Tag Archive for: Basketball

HOFFER HEADS TO POINT PARK

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COLUMBIANA, OH- One of the area’s top all-around hoop stars is headed to the Steel City this Fall to continue her education and basketball career.

Crestview Senior, Tanner Hoffer announced on YSN that she is verbally committing to Point Park University to join the Basketball Program in 2020.  Hoffer averaged 12 points per game in 2018 while pulling down 11 boards, a double-double machine.

“I love how different it is compared to where I am now, I’m going from cornfields to the city, basically,” says Hoffer.  “I want to bring a strong defensive aspect to the team.  I typically face-guard the best player on the other team, so I’m looking forward to bringing my defensive skill set.”

Hoffer will study to be an actuary when she arrives in Pittsburgh next fall.

Congratulations, Tanner.  Good luck this year and in all you do in the future.

 

 

THE VOICE OF A GENERATION

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For many that come in and out of the “Dog Pound” in East Palestine, there’s a recognizable voice that allows you to know you’re in Bulldog Country.  A warm, raspy tone welcomes you to East Palestine, and for many allows them to feel as if they’re home.

Many things have changed in the town over the past few decades.  However, the one constant has been the gentle giant in the stands, and at the announcer’s table.  East Palestine’s very own: Vaughn Brunson.  Whether it’s his incredible knowledge of sports and music history, or if you are just looking for a pleasant friend to talk to, Brunson fits the mold.  He has no issues taking a bad at-bat and making you smile with his spot-on impressions of Elvis.  Or perhaps your son or daughter is about to make history in their sport, Vaughn is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to when, where, and how it happened for the Brown and White.

It was nearly a decade ago that Brunson was approached by then-Athletic Director, Jim Wilson to announce basketball games.  It was a mission Vaughn had waited a long time to accept, and one he was born for.  Brunson keeps the fans entertained throughout the game with announcements, as well as play-by-play that allows fans of all ages to understand what’s transpiring before them.  In a world full of technology advancements, and the “next best thing” East Palestine’s Vaughn Brunson keeps us all connected to the yesteryear every time we find a seat in the gymnasium.  A traditional voice for untraditional times.

YSN’s Tim Figley sat down with East Palestine’s keynote speaker for a special sports profile.  Vaughn Brunson: THE VOICE OF A GENERATION.

 

YSN CHARITY BASKETBALL GAME A MASSIVE SUCCESS

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CANFIELD, OH- Basketball Fans and supporters turned out in droves during last night’s inaugural YSN Charity All-Star Basketball Games.  Proceeds raised during the event are to be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to help fight childhood cancer.  In front of a nearly capacity crowd at South Range High School, and over 7,000 viewers on YSNLive.com the showcase of over 20 different schools under the YSN banner proved to be top-notch entertainment.

Kinzley Blatch draws up a play for her squad during the 2019 YSN All-Star Game. Photo Credit Greg Eskra

The girls led things off with some serious star-power.  Ursuline standout and Pitt recruit, Dayshanette Harris started things off with a three-pointer (11 points on the night) for Team Blatch.  Also showing off the hot-hand last night was Crestview Senior, Haley Eskra who dialed long distance one more time for her Coach and fans and finished with 5 points.

For Team Nittoli, Poland’s Sarah Bury led the way with 14 points and was voted YSN All-Star Game MVP as she cashed in clutch free throws down the stretch to help her team to a 64-61 victory.

Also contributing in the victory were Struthers’ Trinity McDowell and East Liverpool’s Emma Ludwig who had 8 points apiece.

The boys game proved to be a high-flying affair and shined a light on the top-tier talent in Northeast Ohio.  There were dunks, alley-oops, and fans were treated to plenty of splash-downs from beyond the arc.  East Liverpool’s Gabriel Roach led all scorers with 19 points while putting on a show with numerous dunks to give Team Conley the victory 103-95 over Team Stanton.  Roach was also voted by the fans as the game’s Most Valuable Player.

For Team Stanton, Girard’s Matt Payich set the tone with some incredible play of his own adding several rim-rocking dunks and also contributed from beyond the arc.

We wish to thank all involved in these games as we feel they were the most fun games we’ve seen in an All-Star Game.  Final totals are still rolling in for what was raised for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, so stay tuned for the amazing show of generosity exhibited on March 20, 2019.

