KENNY FROM THE BLOCK

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By Ty Bartell

AKRON OH- Following their win of the 2023 division 1 State Championship, The Archbishop Hoban
Knights would be in need of new faces to step up after losing a large and contributing senior class from the year prior. One of those new faces that knows a thing or two about basketball is Hoban’s newest combo guard in junior Kenny Scott! Starting at a very young age,

Scott found his love for basketball as early as he can remember. Always with a basketball in his hands and always wanting to improve, Kenny keeps the winners mentality of never being satisfied. Averaging over 9 points per game this season, Scott has become one of the main offensive options to go for Hoban this season. Not just a scorer, Kenny also leads his team in assists per game at 3.9!

Winners of a sectional title against Boardman at the time of this article, The Knights are now 16-7 on the season and see themselves right in the thick of another gauntlet of a division 1 tournament. One thing is for sure, as long as Kenny has the ball in his hands, good things are sure to happen! YSNs Ty Bartell got the opportunity to talk with The Knights junior about his move to Hoban, the culture of the team, his role with The Knights and some future goals for the junior. All that and more in this edition of Player Profile exclusively on YSN!

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RESERVE CANT FIND A CHINK IN THE SPARTANS ARMOR

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By Matt Maher 


AKRON, OH – It’s safe to say that Western reserve has seen enough of Richmond Heights over the past few days. After the girls lost to the Spartans in disappointing fashion on Saturday, the boys were looking to avenge their classmates in their district Semi-finals matchup against the Spartans. While the game was played pretty sloppily by both teams off the opening tip, The Spartans would rally together and turn on the electricity to surge past the Blue Devils 62-26.

 

Both teams had their struggles in the first but Western Reserves was that they had too many empty possessions and couldn’t put up a single basket where Richmond earned 24 points. Demaris Winters Jr. found an impressive 11 points for the Spartans to lead his team in this dominant first frame. 

 

The Blue Devils had some fight in them at the start of the second with Peyton Hartzell tossing a dime from beyond the arc to find the first score of the quarter and of the night for Western Reserve. The scoring continued for the Blue Devils and they managed to find 11 points while the Spartans stayed the course and scored 25 more points to lead 49-11 at halftime. 

 

Hartzell led Reserve with 5 points in the second quarter including that opening 3 and a layup later on while Andrew Hendricks found 4 points with two in the paint and the other two from the free throw line. Winters added another 8 points to his and his team’s total.

 

Richmond Heights scoring was slowed down by the running clock that was implemented at the start of the second half. Richmond was able to secure 10 more points and held Western reserve to 6 points in the frame. Josh Klasic would lead the Blue Devils in scoring with 4 points all from the line going a perfect 4-for-4, Hendricks added another 2-point bucket to round out their scoring.

 

The 4th quarter belonged to the Blue Devils where they outscored Richmond 9-3. While the small victory of winning a quarter against this giant finally came about, the battle itself was already lost for Western Reserve. Jackson Young would lead his team this quarter with 4 points, 2 from the paint and 2 from the line, while Gavin Thake put up a long shot from beyond the arc. 

 

The Blue Devils showed resilience in the second half but with the running clock in the half their big time scoring never came and the first half woes ended up to be too much to handle in the end. Peyton Hartzell ended with the most points for the Blue Devils with 7 points while Andrew Hendricks and Josh Klasic both earned 6 points each. Demaris Winters Jr would finish atop of all scorers with 21 points.

 

Western Reserve played some great games this postseason and were able to win their sectional against McDonald which was very impressive knowing how good those Blue Devils were this season. Unfortunately for Reserve, the Spartans were too powerful and knew how to move around the court without traveling or getting called for too many fouls. Western Reserve finished their season 9-13 in the regular season, 7-7 in conference play and 2-1 in tournament games and shocked many by advancing to the district round as a 22 seed!

