Tag Archive for: Basketball

COLUMBIANA BASKETBALL COACH S CORNER WITH TODD JOHNSON 2-13-25

COLUMBIANA, OH= Todd Johnson, head coach of the Columbiana Clippers basketball team, has delivered an unforgettable season, guiding his team to back-to-back EOAC championships and an impressive 19-2 record. In a recent episode of the YSN podcast, Johnson shared insights on his coaching philosophy and the journey of nurturing basketball talent in the area.

Coach Johnson, a proud Columbiana alum himself, discussed how he’s dedicated the last nine years to building a solid foundation for the Clippers. Emphasizing the importance of developing youth programs, he proudly recounted how their efforts to engage boys in grades two through six have significantly contributed to the team’s success.

A key highlight of the season included a critical victory over Valley Christian on the road, a game that showcased the determination and grit of the Clippers. Johnson acknowledged the team’s ability to perform under pressure, crediting the hard work and persistence of his players in turning moments of adversity into triumphs.

As the Clippers prepare for the postseason, Johnson maintains his focus on the next game, ensuring his team remains motivated and united. His passion and dedication have not only elevated the Clippers but have inspired a new generation in Columbiana to pursue basketball excellence. The community and players alike cherish Johnson’s commitment, as he continues to bleed Columbiana colors and foster a culture of success for the Clippers.

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BOWER SINKS RAIDERS AT THE BUZZER

CANFIELD, OH – With just seconds left on the clock, Austintown Fitch’s Kaelyn Bower delivered an unforgettable moment, banking in a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Lady Falcons over South Range, 36-35.

Fitch found itself up by two with 35 seconds to play, but South Range responded with back-to-back buckets courtesy of Ceci Foster and Sophia Lucente, flipping the lead to 35-33 in favor of the home team. With time slipping away, the Lady Falcons had to go the full length of the court on an inbound with just 4.2 seconds left. That’s when Bower sprinted down the sideline, hauled in a long pass, and launched a desperation three as time expired. The shot found its mark, banking off the glass and into the net, sealing a dramatic victory for Fitch.

Bower, who finished with six points, had already made an impact late in the game, sinking two clutch free throws to give Fitch the lead before South Range’s late surge.

Leading the charge offensively for the Lady Falcons was senior Rachel Spalding, who poured in a team-high 14 points. Her twin sister, Elizabeth Spalding, added seven, followed by Bower’s six. Senior Samantha Severn chipped in with four, while juniors Amiya Harris and Jeweliana Farmer rounded out the scoring with three and two points, respectively.

The win extends Fitch’s winning streak to three games, closing out the regular season at an even 11-11. The Lady Falcons now shift their focus to the OHSAA postseason, where they will host Euclid on Wednesday, February 19, with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m.

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SOUTH RANGE OUTLASTS NILES IN THRILLER

CANFIELD, OH – The South Range Raiders secured a hard-fought 69-64 victory over the Niles Red Dragons in a Friday night battle that featured standout performances on both sides.

South Range relied on balanced scoring to hold off Niles, with Luke Rohan leading the charge with 19 points. Nick Toy provided a crucial 13 points, while Tristan Toy and Graham Heikkinen chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Gaven Nagy added 6 points, Nate Lewis scored 5, Michael Garwacki contributed 2, and Tommy Titus rounded out the Raiders’ scoring with 1 point.

For Niles, True Carey-Hardin was nearly unstoppable, pouring in a game-high 28 points to keep the Red Dragons within striking distance. Alex Doyle added 11 points, while Izaiah Reed and A’von Fryer each contributed 10. Cash Carey-Hardin and Chris Baker combined for 5 points to close out Niles’ scoring.

The Raiders jumped out to an early lead, fueled by sharp shooting and strong defensive play. However, Niles battled back in the second half, led by True Carey-Hardin’s offensive outburst, making it a tight contest down the stretch. South Range’s depth and execution proved to be the difference, as they managed to close out the game with timely buckets and key defensive stops.

With the win, South Range keeps pace with Poland for the NE8 championship.  The Raiders will play host to Girard on Saturday at 7pm.

