dragons (1-17) on 2/7/24. The Dragons, fresh from a 67-25 defeat against the Geneva Eagles, will be aiming to turn the tide against the Spartans.

As the regular season progresses, the Heralds and Spartans continue to showcase their competitive spirit, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their future matchups.