Tag Archive for: Austintown Fitch

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

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By Ty Bartell

AUSTINTOWN OH- The makeup of most successful basketball teams generally need the following: A
shooter, someone who can make buckets when needed down the stretch. A point guard to start the offense and keep it flowing. A post player, someone with good height to secure rebounds. And finally a bruiser, someone who will step up on defense to guard the opponents toughest player, someone who shows fearlessness on a nightly basis, someone who wears bruises and cuts as badges of honor from the times they went to war with their team by their side Austintown-Fitch senior Lannie Henning exemplifies all what it means to be a bruiser and more!

Starting at a young age in rec ball with fellow senior Ayla Ray, Lannie Henning has been around the sport of basketball for quite some time! No easy paths to play at the varsity level, Lannie grinded her way through each season, no matter who the skipper of the squad was, Henning brought a good attitude and a willingness to get better while taking the best of what each coach had to offer. As the door to play at the next level has unexpectedly opened for Lannie, what could the future hold for this determined athlete? Catch this edition of Player Profile as YSNs Ty Bartell had the opportunity to sit and chat with Lannie about the basketball journey so far, some highlight memories and some future plans for The Falcons senior!

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HOWLAND DOMINATES IN THEIR REGULAR SEASON FINALE

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AUSTINTOWN OH- In a commanding performance on Tuesday night, Howland asserted their dominance from start to finish, securing a resounding 63-43 win over Fitch on the road. It was a game marked by Howland’s relentless offense and suffocating defense, as they controlled the tempo throughout the matchup.

Leading the scoring charge for Howland was Alyssa Massucci, who delivered a standout performance with an impressive 26 points. Gia Hoso added to the offensive onslaught with 10 points, while Mia Barrish, Sophia Powell, Jessie DeSalvo, and Maya Kubanscek each contributed 6 points, showcasing Howland’s balanced attack.

Despite a valiant effort from Fitch, led by Kaliana Ray with 12 points and Ayla Ray with 9 points, they struggled to contain Howland’s offensive firepower and fell short in their attempts to mount a comeback.

With this win, Howland improved their season record to 16-6, setting the stage for the upcoming tournament as they prepare to host Ravenna on February 21st. The victory provides momentum and confidence as Howland looks ahead to postseason play.

Meanwhile, Fitch, with a record of 13-8, has one more regular-season game remaining, scheduled for Saturday at Salem. As they prepare for their final matchup before the postseason, Fitch will aim to regroup and finish their regular season on a high note, seeking to carry positive momentum into the playoffs.

FALCONS FORGE VICTORY OVER SMITHVILLE

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By Ty Bartell

 

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — The Austintown-Fitch Falcons soared to their 11th win of the season Saturday night, edging out The Smithville Smithies of the Wayne County Conference with a hard-fought 48-42 victory.

The game began with Ethan Piatt of Smithville showcasing his sharpshooting skills, sinking shots from various distances in the first half. Despite Piatt’s efforts, Austintown-Fitch managed to hold a narrow 11-8 lead after the opening quarter. Piatt continued his scoring barrage in the second quarter, knocking down two threes and tallying four total in the half, helping Smithville to a slim 21-20 halftime advantage.
However, the Falcons found their rhythm in the second half, led by the passing prowess of senior Deshawn Vaughn. Vaughn orchestrated the offense expertly, setting up his teammates for scoring opportunities. Behind a 13-8 third-quarter surge, Austintown-Fitch took control of the game, entering the final quarter with a 35-29 lead.

Despite Smithville’s efforts to mount a comeback, Austintown-Fitch responded to every challenge, matching Smithville’s scoring output in the fourth quarter with both teams putting up 13 points, securing the 48-42 victory for the Falcons.

Deshawn Vaughn’s stellar performance earned him Player of the Game honors, as his passing abilities proved crucial in guiding Austintown-Fitch to victory. Vaughn also contributed 7 points to the scoreboard. Leading the Falcons in scoring were junior duo Carter Owens and Marcel Finkley, each finishing with 11 points.

On the opposing side, Ethan Piatt led the charge for Smithville with an impressive 19-point performance, including six three-pointers. Dawson Young provided additional scoring support for the Smithies with 10 points of his own.

With the win, Austintown-Fitch (11-8, 4-3) guarantees a .500 regular season.The Falcons will now turn their attention to a showdown with Warren G. Harding (10-9, 5-2) when they host the Raiders on Friday, February 16th, in an All-American Conference (AAC) matchup.

