Tag Archive for: Blue Devils

THE RAMS STAY IN THE HUNT

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By Matt Maher 


BERLIN CENTER, OH – Oh what a night! When Western Reserve welcomed Mineral Ridge to their fortress we all knew this game was going to be close but it was also just big since both teams came into this one tied for second in the MVAC Scarlet division and the winner would move on to own second place and allow them to stay one step behind Springfield for first. So knowing the stakes this game brought lets dive into the meat and potatoes of this fantastic matchup.

 

The first quarter started out fairly slow with only about 10 points being scored by the halfway point. It was clear something needed to change and thanks to the energy these kids had it didn’t take long for them to both start putting up points and get us to the score of 12-10 for the Blue Devils. Mineral Ridge saw Ava Hulett put up 4 points with Sam Aulet following behind her with a made 3 pointer. Western Reserve saw Angelina Cappabranea light up the hardwood with 5 points while Alyvia Hughes scored behind her with 4 points including 2 of 2 made free throws. 

 

Mineral Ridge clapped back in the second where they would match Reserve’s 1st quarter tally of 12 and keep the Blue Devils to scoring just 8. Western Reserve saw Kylee Ramsey put up 3 of 4 free throws and Cappabranea added another 3 to her total. Mineral Ridge found money in the second with Sullivan Sandy dropping two 3’s and Kelcee Dye making 2 of 2 tosses from the charity stripe. 

 

Western Reserve, down by 4 points after halftime came out swinging with a 5 point run that saw them take over the lead for a brief stint. Despite the explosive start to the half, Mineral Ridge managed to outscore Western Reserve 18-15 in the quarter. This quarter saw both teams rack up fouls quickly and was dominated from the free throw line. The Blue Devils went 9 for 12 as a team from the line including 4-for-4 from Cappabranea, 3-for-4 from Lisa Eichert and a solid 2-for-2 from Quincy Miller. Mineral Ridge struggled from the line only posting 4-for-10 as a team. Most of their scoring came from the paint with the exception of a 3 thrown in by Aulet.

 

Western Reserve needed to pick things up and they played a very tight and aggressive 4th that netted them 12 points to Mineral Ridge 8 which would allow the teams to tie 47-47 and force overtime. The Rams saw Gianna Gilbert score 4 more points on her night with the other 4 coming from both Hulett and Lilly Merolillo who both put up a 2. Western Reserve saw Hughes score 6 points with a 3 and a two pointer and a foul that allowed her to drain the and-1. Miller would also throw a 3-pointer into the mix.

 

Despite the great 4th quarter Reserve put up they couldn’t replicate the magic in overtime and only scored 7 points to the Rams 15. Isabella Mauro led her team in overtime with 4 points including 2 of 2 free throws cashed in. Ridge saw Aulet drop two 3’s and  hit 1 of 2 free throws in the extra frame and Hulett found 5 points as well.

 

Mineral Ridge came out on top in an exciting game and their players showed it with four of them posting 10 or more points: Gianna Gilbert with 10, Sam Aulet with 13, Sullivan Sandy with 14 and Ava Hulett with 15. Western Reserve showed their skill but just ran out of steam at the end, they were led by Alyvia Hughes with 10 points and Angelina Cappabranea with 13. Mineral Ridge (10-1) (4-1) continue their road trip when they travel to Jackson-Milton on January 8th at 6:15PM and Western Reserve (6-4) (3-2) will hit the road when they play Lowellville on January 8th at 6:15PM. 

LISBON STAYS UNBLEMISHED IN LEAGUE PLAY

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LISBON OH- In a conference showdown, Lisbon maintained its undefeated record in the EOAC, securing a convincing 50-33 victory over Wellsville on their home court.

Lisbon’s offensive charge was led by Trevor Siefke and Alex Shreffler, both contributing 17 points to the team’s well-rounded performance. Hunter Dailey added 9 points to the scoring efforts.

Despite Wellsville’s Tyrell Watkins showcasing his skills with 16 points, Lisbon’s staunch defense and balanced scoring proved too much for the Tigers to overcome.

With this win, Lisbon moves to an impressive 9-2 record and will look to continue their winning streak as they host United on Tuesday. Wellsville aims to bounce back on Tuesday as they welcome Valley Christian, seeking to return to the victory column.

INSTANT KLASIC: RESERVE SHOOTS PAST MCDONALD

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BERLIN CENTER, OH- To say that Josh Klasic was in the zone on Friday night is a bit of an understatement.  In a game where points were at a premium, the Western Reserve posted a double-double en route to a victory in Reserve’s barn over McDonald to the tune of 38-27.