POLAND RALLIES PAST THE RANGE

CANFIELD, OH – After trailing at halftime, the Poland Lady Bulldogs turned up the intensity in the second half to secure a 35-28 win over South Range in a gritty defensive battle.

South Range controlled the pace early, taking the lead into the break, but Poland responded with a strong third quarter to seize momentum. Once the Bulldogs went ahead, they never looked back, holding off the Raiders down the stretch.

Sophia Generalovich led the way for Poland with 10 points, while Kate and Lucy Harrell each contributed 7. Isabel Greco added 8 points, and Ava Stabi chipped in 3 to round out the scoring effort.

Gwen Lowry paced South Range with a game-high 14 points, keeping the Raiders in contention. Taylor Dado and Sophia Lucente each scored 4, while Ceci Foster and Heidi Bartels finished with 3 apiece.

 

RAMS SURVIVE SCARE FROM ORANGE

MINERAL RIDGE, OH – The Mineral Ridge Rams extended their winning streak to four games, surviving a furious fourth-quarter comeback from the Orange Lions to secure a 64-62 victory on Saturday night.

The Rams wasted no time setting the tone, using strong outside shooting and stifling defense to grab a 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. They maintained control through the second, heading into halftime with a 25-20 advantage despite Orange’s efforts to close the gap.

Mineral Ridge seemed to take full command in the third quarter, outscoring the Lions 20-16 to build a comfortable lead heading into the final frame. With just six minutes remaining, the Rams held a 14-point advantage, but Orange refused to go down without a fight.

Major Calhoun led the late-game charge for the Lions, finishing with a game-high 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter alone. Alex McCulloch also came alive in the final stretch, scoring all 7 of his points in the last period as Orange stormed back into contention.

With just 19 seconds remaining, Calhoun was fouled on a three-point attempt, giving him a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line. The tension in the gym was high, but he managed to convert just one of the three shots, leaving Mineral Ridge clinging to a 62-60 lead. The Rams capitalized on the miss, hitting two clutch free throws to push the lead to 64-60. Orange quickly responded with a field goal in the closing seconds, but time ran out before they could complete the comeback.

Chase Moore led the way for Mineral Ridge with 21 points, while Kaden Shaffer added 20. Derrick Hester chipped in 10 points, and Jordan Moore contributed 6, including key free throws down the stretch.

Despite the loss, Orange showed tremendous heart in their fourth-quarter rally and will look to build on that momentum when they host Cleveland East Tech on Monday at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the Rams set their sights on Tuesday night’s matchup against Springfield, where they’ll seek revenge. JV action tips off at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00.

UNITED WIN SETS UP TITLE SHOT

HANOVERTON, OH – United rolled past Wellsville 52-24 on Thursday night, setting the stage for a crucial Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference matchup on Monday. With the win, the Lady Eagles improved to 12-8 overall and 12-1 in league play, keeping them in contention for a share of the EOAC title. A win over first-place Columbiana on Monday would earn United a piece of the championship.

Marin Stryffeler stole the show, knocking down a school-record eight three-pointers on her way to a game-high 24 points. She surpassed the previous mark of seven set by Chrissy Young in the 1994-95 season. Reagan Good contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Maelee Smith added 6 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals. Ally Lacey played a key role as well, finishing with 5 steals and 6 assists.

Wellsville, now 9-10 overall and 8-6 in the EOAC, struggled to find offensive rhythm against United’s defense. Bella Poppelriter led the Tigers with 10 points and 8 rebounds, while Olivia Edison and Kenzie Thompson each knocked down two three-pointers, finishing with 6 points apiece. Abby Forsythe chipped in with a rebound and a free throw.

United jumped out to a 16-7 lead in the first quarter and extended its advantage to 30-8 by halftime. Wellsville put together a stronger second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Golden Eagles remained in control until the final buzzer.

United will travel to East Liverpool on Saturday before hosting Columbiana in a highly anticipated league showdown on Monday. Wellsville will look to bounce back in an OVAC consolation game at Conotton Valley.