For comprehensive coverage of AAC basketball and more, stay updated with live games, scores, stats, and stories on YSN throughout the season.

FITCH CHASES AWAY THE RAIDERS ON SENIOR NIGHT

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AUSTINTOWN OH-  In a senior night celebration to remember, Fitch dominated the court on Monday, chasing away South Range with a resounding 65-27 victory. Kylie Folkwein led the Falcons’ scoring charge with an impressive 18 points, complemented by Destanie McCullough contributing 13 points, Kaliana Ray with 9 points, and Ayla Ray adding 7 points. Remarkably, a total of 9 Falcons contributed to the scoring spree, highlighting the team’s depth and versatility.

On the South Range side, Gwen Lowry led their scoring efforts with 12 points, while Sydney Penick added 11 points in a spirited effort.

With this convincing win, Fitch improves their record to 13-7 and now looks forward to a road matchup against Salem on Thursday. South Range, with a 9-12 record, will return home on Saturday night to host Western Reserve for their senior night.

WARRIORS DEFENSE LOCKS DOWN FITCH

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BELOIT OH- Employing a stifling defense, West Branch showcased their dominance on Saturday, securing a convincing 50-21 victory over Fitch. Sophia Gregory led the scoring charge with an impressive 17 points, complemented by Audrey Eaton contributing 12 points.

On the Fitch side, Destanie McCullough managed to notch 7 points, while Ayla Ray added 6 points, but they faced a formidable defensive effort from West Branch.

With this win, West Branch boasts an impressive 17-2 record and looks ahead to a road trip on Wednesday for a matchup with Norton. Meanwhile, Fitch, with a 12-7 record, will return home on Monday to host South Range. The game highlighted West Branch’s defensive prowess and sets the stage for their upcoming challenges in the season.

FITCH CAPTURES OVERTIME THRILLER

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HOWLAND OH- In a thrilling clash that extended beyond regulation, Fitch emerged victorious on the road against Howland on Wednesday, securing a hard-fought 54-50 win in overtime. The Falcons showcased resilience and determination in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Ayla Ray led the scoring charge for Fitch with an impressive 20-point performance, complemented by Rachel Spalding’s 17 points. Destanie McCullough and Kylie Folkwein added 8 and 7 points, respectively, contributing to the Falcons’ balanced offensive effort.

Howland fought valiantly, with Mia Barrish leading their offensive efforts with 11 points. Alyssa Massucci and Gia Hoso each added 10 points, while Jessie DeSalvo contributed 8 points in a closely contested battle.

With this hard-fought win, Fitch (12-6) looks to maintain their momentum as they travel to face West Branch on Saturday. Howland (13-5), despite the narrow defeat, remains focused on their upcoming matchup on the road against Boardman.

TIGERS TAKE THE REMATCH WITH FITCH

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HOWLAND OH- In a pivotal rematch on Tuesday night, Howland seized control and managed to even the season series with Fitch, emerging victorious with a hard-fought 49-40 win. The Tigers demonstrated resilience and determination, pushing back against the Falcons to secure a crucial win.

Leading the charge for Howland was Alex Henry, whose standout performance included an impressive 17 points. John Perry contributed 8 points, while Anthony Chieffo added 7 points to the Tigers’ offensive effort.

Fitch, despite a spirited effort, faced a determined Howland squad. Allen Hill led the Falcons’ offensive charge with 13 points, complemented by Marcel Finkley with 10 points. DeShawn Vaughn and Alex Hill each contributed 6 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Howland’s determined push.

With this victory, Howland (8-9) looks to build on their momentum as they host Boardman on Friday. Fitch (9-6) aims to bounce back from the loss as they face Ursuline in their upcoming matchup on Friday. As the regular season progresses, both teams are gearing up for the challenges ahead, each game becoming increasingly crucial in their pursuit of success.

BOARDMAN TAKES COMMAND OF AAC

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BOARDMAN, OH- In a nail-biting showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Boardman High School girls’ basketball team clinched a remarkable victory over the Austintown Fitch Falcons, emerging triumphant with a 56-44 win in overtime. The Spartans showcased resilience, determination, and skill, securing their fifth consecutive win in a season marked by outstanding performances.

The game unfolded as a fierce battle from the outset, with both teams demonstrating their prowess on the court. Despite facing a challenging deficit of three points with merely 30 seconds remaining, the Spartans refused to concede defeat. Mackenzie Riccitelli, a standout player of the evening, stepped up under pressure, sinking a crucial free throw. However, it was her remarkable playmaking ability that stole the spotlight, as she delivered a flawless no-look pass to Sarah Bero, igniting fervor among the Boardman faithful and forcing the game into overtime.

