YOUNGSTOWN OH- The start of the 2021 campaign has been a tough one for the East Golden Bears and new coach Chivas Whipple, who were outscored by 20 or more points this season.  One of those games happened to be at the beginning of the year against the Akron North Vikings 54-42.  This time, the Golden Bears were looking for revenge and their first win.  

Luther Bell was one of the Golden Bears who got the momentum starting to roll with a three pointer along with Lamar Dampier with the end of the first being 17 to 15.  In the second quarter, it was once again back and forth Dampier once again led the pack for the Vikings along with Bell with a little bit of help from Sa’ad El-Amin III who scored eight points.  Tyron Hudson also drained a three on his end as both teams went into the half with East up by one 32-31. 

Both teams went back and forth once again in the last two quarters and with 5.2 seconds left in the game, North had one last chance to either take a three and the lead, winning the game, or go for the layup and tie.  The Vikings went for the layup but the tough defense of east forced the shot to me way off as the Golden Bears and coach Whipple get their first win of the season after five straight heart breaks.  

Stats: 

North: 

0 Chris Simmons: 4pts 

1 William Alexander: 6pts 

2 Dami Kent: 3pts 

3 Lamar Dampier: 21pts

10 Robert Davis: 9pts 

East: 

2 Mario Wright: 2pts 

11 Luther Bell: 14pts 

5 Tyron Hudson: 10pts 

14 Sa’ad El Amin III: 14pts 

10 Jared Colon: 4pts 

0 Jamari Crum: 3pts 

Up Next 

Akron North (1-5) (0-4 in Akron City Conference) will travel to take on Cuyahoga Falls (1-3) Thursday at 7:30.  Youngstown East (1-5) (0-0 in Steel Valley Conference) will host Akron Ellet (3-5, 2-2 in Akron City)  who beat them last time 70-45.  The Golden Bears will be clawing their way to get revenge on another Akron team after the New Years. Tip will be Tuesday January 4th at 7pm. 

*Contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*