NOTHING SLOWING MOONEY DOWN YET

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SALEM OH- In a dominant display of basketball prowess, Cardinal Mooney left no room for doubt in Monday’s district semifinals at Salem High School, overpowering Mapleton with a commanding 82-32 victory. From the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, Mooney asserted their dominance on both ends of the court, showcasing their skill and determination.

Leading the charge for Mooney were standout performances from Jibri Carter, who led the team with 16 points, and Nico Genova and Ashton O’Brien, who each contributed 13 points. Eddie Nieves also made his presence felt with 11 points, adding to the team’s impressive offensive output.

With this convincing win, Cardinal Mooney punches their ticket to the district championship, where they eagerly await the outcome of the matchup between South Range and Perry. Set to take place on Friday at 7:00 at Salem High School, the championship game promises to be another thrilling contest as Mooney looks to continue their quest for postseason glory.

As the anticipation builds and the championship showdown draws near, Mooney’s players and fans alike are filled with excitement and determination. With their sights set on victory, the Cardinals are ready to leave everything on the court as they strive to capture the district championship and make their mark on the postseason stage.

EAGLES CUT THROUGH TO THE FINALS

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ORWELL OH- Warren JFK continued their relentless pursuit of a state tournament berth with a commanding performance on Monday, cruising past Hillsdale with an emphatic 81-49 victory. Displaying their offensive prowess and defensive tenacity, the Eagles left no doubt about their determination to advance further in the postseason.

Leading the charge for Warren JFK were standout performances from Nick Ryan, who poured in 22 points, and Nico Ciminero and Michael Condoleon, who each contributed 16 points to the scoreboard. With a balanced scoring attack and contributions from players like Jaden Rishel, who added 9 points, the Eagles proved to be a formidable force on the court.

With this convincing win, Warren JFK advances to the district championship, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the matchup between Heartland Christian and Bristol. Set to take place on Friday at 7:00 at Grand Valley High School, the district championship game promises to be another thrilling contest as Warren JFK looks to continue their journey towards the state tournament.

As the Eagles prepare to face their next challenge, fans can’t help but feel the excitement and anticipation building as Warren JFK aims to make their mark on the postseason stage. With their sights set on victory, the Eagles are determined to soar to new heights and achieve their ultimate goal of state tournament glory.

POTTERS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO DISTRICTS

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EAST LIVERPOOL OH- East Liverpool showcased their prowess on the court in a thrilling sectional final showdown on Saturday, securing a decisive 79-59 victory over Zanesville to advance further in the tournament. With an impressive offensive display and solid teamwork, the Potters left their mark on the hardwood.

Leading the charge for East Liverpool were standout performances from Preston Kerr, who tallied 15 points, and Preston Dawson, who contributed 14 points. Quinton Conrad added 13 points to the scoreboard, while Cohen Pease chipped in with 11 points, bolstering the team’s offensive output.

With this important win under their belt, East Liverpool now sets their sights on the district semifinals, where they are slated to face off against John Glenn. The upcoming matchup promises to be a fierce battle, as both teams vie for a chance to advance further in the tournament.

The district semifinal clash is scheduled to take place at Harrison Central on Wednesday, with tip-off set for 7:00. As East Liverpool prepares to take on their next challenge, fans eagerly anticipate another thrilling display of basketball prowess from their determined squad.

SPARTANS SLOW THINGS DOWN TO GET PAST RESERVE

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By Matt Maher 


ORWELL, OH – Basketball may be known for its fast gameplay and quick decision making but Richmond Heights sought to prove the world wrong on Saturday night when they beat Western Reserve by the final score of 24-20. This score was achieved by playing basketball for about a quarter and a half and then playing keep away for the remainder of the night. 

 

The first quarter saw both teams play in a well played defensive battle where Richmond Heights outscored the Blue Devils 12-11. Western Reserve saw three players tally 3 points in the frame with Quincy Miller and Angelina Cappabianca both scoring from beyond the arc and Alysia Hughes putting in a bucket in the paint and going 1-for-2 from the line. The Spartans were led by Honor Hall with 6 points and Hall would continue to be their big name player but not for the reason most would expect in a huge playoff game. 

