FALCONS PROTECT THE NEST ONE LAST TIME
A postponed conference game inside The AAC had The Austintown Fitch Falcons host The Warren G Harding Raiders for a Thursday night game.
It was the final conference game on the slate for both schools, and per usual, the fans on both sides showed up and were loud!
The first quarter was back and forth, with both teams playing the chess match on offense, looking for an opportunity to go on a run.
Deshawn Vaughn provided the spark Fitch needed in the first half. As Vaughn had the crowd roaring to the tune of 17 first half points, pair that with holding premier scorer Tyriq Ivory to just 2 points in the first half.
Fitch took a commanding first half lead into halftime; however, as many others are aware, you cannot hold any team down in The AAC.
The Raiders came back in the third quarter, as Ivory became a man on a mission. Scoring at high volumes, with 21 points in the second half for Warren.
Ivory also had a scoring partner in Duncan Moy, who scored double digits in both halves and finished with 21 points on the night.
Despite the scoring efforts of Ivory (23) and Moy (21), Fitch was able to respond with a couple of 20+ point scorers themselves. With senior Allen Underwood finishing with 22 points of offense to complement the 23 scored by Deshawn Vaughn.
Austintown made enough plays down the stretch, with everyone contributing big in some way. With seniors Joe Roth hitting two big free throws late and Evan Sahli finding a bucket off an offensive board in the final minute to put a bow on it.
Fitch beat Harding 65-62 to avenge the loss suffered to The Raiders at Warren earlier in the season.
Stats (Fitch):
Deshawn Vaughn – 23 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 4/10 3PT FG (40%). (Player of The Game)
Allen Underwood – 22 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 8/16 FG (50%).
Gianni Maley – 7 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL.
Harding (11-10) will now refocus with a road game at Canton McKinley (13-6) to round out their season.
Fitch (7-14) will play their final regular season game, as they travel to Alliance (15-4) to take on The Aviators!
*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell
*Postgame Interview With DeShawn Vaughn
