KINSMAN, OHIO- The Badger Braves girls basketball have had a memorable season. A season that has brought them their first NAC championship in 38 years and as well as a player that has reached the 1,000 career point achievement. That player, Katie Grexa has been leading this Braves team all year long. Grexa has been apart of a Braves team that has been dominant all year long, especially on the defensive side.
Grexa is completely grateful of her teammates and as well as her coaches and her family that have guided her throughout her entire high school career. Grexa, only a junior will have an entire senior year along with the rest of this year to accomplish so much more. The Braves will take on Sebring on Saturday in the Sectional final of the Division IV girls state tournament.
Katie Grexa had the oppurtunity to sit down with YSN’s Matt Morrison to talk about the upcoming matchup and as well as her accomplishments and her future goals. Check out this exclusive interview only on YSN!
*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison
Presented By:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F06C29B2-0EE9-4699-A3FA-A0626631BB4B.jpeg11111941Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2023-02-19 16:30:432023-07-15 05:08:30A LITTLE EXTRA GREXA
POLAND OH- Saturday’s Division III Sectional Final in Poland between the Bulldogs and Liberty might have seemed like a mismatch if you look at seeding. Poland was the third seed in the district, and Liberty came in on twelve. How quickly some people forgot that Liberty is still the reigning district champions. Now a fully healthy Liberty roster has their sights locked on back to back titles. They didn’t let Poland stand in their way. After an exciting back and forth first half, the Leopards kicked it into high gear in the second half to run away with a 64-43 victory.
Demi Watson led the Leopards on the day with a big 23 points. Aaliyah Foster was right behind her scoring 22 points in the Leopards onslaught. Cianna Smith was also in double figures racking in 14 points. The Leopards have been without Smith for most of the season. She has returned to the lineup to help her Leopards try to repeat.
Mary Brant led the Bulldogs on the day scoring 12 points. Katie McDonald finished off her basketball career by chipping in 9 points for Poland.
Liberty will advance to the District Semifinals on Wednesday. They will be matched up with Lakeview. They’ll be the 2nd game of the night at Struthers high school. Tip off is scheduled for approximately 8:00.
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/675B639F-D162-416B-B9A6-93410A6B678E.jpeg6671146Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2023-02-19 09:11:402023-02-19 09:11:40LEOPARDS STILL HAVE PLANS TO RUN IT BACK
KINSMAN, OHIO- The Badger Lady Braves took on the Sebring Lady Trojans in the Sectional Final of the Division IV girls tournament. The Braves went off as they were led by Katie Grexa, with 14 points and 3 steals. The Braves were overwhelming for the Trojans as they led 32-4 at the half.
In the second half the Braves picked up right where they left off not only on the offensive side but on the defensive side as well as they came away with 25 steals.
Hannah Betts also had a solid outing for the Braves as she had 10 points and 2 steals as the Braves went on to win 65-10. The Braves will now move on to the District Semi Final to take on the Mathews Mustangs.
*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/88709744-C8C2-41C2-A43F-998D17C92809.jpeg6851172Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2023-02-19 08:39:342023-02-19 08:39:34BADGER KEEPS MOVING ON
ASHTABULA OH- Edgewood high school was the place to be for a premiere matchup in the Division 2 Sectional Final between West Branch and Edgewood. Edgewood came in with a home court advantage and a 19-3 record. The long bus ride was not a problem as West Branch was able to come out victorious in the road upset 50-44 victory.
Both teams traded buckets throughout the first quarter as West Branch held a 14-10 lead over Edgewood. Chloe Dennison started out on fire scoring 7 points in the first frame. The second quarter is where the Warrior defense stepped up, only giving up six points. Coach Deshields and his team held a 10 point lead at the half.
Coming out of the half, head coach for Edgewood Randy Vencil dialed up a game plan to get all time leading scorer Kaci Kanicki more touches. It worked, as she knocked down three straight three pointers from beyond the arch. Not a single one touched the rim which was even more impressive. The team rallied around her and the crowd was electric.
In the Fourth, Edgewood cut the lead to two points, but the Warriors were able to make their foul shots in the end to secure the win. Chloe Dennison had an outstanding performance with 21 points and Hannah Egli had 12. Sophie Gregory was held in check scoring, but she impacted the game in many other ways with rebounding, blocked shots, and steals.
Kaci Kanicki led all scorers with 22 points for Edgewood. She had a great playing career, and her contributions on the floor will be greatly missed. Annie Mae Johnson scored 7 and Mckenna Vencil had 6 for the Warriors.