 

The second quarter had an even lower score of 9-4 in favor of Richmond. Lisa Eichert and Hughes combined for the 4 points for Reserve with Hughes finding a layup and Eichert showing skill from the line throwing a perfect 2-for-2. Hall was huge for her team on offense because she found two triples to earn another 6 points and she held onto the ball for a good 4 minutes spread across three different occasions. While that may seem excessive just wait until you read on to the third quarter.

 

Richmond Heights began the half with possession and with a quick inbound to Hall the Spartans quickly dribbled the ball over the center court line and she set up shop just beyond the line. For 7 minutes and 35 seconds Honor Hall just stood in the offensive zone, sometimes dribbling the ball and sometimes holding it and did absolutely nothing of interest or of note other than letting the clock run out. The Blue Devils never once pressed Hall and allowed her to stand there and drain the clock and to be fair the Spartans did have the lead and in a big game as this you need to find the right strategy to win and with the OHSAAs rules being as they are this strategy did end up working very well for Richmond. 

 

The fourth quarter actually saw scoring and ball movement and everything you would expect from a basketball game. Western Reserve mounted a comeback attempt that would fall short with the Blue Devils finally outscoring Richmond 5-3. Hall continued to contribute and lead in offense with 2 of the 3 points for her team. All scoring in the frame was found from the free throw line with Hall going 2-for-6. Western Reserves free throws showed better results with Kylee Ramsey and Quincy Miller both hitting 2 free throws while Alycia Hughes went 1-for-2. 

 

Despite a well played 1st quarter and an exciting 4th what was sandwiched in between was about 4 minutes of basketball and 12 minutes of standing around. While there are many opinions on what this means for the game and what should be done to prevent this kind of behavior on the court it doesn’t help this game since the rules allow for players to hold onto the ball for long periods of time if the defense doesn’t look to pressure the offense this was a very clean game played very intelligently by Richmond who saw a Blue Devils team who could defend them and potentially beat them which is what we almost saw in the 4th. Unfortunately this game did not end the way the Blue Devils wanted and their great season came to its conclusion as their district runner up. Congratulations to Western Reserve for making it to this stage and for playing great basketball all season long!

TIGERS FIGHT FALLS JUST SHORT

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By Ty Bartell

 

ELYRIA, Ohio — In a thrilling showdown at Elyria High School, the Copley Indians girls basketball team clinched victory over the Howland Tigers, securing a 50-37 win in the Ohio Division 2, Region 6, Northeast 4 district championship.

The game commenced with an intense first quarter as the Tigers surged to an early 6-0 lead. However, the Indians quickly retaliated with a commanding 10-0 run, seizing control of the game. The momentum shifted when Copley’s standout player, Izzy Callaway, encountered foul trouble, forcing her to the bench for the majority of the first half. Despite Callaway’s absence, Howland managed to narrow the gap with a last-second 3-point shot by Maya Kubancsek, ending the quarter 14-9 in favor of Copley.

The second quarter witnessed a strategic battle, with Copley employing a slow-paced approach to maintain their lead and facilitate Callaway’s return to the court. Although Howland edged the Indians 6-5 in the quarter, Copley retained the advantage, heading into halftime with a 19-15 lead.

As the game progressed into the second half, the pace intensified, with both teams exchanging rapid-fire shots. Callaway and Howland’s Alyssa Massucci showcased their scoring prowess, keeping the contest fiercely competitive. Despite Howland’s efforts, Copley emerged victorious in the third quarter, extending their lead to 37-31.

In the decisive fourth quarter, Copley delivered clutch performances, embarking on a scoring run to secure a double-digit lead. The Indians dominated the quarter, outscoring the Tigers 13-6 and clinching their second district championship in three years with a final score of 50-37.

