Tag Archive for: Featured

HOBAN PROVES A TALL TASK FOR LEOPARDS

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LIBERTY, Ohio –

In a rematch from early last season the Liberty Leopards (1-3) played host to the Akron Archbishop Hoban Knights (1-0). Coming off a regional final appearance in 2022, the Knights quickly showed why they’re considered one of the top teams in Northeast Ohio.

The duo of Will Scott and Jonas Nichols that helped lead the Knights to last seasons 20-8 record combined for 48 total points in Hoban’s 81-40 routing of Liberty. Scott started the game strong, dropping 13 first quarter points. Liberty sophomore forward, Evan Bates, paced the Leopards with 7 in the first period.

Following up Scott’s 13 point first, Jonas Nichols responded with 13 of his own points in the second quarter, helping Hoban take a 50-25-point lead into the half. KJ Turner led the Leopards with 7 points in the second quarter.

Scott and Nichols continued to dominate in the second half, totaling 8 points apiece as Hoban sprinted away with the game in hand.

LEADING SCORERS –

LIBERTY:

KJ Turner – 14 points

Evan Bates – 12 points

Bra’Sean Black – 8 points

HOBAN:

Will Scott – 26 points

Jonas Nichols – 22 points

Liberty – The difficult start to the season gets no easier for the Leopards with their next opponent, a road test against the Chaney Cowboys (2-1). The Cowboys are coming off back-to-back road wins against Warren Harding and Howland.

Hoban – The defending Twinsburg district champions continue their road trip to start the season, as the Knights will travel South to take on the Dalton Bulldogs (1-2).

*Contributed By YSN’s Jamie Thomson

FALCONS FOCUS ON STAYING UNDEFEATED

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As a cool December chill filled the air, The Austintown Fitch Falcons and Cardinal Mooney Cardinals looked to bring the heat. A perennial matchup every year between the two programs and a matchup that, every year, brings us some memorable moments. Checking in as the third game on the season for both teams, they both brought a goose egg opposite the win column going into Friday night. 

Fitch, being 2-0, was looking for the win to give the program one of its best starts in recent years. On the other side, Mooney was coming off a Regional Finals appearance in the 2021 campaign and was looking to build off a great season. The first quarter saw Fitch jump out of the gate with a fury, grabbing an early lead with an energetic crowd feeding momentum. The opposite side saw a well-traveled Mooney student section that helped revitalize The Cardinals to come storming back and capture a 17-14 lead after one quarter of play. 

Having possession out of the second quarter, Mooney’s Rocco Turner put a beautiful alley-oop pass on a dime to a back cutting Eddie Nieves that sent the cardinal crowd into a frenzy. Mooney would build on that momentum to extend their lead into double digits in the second quarter. However, a calm, cool and collected Falcons squad was able to nickel and dime their way back to a two point deficit going into halftime, with Mooney leading 28-26. 

Austintown would make the correct adjustments out of the half, getting their big three scorers involved in Gianni Maley, Marcel Finkley and Carter Owens. All would be in the double-digits in scoring for the third time in three games this year. With Finkley and Maley operating smoothly when pressed by the defense of Mooney. Adding to that, the twin Hills were more like mountains, as Alex Hill and Allen Hill had The Cardinal offense seeing double, as they swatted away many would be shot attempts. 

The Falcons played superb defense, allowing only seven points in the second half, while Carter Owens showed why he is “The Perfect 10” from behind the arc, splashing home some dagger 3’s to send Fitch to 3-0! 

Fitch (3-0) will hit the road for the first time this year, heading to Leopard Country in a matchup with Louisville (2-2) on Tuesday, December 13th. As for Mooney (2-1) they will have little rest to recover in a quick turn around game with Girard (2-1) on Saturday, December 10th. 

 

Scoring (Fitch)

Carter Owens: 15 PTS. (Co-Player of The Game)

Marcel Finkley: 12 PTS. (Co-Player of The Game)

Gianni Maley: 11 PTS.

Alex Hill: 6 PTS.

Allen Hill: 4 PTS.

Total: 48 PTS. 

 

Scoring (Mooney)

Ashton O’Brien: 11 PTS.

Eddie Nieves: 7 PTS.

Jaxon Menough: 6 PTS.

Jibri Carter: 5 PTS.

Rocco Turner: 4 PTS.

