JAGUARS POUNCE ON FALCONS EARLY

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By Ty Bartell

AUSTINTOWN OH- Following 6 consecutive wins, The Austintown-Fitch girls basketball team were back at home to host another non-conference opponent. This time the competition came out of the Cleveland area with The St. Joseph Academy Jaguars coming to town! Always a great program, The Jaguars are yearly contenders for district championships!

The importance of starting out on the right foot was apparent in the first quarter as The Jaguar pounced on The Falcons early with a 7-0 run out of the gates! The Falcons would take the big initial punch and be able to battle and keep it close; however, St. Joseph Academy built a respectable 19-10 lead after a quarter. Into the second quarter, the next 8 minutes of the contest we’re closer than the first. Both teams exchanged buckets, with The Jaguars again edging out Fitch 14-13 in the quarter and built a double-digit lead at halftime at 33-23.

Fitch would get closer as the shots ran cold for St. Joseph in the third, The Falcons started heating up to take the quarter 16-13, cutting the deficit to 4 points at 43-39 Jaguars after three quarters. The fourth quarter would not be kind to Fitch, as The Jaguars locked it down on the defensive side, closing out the game with 10-5 quarter in the final frame, winning the contest without ever surrendering the advantage with the final score of 56-44.

Fitch was led in scoring by Rachel Spalding with 14 points followed by both Ayla Ray and Destanie McCullough who both had 10 points.

The Falcons (6-2) will look to get back in track when they host The Archbishop Hoban Knights (6-0) on Saturday, December 16th with a 12:30 p.m. tip-off. Catch that game plus keep updated with both The Austintown-Fitch Falcons and Archbishop Hoban Knights basketball seasons with live games, scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

WILDCATS STAY FOCUSED DOWN THE STRETCH

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In a gritty comeback, Struthers showed resilience on the court, rallying in the fourth quarter to secure a 35-29 victory over East. The Wildcats didn’t blink, overcoming a 23-22 deficit after three quarters.

Leading the charge for Struthers was Katelyn Kimble with 11 points, while Taiya Baraka contributed 6 points. Emma Morris and Ava Croyle each added 5 points, showcasing a collective effort in their comeback win.

Looking ahead, Struthers is set for a road challenge on Thursday against South Range, aiming to build on their momentum. Meanwhile, East will hit the road on Saturday, traveling to Chaney in their pursuit of a rebound performance.

CHAMPION ROUTS REIGNING DISTRICT CHAMPS ON THE ROAD

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GARRETTSVILLE OH- In a statement victory, Champion sought revenge on Monday night, dismantling reigning District champions Garfield with a commanding 58-20 win.

Bella Meyer led the charge for Champion with an impressive 18 points, while Kennedy Caldwell contributed 14 points, and Sam Strock added 8 points. Addie Warzala rounded out the scoring with 6 points, highlighting a well-rounded offensive performance.

Garfield’s efforts were led by Mandy Cardinal, who scored 15 points in a challenging contest against Champion’s stout defense.

Looking ahead, Champion gears up for a significant league matchup on Thursday as they host LaBrae, aiming to continue their winning momentum. On the other side, Garfield hits the road for a clash against Campbell, seeking to bounce back from Monday night’s tough defeat.

CRESTVIEW TROUNCES LADY DEVILS

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COLUMBIANA, OH- In a lopsided victory, the Crestview Rebels showcased their dominance on the court by defeating Campbell Memorial with an overwhelming scoreline of 63-5 in Monday’s matchup.

The Rebels, led by standout performances, maintained their perfect record, improving to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the MVAC Grey Tier.

Key Performances for Crestview included Addison Rhodes, who was a force to be reckoned with, Rhodes recorded a double-double with a game-high 22 points, 12 rebounds, and six steals.  Luvrain Gaskins displaying versatility, Gaskins contributed significantly with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Brianna DiCross as a freshman point guard showcased exceptional playmaking skills, tallying an impressive 10 assists.  Emily Downey was a machine with seven assists and four steals, Downey played a crucial role in Crestview’s well-rounded performance.