BIG DOGS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

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With over 410,000 votes during the final poll, the first-ever Baird Brothers/YSN Big Dogs of the Valley Players of the Year were awarded during intermission of the YSN All-Star Game last night.  The award was based on three separate pieces of data which were weighted and scored.

For the girls, Beaver Local’s Jenna Riccardo will wear the crown for 2019.  Riccardo won the Week 1 vote for BDOV, and was nominated 11 out of the 12 weeks the contest was held.  In only her junior season, Jenna became the all-time leading scorer for the Beavers.  She also averaged a double-double this year with 23 points, and 13.3 rebounds per game alongside her 2.6 steals and nearly two blocks to boot.  She also was recognized for being the Columbiana County player of the year, and most recently was named third-team All-Ohio.

PHOTO CREDIT: JILL RICCARDO

Taking home the award for the guys is Lisbon Senior, Justin Sweeney.  A young man who’s battled through many obstacles just to be on the court this season.  However, when he stepped back on the floor, he owned it.  After returning to the court less than 3 months after reconstructive knee surgery, Justin came back to average 21 points per game with 8 rebounds in 2019 while becoming Lisbon’s All-Time Leading Scorer.  Sweeney took home the Week 4 honors for BDOV, and had nominations in each week thereafter.  Earlier this week, Justin was named to the Division IV All-Ohio team.

PHOTO CREDIT: JKB PHOTO

Congratulations to both Jenna and Justin from all of us at YSN, and on behalf of Baird Brothers.  An extraordinary season for both players, and well-deserved accomplishments this season from many outlets.

 

 

2019 YSN ALL-STAR GAME LIVE BROADCAST!

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Girls All-Star Game

Boys All-Star Game

DONATE TO ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND VIA “DUNKING OVER CHILDHOOD CANCER” HERE


YSN ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR ROSTERS FOR EVENT

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CANFIELD, OH- Your Sports Network has finalized rosters for their first-ever YSN Charity Basketball All-Star Game.  The game will feature athletes from around the area in grades 9-12 that have shown talent, hard-work, determination, and sportsmanship throughout their season and collective careers.

The games will be a non-scholastic exhibitions hosted at South Range High School on March 20th.  The girls game is set to begin approximately at 5:30pm, with the boys to follow at 7:30.  The Network has also teamed up with South Range Senior, Jaxon Anderson on his senior project to have the game benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (www.alexslemonade.org) which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

The coaches for the game are volunteers who have served as pillars in their communities, as well as leaders of their respective teams in 2019.  Coaching the girls teams will be Crestview’s Aaron Blatch and Salem’s Vince Nittoli.  For the boys will be East Liverpool’s Nate Conley, and East Palestine’s Bill Stanton.

 

 

GIRL’S GAME

Team Blatch: Away

 

Haley Eskra- Crestview

Jenna Riccardo- Beaver Local

Nae Fryer- Niles

Hunter Weekley- Wellsville

Kyla Jamison- Salem

Sophie Griffith- Girard

Madison Casey- Hubbard

Hannah Root- Jefferson

Ari Russell- Leetonia

Dayshanette Harris- Ursuline

 

Team Nittoli: Home

Sarah Bury- Poland

Ellie Davidson- Salem

Conchetta Rinaldi- Cardinal Mooney

Kennedy Fullum- Columbiana

Izzy Lamparty- South Range

Trinity McDowell- Struthers

Loren Swords- United

Hailee Carpenter- Lisbon

Kayla Muslovski- Columbiana

Emma Ludwig- East Liverpool

Tipoff approx 5:45 PM

 

BOY’S GAME

 

Team Stanton- Home 

 

Luke Chetock- Beaver Local

Abel Figley- East Palestine

Cyler Kane-Johnson- Niles

Josh Young- Salem

Matt Payich- Girard

Logan Bell- Lisbon

Jaxon Anderson- South Range

RJ Clark- Ursuline

Ben Irons- South Range

Justin Sweeney- Lisbon

 

Team Conley- Away

 

Jude Riffle- Crestview

Justin Wright- Wellsville

Gabe Roach- East Liverpool

Anthony Fire- Cardinal Mooney

Erik Hopfenziz- Columbiana

AJ McClellan- Lakeview

Landon Baker- United

Kevin Traylor- Struthers

Parker Hydrick- United

James Maxwell- East Liverpool

 

Tipoff: Approx 7:45

 

 

A PRIDEFUL FINISH FOR POLAND

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BARBERTON, OH-The Poland Lady Bulldogs had their season come to an end Friday night with a 56-46 loss to Akron St Vincent St Mary.