Will Desmond: 2 PTS.

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

HIGH FLYING BRAVES TOO MUCH FOR CHALKER

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KINSMAN, OHIO- The Badger Braves came out firing away tonight as they took on the visiting Chalker Wildcats. Badger’s defense set the tone early as allowed only 8 points in the first quarter.

The hot hand for the braves on the offensive side tonight was freshman, Preston Geracitano. Gercacitano led the braves in scoring with 20 points and had help from Brad Hamilton who had 11 points, Cole Burnett who had 10 points, and as well as Duncan Moy who put up 12 points, which included a huge in transition dunk.

The Braves were too much for the wildcats to handle as they went on to win 71-30. Badger will be back at home tuesday to take on the Bristol Panthers. 

*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison

TIGERS PROTECT THE JUNGLE

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NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- Springfield got a huge win to open up conference play on Thursday night. They welcomed in a McDonald team that has always had their hat in the ring when it comes to the top of the league. Springfield looked like the better team from the jump though on their way to a 58-24 win.

Jacey Mullen led the Tigers offense on her way to an 18 point performance.  Jameka Brungard was also in double figures with 12 points.  Kendall Maughan contributed 8 points to the Tigers win.  Marianna Tuscano also had a good night finishing with 7. McDonald was led by Julianna Krumpak scoring 8 points. Alivia Morrison chipped in 7 points for the Blue Devils.

Both teams return to action on Monday as Springfield travels to Sebring, and McDonald will go to Mineral Ridge.

CRESTVIEW PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE COMEBACK

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COLUMBIANA OH- The game on Friday night in Crestview certainly did not start the way that the Rebels would have liked. They saw Springfield break out to a 26-10 lead after one quarter of play. The Rebels could not get a hold of Seandelle Gardner.  He scored 16 points for the Tigers in that frame alone.  However, the rest of the game would go differently. The Rebels outscored the Tigers 42-22 the rest of the way to win 52-48.

James Best led the Rebels with an inspired performance on both sides. He tallied 16 points, and also played lock down defense on Gardner for the last three quarters.  Wyatt Miller led the offense with a dominating performance down low scoring 18 points.  Kirkland Miller added 7 points to the cause.

Springfield was paced by Gardner who finished with 24.  Sean Guerriero chipped in 9 points for the Tigers.

Both teams hit the road on Tuesday to continue their season.  Crestview is 3-1 and travel to Heartland Christian while Springfield will look to start conference play at Sebring.

GARFIELD HITS THE HIGH NOTE

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GARRETTSVILLE OH- Garfield has a lot of goals in mind coming in to 2022.  The first goal is always to win a conference championship.  They took their first step towards MVAC dominance on Thursday as they opened their slate with a 50-12 win over LaBrae.

The scoring from Garfield came from multiple players. Lauren McCoy and Mandy Cardinal both led the G-Men with 11 points a piece.  Madeline Shirkey was also in double figures with 10 points for Garfield.  Maddie Fogel had a nice day for Garfield chipping in 6 points.

Garfiekd will continue the season on Monday as they stay in the MVAC with a road trip to Campbell.  LaBrae will stay on the road as they go to Newton Falls.

LAKEVIEW RIDES THE COMEBACK TRAIL

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NILES OH- The NE8 started their conference play last night and both the Lady Niles McKinley Red Dragons and the Lady Lakeview Bulldogs looked to go back to.500 and to go over .500 and gain momentum before the Christmas break.  The game started out one way in favor of the Red Dragons, but in the end, it was the Bulldogs with a second half run getting the 37 to 29 victory at the Veterans Memorial Gymnasium.  

 

On coach Kevin Haynie’s team, it was Maggie Pavlansky leading the pack with nine points.  That was followed up by seven in the paint with Isabella Isenberg, six by Makenna Werner, five by Kalyssa Werner, four for Brook Schneider, three by Izzy Haines, two by Annabelle Humphrey and a free throw by Mackenzie Stowe.  On Niles’ side, two of their star players fouled out late.  Katie Heinselman fouled out in the late third and so would Abbey Reed who scored 10 points.  Alaina Thigpen scored nine points, both Kennedy Barrell and Brooke Money scored with a three point shot behind the arc, and four points by Gianna Wagner who played good defense, swatting an attempted layup early on.  