The Rebels wasted no time asserting their dominance, establishing an 18-0 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 37-2 by halftime.

The Rebels’ junior varsity team also claimed victory, securing a 26-5 win over Campbell Memorial. Phiatra Bradley led the scoring for the junior varsity squad with seven points.

Crestview’s next challenge will be on the road against Brookfield on Thursday, where they aim to continue their undefeated streak.

Game Summary:
Campbell Memorial 0-2-3-0–5
Crestview 18-19-16-10–63

**Campbell Scoring:**
– Angeliz Diaz: 2 points
– Diamon Sims: 3 points

**Crestview Scoring:**
– Phiatra Bradley: 7 points
– Addison Rhodes: 22 points
– Madeline English: 3 points
– Kerrigan Miller: 3 points
– Emily Downey: 6 points
– Luvrain Gaskins: 19 points
– Brianna DiCross: 2 points
– Myer Miller: 1 point

**Three-Point Goals:**
– Crestview: 5 (Downey 2, Bradley, English, K. Miller)

LADY DEVILS PICK UP FIRST VICTORY

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- In a commanding performance, the Lisbon Devils’ girls basketball team secured their first victory of the season by defeating Valley Christian with a resounding scoreline of 56-23 in Monday’s matchup.

Leading the charge for Lisbon was Morgan Lively, who showcased an exceptional all-around performance with 23 points, 13 rebounds, five steals, and five blocks. Jayden Smyth also made significant contributions, adding 10 points, six rebounds, and six steals to the team’s winning effort. Brooklyn Cousins played a pivotal role, tallying seven assists for the Devils.

Valley spread their offensive wealth between Mikayla Crum, and Ashley Gonzalez’s six points apiece.

The Lisbon junior varsity team also emerged victorious, winning the two-quarter game 16-10, with Jayden Smyth leading the scoring with eight points.

Lisbon’s upcoming challenge will be hosting Leetonia on Thursday, with the action kicking off with an eighth-grade game at 5 PM, followed by the varsity matchup.

**Game Summary:**
Lisbon Devils: 10-18-12-16–56
Valley Christian:6-4-8-5–23

Lisbon Scoring:
– Brooklyn Cousins: 5 points
– Morgan Lively: 23 points
– Alysa Wells: 3 points
– Lylah Brown: 9 points
– Jayden Smyth: 10 points
– Amore Ramos: 6 points
– Michaela Farson: 0 points
– Gionna Leninger: 0 points

Valley Scoring:
– Mikayla Crum: 6 points
– Ashley Gonzalez: 6 points
– Nia Jones: 4 points
– Aaliyah Underwood: 3 points
– Nevaeh Williams: 2 points
– Kayvonna Crocket: 2 points

Three-Point Goals:
– Lisbon: 5 (Smyth 2, Cousins, Wells, Brown)
– Valley: 4 (Crum 2, Gonzalez, Underwood)

 

CLIPPERS LOCK UP WELLSVILLE

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COLUMBIANA, OH- In a dominant display, the Columbiana Lady Clippers asserted their position at the summit of the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference (EOAC) with a commanding 46-22 victory over Wellsville on Monday.

Fueling the Clippers’ triumph, Ellie Venezia led the charge with an impressive 11 points, while Taylor Long contributed 10 points to the team’s decisive win. The Clippers’ stellar performance propelled them to a 5-0 overall record, maintaining a flawless 4-0 standing in the league.

The upset victory by Southern over United on the same night propelled Columbiana into sole possession of the first-place position in the EOAC. With upcoming matchups against Valley on Thursday and a pivotal clash with United next Monday, the Clippers have the opportunity to widen the gap between them and the competition as they conclude the first round of EOAC games.

On the opposing side, the Wellsville Tigers, now standing at 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the league, were led by Sam Drysdale’s seven points alongside Bella Poppelriter’s 6. Looking ahead, Wellsville aims to bounce back as they face United on Thursday in their upcoming contest.

