SPARTANS LEFT SEEING GREEN
BOARDMAN, OH- The Boardman girls’ basketball team found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard, succumbing to the Aurora Greenmen with a final score of 41-36. Despite a valiant effort, the Spartans faced challenges right from the start, leading to a slow-paced first half that saw them tallying only 13 points.
However, the tides began to turn in the third quarter, with Boardman making a strong comeback to tie the game at 25 as they entered the decisive fourth quarter. The Spartans seized the momentum, establishing a 7-point lead with just over 5 minutes remaining. Yet, the resilient Greenmen countered with consecutive three-pointers and a crucial bucket, ultimately securing a 1-point advantage that they successfully defended until the final buzzer.
Mackenzie Riccitelli led the scoring charge for Boardman, contributing 11 points, while Sarah Bero overcame foul trouble to finish the game with 9 points. Ava Freeborough added 8 points and played a pivotal role in limiting Aurora’s 1,000-point scorer, Sam Stask, to 10 points. Sam Duble and M.C. Werth rounded out the scoring with 5 and 3 points, respectively.
Despite the challenges, Tori Strines stepped up with quality minutes on the court, showcasing great defensive prowess and grabbing crucial rebounds, especially when Bero faced foul trouble. Mikayla Rivera also made valuable contributions off the bench for the Spartans.
Unfortunately, a tough shooting night plagued Boardman, with a 1-6 performance from the free-throw line and a 17-47 field goal record, including a 3-16 mark from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the girls face a quick turnaround as they prepare to take on the formidable 6-2 Tallmadge Blue Devils in a thrilling quadruple-header scheduled for Friday.