With the win, West Branch will advance to the District semi-finals to take on number one seeded Canfield in Streetsboro at 7 p.m. The Cardinals won the matchup played early in the season. Congratulations to Edgewood as their fantastic season comes to an end at 19-4.
*Contributed By YSN’s Michael Ginocchi
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AUSTINTOWN OH- In the final game of the regular season, The Austintown Fitch Falcons welcomed in The Alliance Aviators with this particular bout taking to the skies for game #22. Both teams brought a ton of athleticism to the table. Since beating Alliance in the playoffs in 2017, Fitch had not been able to secure a win against The Aviators heading into Friday night. Fitch was also, subsequently, looking for their first winning season since the 2015-16 campaign. Alliance, a member of The Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC), shared the conference championship with The Carrollton Warriors, sporting a 9-1 record in-conference. While Fitch was nestled in the middle of The All American Conference (AAC), bowed to co-conference champions this year in The Warren Harding Raiders and The Canfield Cardinals. With both teams representatives of tough basketball conferences, they looked for equally tough competition, especially prior to the start of the tournament.
The first quarter saw both teams filled with energy, making it seem like they were both shot out of cannon with the speed in which they played with. Both squads played a really good brand of team basketball offensively by distributing the points amongst multiple scorers through the first eight minutes. Alliance ended up a bucket better after one, leading Fitch 15-13. However, The Aviators turned on the turbo jets in the second, reaching their cruising altitude, out scoring The Falcons 16-8 in the second and taking a 10 point lead into halftime! Rahmir Hawkins and Diego Allen were tone setters on offense in the second, each scoring 5 points in the quarter for Alliance to help stretch The Aviators lead.
Like so many times prior this season, Fitch looked to mount a second half comeback against a tough opponent. The third quarter was a highlight show of selfless basketball and everyone contributing on the team for Austintown. The law of averages fell back in favor of The Falcons, with a 20 point quarter, four Falcons (Gianni Maley, Marcel Finkley, Allen Hill and Carter Owens) each scored two buckets in the quarter! Softening the offensive blow, was The Aviators J.R. Jackson, who scored 7 points in the third to help keep Alliance in front 44-41 at the end of three. By the start of the fourth, tension began to rise throughout the gymnasium and both fan bases were holding on to every shot, dribble and pass. A back-and-forth battle ensued with both teams exchanging the lead like a game of hot potato. However, the offense from Fitch stayed the same from the third and The Falcons were able to push ahead late by a couple possessions. Alliance never quit fighting, getting some major buckets and going to the free-throw line in the waning moments of the ballgame. But it was the big shots by DeShawn Vaughn that helped turn momentum into The Falcons favor and Carter Owens nailed four shots at the stripe to help put the win on ice for Fitch! The 60-56 victory for Austintown allowed them to finish with a 12-10 record with the 22nd hardest Division 1 schedule and a ton of momentum before the tournament!
The loss for Alliance (14-8) will see The Aviators refocus as they will host a home playoff matchup at The Hangar, with the winner of #14 Canton South vs. #22 Geneva going to #3 Alliance in Division 2, Northeast 1 (Canton District)on Friday, February 24th for a 7 p.m. tip-off. Following the win Fitch (12-10) will also await to see their who their opponent will be in the Division 1 Northeast 1 (Kent District) as they will face the winner of #7 GlenOak vs. #18 Uniontown Lake. #16 Fitch will either host if Uniontown is victorious or hit the road if GlenOak wins. Either way, that matchup will occur on Saturday, February 25th also a 7 p.m. tip-off. Interviews with winning Head Coach Brian Beany and Player of The Game DeShawn Vaughn can be found below!
Scoring (Fitch)
DeShawn Vaughn: 8 PTS (Player of The Game)
Gianni Maley: 16 PTS.
Carter Owens: 14 PTS.
Marcel Finkley: 12 PTS.
Allen Hill: 8 PTS.
Allex Hill: 2 PTS.
Scoring (Alliance)
Diego Allen: 15 PTS.
J.R. Jackson: 12 PTS.
Brendan Zurbrugg: 8 PTS.
Rahmir Hawkins: 7 PTS.
Darius Rodriguez: 5 PTS.
K’Vaughn Davis: 4 PTS.
Marquavian McClendon: 3 PTS.
Scoring by Quarter
Q1: Fitch 13 – 15 Alliance
Q2: Fitch 8 – 16 Alliance
Q3: Fitch 20 – 13 Alliance
Q4: Fitch 19 – 12 Alliance
Final: Fitch 60 – 56 Alliance
*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell.