 

After the game, Ian O’Brien caught up with coach Haynie and player of the game Maggie Pavlansky after the big victory and will take a trip on Monday to play against the Lady Indians of Girard.  Niles meanwhile will host the Lady Bulldogs of Poland.  

 

*Contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*

 

UNITED SHOWS THEIR MIGHT

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HANOVERTON OH- Prior to any season coaches tend to circle certain matchups on the schedule as potential tone setters for their team. United head coach Cory Leek certainly had Thursday night circled on his schedule as Southern Local led by one of the area’s top scorers came to Hanoverton looking to challenge the defending conference champs. United quickly proved why they are still the favorite to repeat as they dispatched  Southern Local 45-23 on an emotional night in Hanoverton.

The Eagles wasted no time attacking the Indians racing out to a 9-1 advantage behind the sharpshooting of senior standout Madison Kibler. Southern kept their composure through the 1st quarter as the Indians behind clutch free throw shooting closed the gap to 11-8. Southern’s Ashley Shroades has been one of Columbiana County’s premier players the last 2 seasons., During the 2nd quarter of play United’s Madison Kibler made her own statement for that claim. Kibler welcomed her assignment of guarding  Shroades limiting the Indians guard to just 5 first half points. The United senior guard also showed her ability on the offensive end as well  connecting 2 more times from long range on her way to a game high 19 points leading the Eagles to the locker room with a 27-15 lead.

Coach Cory Leek on Kibler’s stellar performance “Ashley is such a great player, but Maddie proved tonight why she is also one of the best players in the county”  United came out of the locker room looking to put the squeeze on any Indians thought of a comeback. Behind a lockdown defense the Eagles limited the Indians to just 2 points in the quarter extending the lead to 34-17. Taylor Cope led the offense for United in the 3rd quarter on her way to a 14 point, 13 rebound night.  The 4th quarter played out much of the same as the Eagle defense took control finishing off the important early season victory.

Southern’s Ashley Shroades would finish the night with a team high 13 points and 11 rebounds. Olivia Kerns added 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 blocks. Leek on his team’s big early statement win “I’m very proud of how we stepped on defense and defended our home floor, limiting them to just 8 points total in the 2nd half really and forcing 21 turnovers shows what we are capable of defensively.”

Southern  (4-1, 2-1) looks to get back to winning as they welcome East Palestine on Monday. United (3-1 , 3-0) has a big non conference test on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Ursuline.  The game itself had a special meaning for both communities. This matchup was dedicated to the memory of United Graduate and former Southern Coach Ashley Bergman, and through the Kim and Ashley Bergman Fund every student attending the game was admitted free. United’s Taylor Cope and Southern’s Makenna Jones were each given exemplary awards by the Bergman Family prior to the game. Anyone who knew Ashley would agree “This one is for Bergs”

*Contributed By YSN’s Chris Sigler

BRAVES BUILD ON BIG SECOND HALF

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KINSMAN, OHIO- The Badger Braves girls basketball team took on the visiting Bristol Panthers. Both teams started out with some struggles on the offensive side with both teams just scoring 4 points each in the 1st quarter. Badger pulled away just a little and led at halftime 14-10.

The Lady Braves led by Katie Grexa really clicked together in the 2nd half starting out on a 12-0 run but the panthers finished the quarter on a 10-0 run. In the 4th quarter the braves really tightened up on the defensive side with several steals as they pulled away and defeated the panthers 45-27.

Katie Grexa put up 21 points in the winning effort tonight with some help from others including Hannah Betts who put up 11 points. The Braves improve to a record of 3-3 and will travel to Maplewood on monday to face the Rockets.

*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison

BROOKFIELD OPENS IT UP ON THE ROAD

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CAMPBELL OH- Brookfield came in to this season as one of the favorites to win the MVAC. There are many teams in that discussion, but Brookfield definitely made their case on Thursday night as they went on the road and dominated Campbell by the score of 60-19.

Cailey Wellman led the Warriors with another double double under her belt. She finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Sophia Hook also had a great offensive night with 13 points. She also set up 5 assists.  Katie Logan finished with 7 points and 6 steals for the Warriors. Campbell got everything they could from Diamon Sims who finished with a team-high 16 points.

Brookfield will continue their season outside of MVAC play on Saturday as they travel to Columbiana. Campbell is back in action on Monday as they welcome in Garfield.