The overtime period witnessed a dominant display from the Spartans, who outscored the Falcons 16-4, ultimately sealing a commanding 12-point victory. Riccitelli’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as she matched her career-high with 28 points while contributing 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals, showcasing her versatility and impact on the court.

Sarah Bero complemented Riccitelli’s stellar performance with 10 points and an impressive 8 rebounds, exemplifying the Spartans’ depth and resilience as a team. M.C. Werth displayed her scoring prowess, tallying 9 points, including a pivotal three-pointer, while Ava Freeborough and Sam Duble made significant contributions from beyond the arc, adding 6 and 3 points respectively to the scoreboard.

Notably, Mikayla Rivera and Tori Strines provided crucial minutes off the bench, underscoring the team’s collective effort and unity in pursuit of victory. With this triumph, the Spartans enhance their season record to an impressive 13-4, reaffirming their status as a force to be reckoned with in the AAC.

For Fitch, Senior Destanie McCollough led the Lady Falcons with 11 points with Kylie Folkwein scoring 10. Rachel Spalding chipped in with 7 while seniors Ayla Ray and Lannie Henning each finished with 5. Kaelyn Bower and Dasiyia Donlow had 3 points apiece to round out the scoring.

Looking ahead, the Boardman girls’ basketball team remains focused and determined as they prepare for their upcoming encounter against East High School on Monday night. As they hit the road once again, the Spartans are poised to continue their winning streak, fueled by the passion, dedication, and unwavering support of their fans.

 

CANFIELD CAUSES CONFERENCE CHAOS

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CANFIELD OH- The All American Conference (AAC) in high school  basketball might as well be call the wild west with constant conference shootouts and how often there happens to be a new sheriff in town atop the conference standings! On the girls side of the AAC this season, it has been a wild ride to this point with multiple teams looking for the top spot in the conference. On Wednesday night, the conference birds battled it out when The Austintown-Fitch Falcons took the short trip down the road to matchup with The Canfield Cardinals!

A low scoring first half of play commenced and both teams prioritized defense against one another as points were at a premium through the first 16 minutes. Both teams struggled to get points in the first half, unless your name was Grace McQuiston! The Cardinals senior put up 10 of the 15 points for Canfield in the first half as the two teams were all knotted up 15-15 at the halftime buzzer.

After an even first half, The Cardinals separated themselves from Fitch as seven turnovers from The Falcons in the third turned into Canfield outsourcing Fitch 15-7 in the quarter to take a 30-22 lead into the fourth! Keeping the pace the following quarter, Canfield would emerge a bucket better than Austintown in the fourthat 16-13 in the quarter to win the ballgame by a final of 46-35.

Players of the Game went to both Grace McQuiston and Camryn Hritz as McQuiston finished with 17 points and provided big time shots in big time moments, while Hritz finished with 12 points and established herself as a rebounding force in the second half! For Fitch, they were led offensively by Ayla Ray who had 13 points.

Canfield (10-6, 3-3) will stay in conference action when they host Howland (12-4, 2-2) on Saturday, January 27th with a 7 p.m. tip-off. Fitch (11-5, 3-2) will now travel to their rival Boardman (12-4, 4-1) for a big matchup in the AAC, also on Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. tip-off. Keep updated with AAC basketball all season long with live games, scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

FITCH TURNS THE TABLES ON THE CARDINALS

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CANFIELD OH- In a stunning turn of events, Austintown Fitch handed Canfield their first conference loss of the season on Tuesday, securing a 51-46 victory on the road.

Austintown Fitch showcased a balanced offensive effort, with Marcell Finkley leading the charge with 15 points, followed closely by DaShawn Vaughn contributing 13 points. Alex Hill, Allen Hill, and Carter Owens also made impactful contributions, each adding crucial points to the scoreboard.

Canfield, faced with a resilient opponent, fought valiantly but fell short. Dom Cruz and Sam Castranova led the Cardinals’ scoring effort with 10 points each, while Ben Weaver and Jake Delisio chipped in with 8 and 6 points, respectively.

Austintown Fitch (8-5) will continue their road journey on Friday as they travel to face Boardman, seeking to build on their recent success. On the other side, Canfield (9-4) aims to bounce back from this setback on Friday against Howland, with hopes of reclaiming their winning momentum on their home court.