MCDONALD PUSHES THROUGH TO VICTORY

McDonald- OH One of the biggest rivalries in the Mahoning Valley Scarlet Division has been the Mineral Ridge Rams and the McDonald Blue Devils. The last time the Rams got a victory was back on December 21 2018. This time, the Rams were not only looking to end a drought, but to get their first win of the season under coach Pugh. Meanwhile for coach James Franceschelli, he looked to get his Blue Devils their second win of the season after a few close and disappointing losses.

Wyatt Wolford led the pack in the first quarter going up 11-10 along with Michael Porter with a three pointer. On the Rams side, it was a three by both Zach James and Elias Clark along with a two point bucket from Peyton Zupko. A big defensive matchup would turn offensive real quick however in the second with two threes by Gregory Constantino who also made two free throws and Wolford with four free throws. The second quarter was the Zupko show for the Rams where he scored seven and a three by Trey Rigley with it once again being a close one point 26 to 25 game and what’s expected from a conference rivalry.

However, the lead would soon turn from a 50/50 matchup to a one sided second half with Wolford leading the Blue Devils who were fiery after being down the last half. Wolford in the second half dropped 17 points along with Michael Porter with a big fourth quarter performance after being shut out the last two quarters. Porter would score nine in the fourth alone. Zupko still led the Rams in the second half with 13 points and Ian Erb making a three, but foul limits were not to their advantage as the Rams were now over the limit. In the end, the free throws became the key in the game and some late turnovers went the way of the Blue Devils as McDonald, with a young squad, returned to their winning ways as they pulled away from their conference rivals in the end 61 to 51.