Klasic led the way for Reserve with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while he was supplemented by seven points from the big man, Andrew Hendricks, and a four-point effort from Connor Cochran.

For McDonald, their offensive efforts were highlighted by nine points from Chris Ragazzine and Brady Klochner’s six points.  Senior, Wyatt Wolford chipped in four points in the effort as well.

Western Reserve improves to 2-8 overall and gets their first MVAC victory, while McDonald suffers their first league loss, and stands at 5-5 on the year.

 

POPPELRITER PACES WELLSVILLE PAST LISBON

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LISBON, OH- It always comes down to free throws.  Doesn’t it?

In a closely contested matchup between the Wellsville Tigers and the Lisbon Blue Devils, it was the Tigers who emerged victorious with a narrow 47-45 win. The game kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer, delivering high-intensity action and impressive performances from both squads.

Bella Poppelriter was fouled with 1.6 seconds to go in regulation tied at 45.  With the pressure on, the Wellsville junior stepped up to the line, and with ice in her veins, buried the game-winning shots.

The scoring tempo remained tight throughout the game, with Wellsville and Lisbon showcasing their skills on the court. The Tigers managed to secure the win with a balanced scoring effort, overcoming the Blue Devils in a hard-fought battle.

Leading the charge for Wellsville was Bella Poppelriter, whose impressive 27-point performance played a crucial role in the team’s success. Kaylee Rawson contributed 8 points, while Amiyah Powell added 6 to the Tigers’ total. Myleigh Jackson and Sam Drysdale also chipped in with 4 and 2 points, respectively, highlighting the team’s collective effort.

Lisbon put up a strong fight, with Brooklyn Cousins leading their scoring chart with 15 points. Morgan Lively and Alysa Wells added 12 and 7 points, respectively, as the Blue Devils tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter. Despite their efforts, Wellsville’s tenacious defense and clutch moments secured the narrow victory.

The box scores reveal the intensity of the matchup, with Wellsville maintaining their composure and converting crucial free throws down the stretch. Poppelriter’s four three-pointers added an extra dimension to the Tigers’ offensive arsenal, while Lisbon connected on three shots from beyond the arc.

Looking ahead, Lisbon will regroup and go back to the drawing board as they prepare for a matchup against Beaver Local on Saturday. On the other side, Wellsville will savor the hard-earned win and shift their focus to a home game against Valley Christian on Monday. As the season unfolds, both teams aim to build on this competitive encounter and continue their pursuit of success on the basketball court.

 

BLUE DEVILS COME OUT SWINGING

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By Matt Maher 


MCDONALD, OH – Oh what a night to be in McDonald! The BlueDevils welcomed the Indians into their fortress for one of the most entertaining games of basketball you could’ve asked for. With a final score of 57-50 in favor of the Blue Devils we saw fight and heart from both sides of the court.

 

Girard would come out on top 12-10 after one quarter of action where the Indians saw Cam Herrick put up 5 points and Stephen Sims collect himself a nice 3-pointer. McDonald stayed right behind them with 6 points from Cappuzzello and a great 3 from Ragazzine. McDonald’s 3-point shooting would be their answer to Girard in the second quarter. 

 

McDonald came out swinging in the 2nd putting up a staggering 25 points to Girards 10, they not only took the lead they took command. McDoanld would see Klockner drain three 3-pointers to gain his first 9 points of the night while Wilford would put up 6 points and Black would snag 5. The Indians saw Clare find three points from an and-1 while Hess-Cardona, Rafferty and Curd would all put up 2-points each. 

 

With a huge scoring quarter from McDonald in the Books Girard came out playing much better defense and limited the Blue Devils to just 8 points with Zajack and Cappuzzello both finding 3 points and the other 2 coming from Wolford. Girard would see Curd score 4 points and Sims put up another 3 to help lead their team in the quarter. 

 

The 4th quarter was a heart stopper. With the score standing at 43-33 after three we all knew we were in for a response from Girard and oh boy did we get one. The Indians found themselves 17 points and later in the quarter a lead that would fizzle away due to an abundance of fouls called against Girard. Clare was the leader of the cause, finding 9 points all from beyond the arc while Rafferty and Herrick all helped out with 3 points of their own. While Girard found their groove from the field, McDonald found a cozy home in the free throw line where Girard sent them 7 times. Cappuzzello found 6 points with 4 made free throws and a 2 from the field while everyone else scored from the line and cemented their spot in the win column.