LADY CATS SHINE IN CONFERENCE WIN

STRUTHERS, OH- Struthers emerged victorious in a hard-fought league matchup, defeating Girard 51-44. The Wildcats showcased a balanced offensive attack, with Gianna Martin and Katelyn Kimble each contributing 12 points to lead the way. Ava Croyle added 11 points, providing another scoring boost for Struthers.

Girard put up a strong fight, led by Caylee Wilkes, who delivered a game-high 17 points. Aly Gassman also had a solid performance, finishing with 14 points, but the Indians couldn’t overcome Struthers’ steady play down the stretch.

VIKINGS STORM LIBERTY IN BIG WIN

YOUNGSTOWN, OH- LaBrae delivered a commanding performance on Thursday night, cruising to a 52-10 win over Liberty in league action. The Vikings showcased their depth and offensive firepower, overwhelming Liberty from the start.

Marissa Levensky led the way for LaBrae, finishing with a team-high 10 points. Riley Rowe and Angel Scruggs each contributed 9 points, adding to the Vikings’ balanced scoring attack. Freshman Ally Magoulick made a strong impact as well, chipping in 8 points to round out a dominant team effort.

With the win, LaBrae continues to build momentum in league play, while Liberty looks to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming games.

CANFIELD CLAIMS CONFERENCE CROWN

By Ty Bartell 

HOWLAND, Ohio — The Canfield Cardinals clinched the All-American Conference (AAC) girls basketball championship on Wednesday night, defeating the Howland Tigers 42-37 in a hard-fought matchup. The victory marks Canfield’s first AAC title since the 2022-2023 season. 

The Cardinals set the tone early, jumping out to a 12-5 lead in the first quarter. Howland tightened the gap by halftime, trailing just 19-15, but Canfield maintained its composure and carried a 30-24 advantage into the final quarter. 

Jenna Triveri and Sofia Castronova powered Canfield’s offense, each scoring 13 points. Maya Kubancsek led the Tigers with a game-high 18 points but couldn’t lift Howland past the top-ranked Cardinals. 

With the win, Canfield improves to 18-1 overall and 7-0 in AAC play. The Cardinals will host the West Branch Warriors (16-1, 10-0 EBC) on Saturday, February 1, for senior night in a clash of one-loss teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Howland, now 7-10 overall and 3-3 in the AAC, will look to bounce back at home on Friday, January 31, when they face the Maplewood Rockets (15-1, 7-0 NAC) at 6:30 p.m.

 

POPPING FROM THE PAGE

WELLSVILLE, OH- Wellsville High School standout Bella Poppelriter has recently committed to continuing her athletic career at Bethany College, where she will play volleyball. Poppelriter, known for her remarkable skills on both the basketball court and volleyball court, joined the YSN podcast to discuss her journey and future plans.

In a candid interview with host DJ Yokley, Bella recounted her recent basketball feats, including a career-high 31 points against Leetonia. Yokley praised her athletic prowess and leadership qualities, noting her ability to score, call out plays, and make pivotal defensive moves.

Despite her success in basketball, Poppelriter explained her choice to pursue volleyball at the collegiate level. “I just developed this love for volleyball. It’s so fun to me,” she shared. Bella emphasized that being part of a successful volleyball team contributed significantly to her passion for the sport.

Reflecting on her multi-sport high school career, Poppelriter highlighted some memorable moments, such as achieving her thousand-point milestones and making significant progress in volleyball. “Just being able to get different accomplishments in different sports is amazing,” she said.

Growing up in Wellsville, Bella’s dedication to sports extended beyond personal achievement. She spoke fondly of her community’s support and pride. “It feels amazing because I know everybody out there is just supporting me,” she expressed.

When asked about her inspirations, Bella mentioned her best friend Presley Stokes, her supportive family, and her dedicated coaches. She credited her father for being a constantly motivating presence, helping her with training since she was little.

Looking ahead, Poppelriter expressed excitement about joining Bethany College, drawn to its small, close-knit environment. Her commitment to staying near her family played a crucial role in her decision. “It just felt like the perfect fit for me,” she concluded.

As Bella prepares for this new chapter, she hopes to inspire younger athletes in her community to work hard and pursue their dreams, just as she has. The YSN network and the Wellsville community eagerly anticipate witnessing Bella’s continued success in her college volleyball career.

 

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