As the teams were warming up it was easy to tell the size differential on the court. And the Irish took full advantage of it in the 1st quarter. Running their offense exclusively from the paint Poland struggled to keep the Irish posts in check. After the two teams traded buckets back and forth to tie the game at 6, the Irish began separating themselves. With the score 15-9 Jackie Grisdale hit a three to stop the momentum. The Irish however, were not phased as they scored the final 4 points of the frame and led 19-12 after 1.  

With the score at 22-17 early in the 2nd the Irish went on another run to separate themselves. This was an 8-0 run and put them up 30-17 with just under 4 minutes to go in the half.  This was a tipping point in the game where the Irish could really pull away, but the Bulldogs weren’t having it. They clawed back to cut the lead to 32-24 at the break.

The Poland defense took that momentum that closed the 1st half and did what they’ve done so many times this season, hold offenses down. The defense only allowed 6 points in the entire 3rd quarter, which let their offense claw all the way back to cut the lead to 38-36 after 3.

The Bulldogs had all the momentum coming out of the 4th quarter, their defense kept getting stops allowing them to tie the game at 38.  Later in the 4th still tied at 38-38 Kat Partika hit a huge three to give Poland their first lead of the game. The Irish tied the game at 41 off an old fashioned three point play. The Bulldogs were clearly tired at this point. Battling tooth and nail against a team that was bigger than them at every position took its toll.  Poland missed a couple of close range shots that would have given them the lead back but instead led to transition buckets for the Irish. Just like that the momentum swung back to St Mary and they ended the game on a 18-5 run to walk away with a 56-46 victory.

Jackie Grisdale had her best statistical tournament game of her career with 18 points to lead the way going 4/7 from three. Sarah Bury was also in double figures with 11. Poland end the season with a record of 26-1, a AP poll championship, and a district championship.

GET A KLU

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Great teams always have a mix of experienced leadership, and young talent. The senior leaders of the Poland Lady Bulldogs have been well documented, but as far as the young talent goes look no further than freshman Morgan Kluchar.

PHOTO CREDIT: SEMINARY+

Not too many players can say they started their high school varsity careers by having an undefeated regular season and playing for a trip to the state playoffs. Morgan Kluchar is one of the few who can. After some preseason injuries thrusters Kluchar into the starting lineup, the young stud has shined bright. Now a consistent starter on the number 1 team in the state, her confidence is sky high.

YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with Morgan before the team’s regional championship game to talk about the emotions of her first start, how much the seniors and other experienced members of the team have done for her, and what keeps her so loose in high-pressure situations. Join us in learning about the Bulldogs young pup Morgan Kluchar in the latest Player Profile Get a Klu.

BLUE TURNS TO BROWN

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Changes don’t happen without effort. To say that Poland junior Kailyn Brown has put in the effort to make changes would be an understatement. Kailyn has gone from a shy freshman now a consistent starter as a junior.

Now in her junior season, Brown has become an intricate part of a historical Poland Bulldog team. She brings toughness and confidence to an already great lineup. Like colors of leaves change through the seasons, Brown has become a dominant presence for her team.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: SEMINARY SPORTS+

YSN’s Anthony Hartwig sat down with the junior to talk about her growth over the years, the experience this season has been, and much more. Hear it all on the latest Lady Bulldog Player Profile BLUE TURNS TO BROWN.

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POLAND BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ NICK BLANCH (EP 7)

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The Poland Lady Bulldogs have achieved their first district championship since 2000 and are hungry for more.

The Bulldog community has rallied around the girl’s basketball team all season and it has paid off.  Fresh off their district championship the Lady Bulldogs now set their sights on Akron Buchtel in the regional semifinals taking place in Barberton. The constant attention this season has prepared the team for the bigger stage, and they are ready to put their best paw forward.

What does the district title mean to Coach Blanch? And how long did he celebrate it? What should fans expect from Buchtel and the atmosphere at Barberton? How important will the senior leadership be in these tournament rounds? All will be answered as our very own Anthony Hartwig chats with Coach B on Episode 7 of Poland Coach’s Corner with Nick Blanch

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