 

This was a game that everyone could get into and find some entertainment from and these kids played a very tough and close game that did not disappoint. Girard moves to 0-7 and will look for their first win when they host Badger on December 29th at 7:00PM and McDonald improves to 4-3 and look to keep the good time rolling when they travel to Heartland Christian on December 28th for yet another girl-boys doubleheader, their game starts 20 minutes after the girls which will tipoff at 5:30PM. 

GIRARD GETS THE UPPER HAND

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By Matt Maher 


MCDONALD, OH – The Indians came out ready to go Tuesday night when they beat the Blue Devils 28-39. Girard led with great defensive positioning that severely limited the Blue Devils up until the 4th quarter and their offense found some strides as well.

 

Makenzee White was brilliant in the first quarter racking up 7 points for the Indians including an opening 3 and two 2’s. Mia Malito found 2 points of her own and showed us early how great she was rebounding and creating chances as she led multiple rushes and helped get her teammates into position which also shows how much she has grown as a leader as well. McDonald really struggled to get across the starting line as they would only find 3 points total in the 1st with a 2 pointer from Cierra Shirley and a made free throw from Mariah Bregar. 



Both teams showed much improved defense in the 2nd quarter where Girard would openly put up 6 to McDonalds 2. The Indians found scoring from three different sources: Ally Gassman, Caylee Wilkes and Malito. McDonald’s lone 2 points came from separate free throw attempts where Gracie Callow and Shirley would both go 1-for-2. 

 

McDonald’s offense continued to struggle after halftime where Juliana Krumpak would put up a bucket and get the and-1 notching her and her team 3 points for the quarter. Girard found 9 points for the quarter including 4 points for Malito and 2 more for White.

 

When I said offense was limited for the Blue Devils until the 4th I wasn’t kidding, McDonald exploded with 21 points including 6 points from both Krumpak and Addison Grewell and 5 for Shiley. On the other side Girard found 13 more points including 4 more from White to allow her to finish with 13 points and 3 more for Malito finishing her night with 11 points. 

 

Despite a great offensive outburst in the final frame, Girard would have done enough to earn themselves the win against their nearby rivals. Girards record moved to 4-6 while McDoland settled at 4-4. Girard continues their road trip on January 4th when they visit Lakeview at 6:15PM and McDonald will hit the road when they take on Heartland Christian as part of another girl-boy doubleheader on December 28th at 5:30PM.

 

ALYVE AND WELL!

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BERLIN CENTER, OH- Western Reserve basketball standout Alyvia Hughes shared insights into her life, family, and aspirations for the future. Described as a local celebrity, Hughes expressed gratitude for the attention she has received, attributing her success to her athletic family and the community’s unwavering support.

When asked about her off-court activities, Hughes mentioned enjoying time with her family, particularly during the holiday season where she takes part in decorating the Christmas tree. As a key player on the team, her main goal for her senior year is to win the district championship, emphasizing the importance of making her team and supporters proud.

Looking ahead, Hughes revealed her plans to pursue dental hygiene at Youngstown State University, driven by her family’s connection to a dental practice. Intriguingly, she expressed a keen interest in working with young children, potentially specializing in pediatric dental care.

As the conversation turned to the upcoming holiday season, Hughes humorously shared her wish list including Ugg slippers and a plethora of clothes, typical of a 17-year-old’s desires.

Hughes’ determination, grounded nature, and ambition in both basketball and her future endeavors make her a remarkable role model for the community and younger players.

Fans can catch Alyvia Hughes and the Western Reserve basketball team in action during the ongoing season, and undoubtedly, the community will eagerly watch her future accomplishments both on and off the court.

 

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WILLIAMS DOES IT ALL

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BERLIN CENTER, OH- Senior shooting guard and defensive specialist, Kaleigh Williams, opened up about her journey with the Western Reserve basketball team. The podcast, hosted by DJ Yokley, provided insight into Williams’ dedication to the sport and her aspirations for the future.

Williams discussed her triumphant return to the court following a challenging junior season plagued by a quad injury. Expressing her commitment to the team, she expressed her desire to leave a lasting legacy as the toughest defensive player in Western Reserve history.

Uniquely, Williams’ passion for basketball extends beyond the court, reflecting her dedication to the Western Reserve community and her involvement in softball, track, and cross country. She emphasized the importance of the tight-knit bond shared among her fellow teammates.

