FALCONS FOCUS ON STAYING UNDEFEATED

As a cool December chill filled the air, The Austintown Fitch Falcons and Cardinal Mooney Cardinals looked to bring the heat. A perennial matchup every year between the two programs and a matchup that, every year, brings us some memorable moments. Checking in as the third game on the season for both teams, they both brought a goose egg opposite the win column going into Friday night.

Fitch, being 2-0, was looking for the win to give the program one of its best starts in recent years. On the other side, Mooney was coming off a Regional Finals appearance in the 2021 campaign and was looking to build off a great season. The first quarter saw Fitch jump out of the gate with a fury, grabbing an early lead with an energetic crowd feeding momentum. The opposite side saw a well-traveled Mooney student section that helped revitalize The Cardinals to come storming back and capture a 17-14 lead after one quarter of play.

Having possession out of the second quarter, Mooney’s Rocco Turner put a beautiful alley-oop pass on a dime to a back cutting Eddie Nieves that sent the cardinal crowd into a frenzy. Mooney would build on that momentum to extend their lead into double digits in the second quarter. However, a calm, cool and collected Falcons squad was able to nickel and dime their way back to a two point deficit going into halftime, with Mooney leading 28-26.

Austintown would make the correct adjustments out of the half, getting their big three scorers involved in Gianni Maley, Marcel Finkley and Carter Owens. All would be in the double-digits in scoring for the third time in three games this year. With Finkley and Maley operating smoothly when pressed by the defense of Mooney. Adding to that, the twin Hills were more like mountains, as Alex Hill and Allen Hill had The Cardinal offense seeing double, as they swatted away many would be shot attempts.

The Falcons played superb defense, allowing only seven points in the second half, while Carter Owens showed why he is “The Perfect 10” from behind the arc, splashing home some dagger 3’s to send Fitch to 3-0!

Fitch (3-0) will hit the road for the first time this year, heading to Leopard Country in a matchup with Louisville (2-2) on Tuesday, December 13th. As for Mooney (2-1) they will have little rest to recover in a quick turn around game with Girard (2-1) on Saturday, December 10th.

Scoring (Fitch)

Carter Owens: 15 PTS. (Co-Player of The Game)

Marcel Finkley: 12 PTS. (Co-Player of The Game)

Gianni Maley: 11 PTS.

Alex Hill: 6 PTS.

Allen Hill: 4 PTS.

Total: 48 PTS.

Scoring (Mooney)

Ashton O’Brien: 11 PTS.

Eddie Nieves: 7 PTS.

Jaxon Menough: 6 PTS.

Jibri Carter: 5 PTS.