Izzy Callaway earned the title of Player of the Game for Copley, contributing 15 points despite limited playing time. Evelyn McKnight also played a crucial role for the Indians, chipping in with 11 points during Callaway’s absence. Meanwhile, Alyssa Massucci led Howland with an impressive 18-point performance, including three crucial 3-pointers.

With the victory, Copley (23-3) advances to face the Bellevue Lady Redmen (22-5) in the upcoming matchups. Meanwhile, Howland (19-7) concludes another successful season as district runners-up. We here at YSN wish noth but the best to the Howland seniors in all their future plans and goals! It has and always will be an honor to be your supporter and fan.
As the excitement of high school basketball continues, fans can stay updated on live games, scores, and more on YSN!

CANFIELD HAS FUN IN FINAL HOME GAME

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CANFIELD OH- Canfield delivered an electrifying performance in their final home game of the season, dominating the sectional final against Conneaut with an impressive 97-29 victory. With their sights set on the District Tournament, the Cardinals left no room for doubt as they showcased their offensive firepower and defensive prowess on their home court.

Led by a balanced scoring effort, Canfield saw standout performances from multiple players. Bryce Roberts led the charge with 20 points, followed closely by Ben Weaver with 14 points, Dom Cruz and Nico Biondillo each contributing 11 points, and Jake Delisio adding 10 points to the scoreboard.

With this commanding win, Canfield secures their spot in the district semifinals, where they are set to face the eleventh seed, Northwest. The upcoming matchup promises to be another thrilling contest as Canfield looks to continue their postseason journey.

The district semifinal clash is scheduled to take place at Louisville High School on Thursday, with tip-off slated for 7:00. As Canfield prepares for the challenge ahead, fans eagerly anticipate another exhilarating display of basketball excellence from their beloved Cardinals.

BRUNGARD’S BIG GAME PULLS SPRINGFIELD TO THREE-PEAT

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MINERAL RIDGE OH- In a quest for a historic three-peat, Springfield entered this year’s district tournament with determination and a hunger for victory. Despite facing formidable opponents, the Tigers showcased their resilience and championship pedigree throughout the tournament.

Their journey to the district crown was fraught with challenges, as they narrowly escaped Badger with a thrilling buzzer-beater victory. However, their true test came in the championship game against Warren JFK, where they engaged in a tense battle until the final buzzer.

In yet another nail-biter, Springfield managed to edge past Warren JFK with a narrow 52-49 victory, securing their third consecutive district championship. Led by the outstanding performance of Jameka Brungard, who poured in an impressive 33 points, and Marianna Tuscano contributing 12 points, the Tigers displayed their offensive prowess when it mattered most.

Despite Warren JFK’s valiant effort, with notable performances from Didi Ryan (21 points), Gianna Pompelia (11 points), and Ava Darney (10 points), they couldn’t withstand Springfield’s relentless pressure down the stretch.

With this hard-fought victory, Springfield advances to the Regional Semifinals, where they will face off against Richmond Heights at Massillon Perry on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 8:00, as the Tigers continue their pursuit of further postseason success.

CANFIELD CAN’T STAND UP TO TOP SEEDED IRISH

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UNIONTOWN OH- Canfield faced an uphill battle against top-seeded Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the district championship on Saturday, knowing the challenge that lay ahead. Despite their best efforts, the Irish came out firing on all cylinders, swiftly establishing a commanding lead. With a blistering start, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary surged to a 19-4 advantage after the first quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Maintaining their momentum throughout the contest, the Irish never relinquished their grip on the game, ultimately securing a dominant 66-23 victory and clinching the district championship title.

Although Canfield fought valiantly, with Grace McQuiston, Carly Fleming, and Cami Hritz contributing 6, 6, and 4 points respectively, they couldn’t overcome the relentless onslaught from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

With the conclusion of the season, Canfield finishes with a respectable 17-9 record, extending their remarkable streak to 47 consecutive winning seasons, a testament to their enduring excellence on the basketball court.