Beyond her athletic prowess, Williams’ future aspirations were also explored. She spoke of her dedication to animal science and her involvement in the Biomed program at the career center. With a comprehensive vision for her future, Williams demonstrated a deep connection to her roots, stemming from her upbringing on a farm and her involvement in 4H.

Throughout the interview, Williams credited her strong support system, including her parents and Coach Miller, for instilling values of dedication and hard work, both on and off the court. Her unwavering commitment to her sport, studies, and community solidified her status as an ideal role model for her peers and the younger generation.

Overall, Kaleigh Williams’ profile on YSN offered an inspiring look into the life of a dedicated student-athlete, exemplifying resilience, determination, and a deep-rooted connection to her community. Her impact on the Western Reserve basketball program and aspirations for her future endeavors serve as a testament to her unwavering spirit and dedication.

 

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SCHREFFLER’S BIG NIGHT PROPELS LISBON

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SALINEVILLE, OH – The Lisbon Blue Devils traveled down to Southern Local on Tuesday night for an EOAC battle that would see just how talented the Blue Devils are this season. From the opening tip off the crowd could tell that it would be a special game. The Blue Devils jumped out to an early 24-7 first quarter lead behind Trevor Siefke’s 12 first quarter points. Once ahead Lisbon never looked back.

The second quarter featured a lot more scoring as Alex Schreffler started to heat up from beyond the arc as he would connect on five threes in the quarter to give Lisbon a 54-16 halftime advantage. The third and fourth quarters saw much of the same as Schreffler would continue to hit threes and Siefke would capitalize on his defensive steals en route to more scoring on his own. The fourth quarter saw Hunter Dailey come alive in the paint as well, scoring 8 points. Logan Stauffer chipped in a balanced scoring night as well with 10 points.

In the win, Trevor Siefke set the single game school record for steals with 14, as well as, Alex Schreffler finishing with 9 made threes which tied a school record held with Michael Davis (2020).

On the night, Lisbon was led by Schreffler who finished with 31 points, Siefke with 27 points, Stauffer with 10 points, and Hunter Dailey with 8 points.

Southern was led by Mason Pitts with 8 points.

The Lisbon Blue Devils will return to action on Wednesday, December 27th, in the KSA Holiday Tournament in Orlando, Florida as they will play Chamberlain High Schoool (FL), then Bishop Eustace Prep (NJ) on 12/28, and Hanover Park (NJ) on 12/29.

Southern returns to the court on Friday at home against the Edison Wildcats.

RESERVE ROUTES CONFERENCE RIVAL

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BERLIN CENTER OH- In the girls basketball world of high school sports, two programs out of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s (MVAC) Scarlet Division in The Western-Reserve Blue Devils and The McDonald Blue Devils have had quite the list of battles over the last few seasons. One of which was a regional semifinal showdown in the 2020-2021 campaign! The two programs would renew their rivalry, once again, on Monday night in Berlin Center, Ohio. With Western-Reserve playing host to the conference bout, both squads realized the importance of early season conference victories.

Out of the gates, Western-Reserve was shooting lights out! Led by sharpshooter Quincy Miller, in the opening quarter Reserve jumped ahead on an 18-0 run before holding a 21-3 lead after a quarter. The Reserve Blue Devils did not stop there, adding to their lead with a 16-5 second quarter to hold an emphatic advantage of 37-8 over McDonald at halftime.

The score would not get much closer in the second half, with the running clock enforced, Reserve outscored McDonald 26-16 in the second half of play to win 63-24 in the battle of the Blue Devils! Player of the Game went to Quincy Miller who scored 17 points in the win and found 5 shots from distance! Interviews with both Quincy Miller and Head Coach Steve Miller can be found below! Other notable Reserve players include Lisa Eichert who finished with 15 points, followed by Alyvia Hughes and Izzy Mauro who both had 10 points! Gracie Callow led the scoring for McDonald with 13 points followed by Juliana Krumpak who had 10 points.

Western Reserve (4-3)(2-1) will stay in conference when they host Sebring (1-6)(0-4) in a bout with The Trojans on Thursday, December 21st. For McDonald (5-3)(2-2) they will go out of conference to battle a Northeast 8 (NE8) foe in Girard (2-5)(1-1) hosting The Indians on the day after Christmas, Tuesday, December 26th! Stay updated with MVAC and NE8 basketball all season long with live games, scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/12-18-g-bb-reserve-mcdonald/12-18-g-bb-western-reserve-mcdonald/103EOS1D/