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SALEM, OH- The Lady Quakers secured a big sectional finals win against Berkshire Badgers 62-27 on Saturday afternoon.
Rylee Hutton had 16 points for the Quakers while Abbie Davidson added 15 points and 4 steals. Kaylee Carlisle added 8 points and Kami Rohm added 7 points and 3 blocks.
The Quakers will play in the District Semi-Finals on Wednesday at 8pm against Howland in Streetsboro.
*Story contributed by Sarah Hamilton Phillips and salemathletics.org
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CANFIELD OHIO – The Canfield Cardinals boys basketball team took on their rival the Poland Bulldogs Friday night, a game in which the Cardinals won 76-44.
In the big win, Ben Weaver led the way offensively for the Cardinals pouring in a game high 22 points. Weaver was backed up by teammates Dom Cruz who had 18 points, Jake Schneider with seven points, and Sam Castronova and Angelo Delucia who both had six points. JP Genova was the main source of offense for the Bulldogs as he had 18 points on the night.
In the 32 point victory, the Cardinals earned a season sweep over their rival as the other win being back on Jan. 21 54-47. Canfield improves their record to 17-5 and the Bulldogs now drop to 10-12.
*Contributed By YSN’s Michael Wolfgang
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SPRINGFIELD OHIO – The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference champion LaBrae Vikings took down the Springfield Tigers 57-49 Friday night during the Tigers senior night game. Austin Rowe set the tone for the Vikings offense scoring 19 points in the contest, followed by teammates Jay McGarry with 12 points and Blake Kahnell with nine points.
Although it came in defeat, the Tigers had two big scorers. Seandelle Gardner had a nice night with 17 points as well as his running mate Nico Servedio with 13 points.
Up next for the victorious and now 15-6 Vikings will be a home game Saturday night against the Maplewood Rockets, coming into the matchup with a record of 9-12. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
*Contributed By YSN’s Michael Wolfgang
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Ashton O’Brien drops twenty-six points to pace the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals (12-10) in their 62-36 road win over the Hubbard Eagles (4-18).
Last night’s non-conference matchup between the NE8’s Hubbard Eagles and the SVC’s Cardinal Mooney might as well have been two games within one. The first half saw both teams trading blows with multiple ties and lead changes in the half. The two teams were knotted at nine after the first period, and Mooney led by just two heading into the break.
Coming out of the half, Mooney ramped up the pressure defensively and made the Hubbard offense look completely inept. Mooney would continuously force the Eagles to turn it over and allow the Cardinals to easy looks at the other end.While Hubbard kept pace with their own offensive output, scoring eight in the third, Mooney’s seventeen points in the period blew the game wide open.
Leading by twelve to start the fourth, Mooney would force turnovers on the first three Hubbard possessions in the last before the Eagles were even able to cross mid court. The defensive pressure would once again lead Mooney to a dominating quarter, winning the fourth 23-9 and the ballgame 62-36.
TOP PERFORMERS–
HUBBARD:
Nik Hendrix – 11 points
Gavin Rybicki – 8 points
CARDINAL MOONEY:
Ashton O’Brien – 26 points
Nick Pregibon – 9 points
WHAT’S NEXT –
Hubbard: Stumbling into the postseason off four straight double-digit losses,the #26 seeded Hubbard Eagles will faceoff with the #2 seeded Canfield Cardinals (17-5). The Cardinals come in with a three-gamewinning streak to end the regular season and 10 straight victories over Hubbard in the series matchup.
Cardinal Mooney:Snapping their four-game skidwith a dominating win, #5 Mooney will look to build upon their momentum in a first round matchup against the #27 seeded Lakeview Bulldogs (3-19). Lakeview was able to snap a losing streak and end regular season play with a win of their own against McDonald on Tuesday.
*Contributed By YSN’s Jamie Thomson
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MINERAL RIDGE, OHIO- The Mineral Ridge Rams were looking to end the regular season on a high note as they took on the visiting Maplewood Rockets.
The Rams were led by Jon Rozzi, with 12 points and Elias Clarke with 11 points. The Rockets led the Rams at the half 33-24. The Rockets came out of the half on fire going up as much as 18 points, but the Rams would not go away quietly as they finished the third quarter strong to only be down 54-43. The Rockets were led by Alex Donaldson, with 27 points and by Tom Dahmen, with 21 points and the Rockets erased any chance of a comeback by the Rams with some quick in transition baskets to win 80-64.
The Rams will begin tournament play when they take on Mentor Lake Catholic on Tuesday.
*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison.
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