JFK FLIES OVER MOONEY

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- In a hard-fought battle, Warren JFK secured a narrow 51-48 road victory against Cardinal Mooney, overcoming the challenges posed by Mooney’s tenacious defense. The Eagles faced adversity throughout the contest, but crucial shots down the stretch propelled them to their sixth win of the season.

The Eagles initiated the game with a quick 7-2 run, building a 21-10 lead by the middle of the second quarter. Despite Mooney’s persistent efforts and extra possessions, Kennedy maintained control. The Cardinals closed the gap multiple times, but the Eagles responded with key plays from freshman Didi Ryan and senior Marina Sanders.

Sophomore Gianna Pompelia was clutch in the Eagles’ triumph, contributing a career-high 22 points, including a crucial three-pointer and an and-1 conversion in the fourth quarter.

A significant moment came in the fourth quarter when Pompelia, wide open on an inbound play, drilled a three-pointer, extending the Eagles’ lead to 41-32.

Cardinal Mooney mounted a comeback with a 6-0 run, narrowing the deficit to 41-38. However, Pompelia’s resilience, including an and-1 opportunity, and Sanders’ successful and-1 play, pushed the Eagles to a 49-41 advantage. Despite a late surge from Mooney, Kennedy held on to lead throughout the contest.

Senior Ava Darney added seven points for the Eagles, while teammates Hannah Myers, Didi Ryan, and Marina Sanders each contributed six points. The Eagles showcased their aggressive play, taking it to the rim and converting crucial free throws.

Sophia Diorio led Mooney with 16 points, supported by Katie Pregibon with 13 points and Talecia Huff with nine points. The Lady Cards are still looking for their first win at 0-4.

The Eagles, now standing at 6-1, look to build on their success in future matchups, while Mooney aims to turn their efforts into positive results in the upcoming games.

POLAND STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE LEAGUE

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HUBBARD OH- Continuing their tradition of success, Poland, the reigning NE8 champions, kicked off another season with a convincing conference win on Monday night, triumphing over Hubbard 45-28.

Leading the Bulldogs in scoring were Elliana Thompson and Mary Brant, each contributing 10 points, followed closely by Allie Grope with 8 points. Khamyah Howell added 11 points, while Phoebe Rusnak chipped in with 6 points, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.

Poland’s victory sets the stage for their upcoming matchup as they return home to host Girard on Thursday, eager to build on their early-season success. Meanwhile, Hubbard looks to rebound on the road as they travel to Niles, seeking a turnaround in their next conference showdown.

RAMS MAINTAIN FLAWLESS RECORD

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Maintaining their flawless record, Mineral Ridge showcased dominance on Monday with a resounding 70-34 victory over McDonald.

Ava Hulett led the charge for the Lady Rams, achieving an impressive double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 steals. Sullivan Sandy contributed 15 points, while Gianna Gilbert and Kelcee Dye each added 10 points. Lily Merolillo chipped in with 7 points, and Ava Carkido contributed 7 points as well.

The well-rounded performance propelled the Lady Rams to a 6-0 season record, highlighting their strength on both ends of the court. Their next challenge awaits on Thursday as they face off against Chaney, aiming to continue their undefeated streak in what promises to be another exciting matchup.

BULLDOGS SINK THEIR TEETH INTO ANOTHER WIN

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LEETONIA OH- In a dominant performance on Monday night, East Palestine extended their winning streak to four games by overpowering Leetonia with a commanding 40-10 victory.

Leading the charge for East Palestine, Leila Martin displayed her scoring prowess with 12 points, while Gabby Andre contributed 9 points and Alivia Magness added 6 points. The Bulldogs showcased their offensive efficiency by earning a remarkable 32 trips to the free-throw line.

Leetonia’s offensive efforts were led by Kasey Williams, who managed to score 6 points in the face of East Palestine’s formidable defense.

Looking ahead, East Palestine aims to maintain their winning momentum as they host Southern on Thursday. Meanwhile, Leetonia prepares for a road trip to Lisbon, seeking a rebound from Monday night’s challenging contest.