Tag Archive for: High school basketball

RYAN REELS IN MVP

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WARREN OH- The YSN basketball season was one to remember—packed gyms, clutch shots, upsets, and nonstop action across the board. Talent was everywhere, from underclassmen stepping up to seasoned vets putting teams on their backs. But one name just kept showing up in the spotlight: Warren JFK’s Nick Ryan. Game after game, the kid balled out—and now, he’s your YSN Boys Basketball Most Valuable Player.

Nick was a stat-sheet monster all season long. He averaged 26.5 points and 11.8 boards a night, pairing that with 2.5 assists and 2.8 steals. Efficiency? He shot 59% from the field, hit 40% from deep, and knocked down 79% of his free throws. Just a complete all-around threat who made it look easy while putting in the work behind the scenes.

YSN gives a big-time shoutout to Nick and the entire Warren JFK crew on an incredible run this season. The Eagles were a tough out all year, and Nick was the heartbeat of it all. MVP status well earned.

COVETTA COMES OUT AS CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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JEFFERSON OH- Jefferson’s Anthony Covetta lit up the scoreboard all season long, and now he’s got the hardware to show for it. Covetta has been named YSN’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year—an honor that barely scratches the surface of what he did on the hardwood this year.

Let’s call it what it is: Covetta is the best pure scorer Jefferson has ever had. No debate. This season, he shattered the program’s all-time scoring record, crossing the 1,700-point mark for his career. He dropped buckets from everywhere—off the bounce, from deep, through contact—and made it look effortless. Opposing defenses threw everything at him, and it didn’t matter. He still got his.

YSN tips the cap to Covetta and the Jefferson crew for an electric season. We’re proud to recognize him as Co-Offensive Player of the Year. The kid’s a walking bucket, and he earned every bit of it.

ROHAN RISES UP FOR CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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CANFIELD OH- When it came to putting the ball in the bucket this season, few did it better than South Range’s Luke Rohan. The senior sharpshooter was named the 2025 YSN Co-Offensive Player of the Year—and it’s no mystery why.

Across the YSN network, there were plenty of big-time scorers, but Rohan had that extra gear. Whether it was pulling up from deep, slashing through traffic, or knocking down tough shots off the bounce, Luke had a bag full of ways to torch defenses. He wasn’t just a shooter—he was a walking bucket from anywhere on the court.

Rohan closed the year averaging 20.1 points per game, dishing out 3.2 assists, and shooting a clean 45% from the field. He hit at a 34% clip from three and buried 71 triples on the season. No matter the defense or the moment, Luke had the green light—and more often than not, he cashed in.

YSN tips the cap to Luke and the South Range squad on an awesome season. Next stop: Westminster College, where he’ll keep getting buckets at the next level.

GROSS GRABS CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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LOUISVILLE OH-  You can’t always count on shots falling—but you can count on defense showing up. It doesn’t slump, it doesn’t need rhythm. Louisville rode that mindset all season long, leaning into a defense-first identity that helped them claw all the way to a state title. At the heart of it all? Brayden Gross, the rim protector who turned the paint into a no-fly zone.

Gross was a problem for anyone thinking about driving the lane. He racked up 25 blocks on the year, grabbed 115 defensive boards, and swiped 23 steals—numbers that tell the story, but still don’t fully show the impact he had on every possession. Whether it was cleaning up the glass or sending shots into the seats, Gross made sure opponents earned everything.

YSN is proud to name Brayden Gross as Co-Defensive Player of the Year, a well-earned honor after anchoring a championship defense. Big congrats to Brayden and the entire Louisville squad on bringing home the hardware. Gross isn’t done yet either—he’ll be suiting up in the YSN All Star Game and taking flight in the Dunk Contest. The show kicks off March 22nd in Boardman with the girls game at 5:00, followed by the skills comp, then the boys game to close it out. Don’t miss it.

WEAVER WEARS THE BADGE OF CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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CANFIELD OH- If you want to win ballgames deep into March, you better be able to get stops. Offense might catch fire or go ice cold, but defense? Defense travels. Canfield spent the whole season hanging their hat on the defensive end, and no one embodied that more than Ben Weaver. He was the tone-setter, the guy who made life miserable for whoever drew the short straw of being guarded by him.

Weaver was a huge piece of the puzzle for a Canfield defense that straight-up clamped teams all year. The Cards only gave up 45.5 points per game—just smothered opponents night in and night out. Ben wasn’t just part of the scheme—he was the scheme. His energy, instincts, and ability to shut down scorers gave Canfield a shot in every game they played.

YSN gave Ben his flowers, naming him Co-Defensive Player of the Year—and it’s well deserved. Props to Ben and the entire Canfield crew for a gritty, hard-nosed season. YSN’s proud to recognize one of the area’s toughest defenders, and wishes him luck in everything he has in store for the future.

THE LEOPARDS FINISH THE JOURNEY WITH A TROPHY IN HAND

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DAYTON OH- Louisville’s storybook ride ended exactly how every hoop dream should—with a state title and a dogpile at center court. The Leopards headed down to Dayton and capped off their wild run with a 63-61 win over Cincinnati Aiken to bring home the 2025 Division II State Championship. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Leopards win if it didn’t come with a little drama.

They came out swinging, punching Aiken in the mouth early and building a monster 38-19 lead by halftime. But no one coasts to a gold trophy in March. Aiken stormed out in the third with a 15-0 run, flipping the momentum and turning this into a back-alley brawl down the stretch. Just like in the semis, Louisville found themselves needing one last stop as the clock ticked down. And just like in the semis, they got it. Aiken’s final jumper clanged off the rim, and the Leopards got to sprint off the floor with history in their hands.

It was a full team effort. Tate Aljancic led with 17 points, while Avery Andrejcik and Beau Siegfried both dropped 14. Brayden Gross and Ashton Marshall chipped in 9 apiece. Everybody ate. Everybody stepped up.

FLEMING FLEECES YSN CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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CANFIELD OH- Scoring grabs the headlines, but defense wins games. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t always show up on highlight reels, but it’s the heartbeat of any squad that wants to make real noise. Locking people up, taking away passing lanes, and making life miserable for opponents—that’s the kind of grit that doesn’t always get the love it deserves. But this time, it did.

Canfield’s defense was a full-on nightmare for opponents all season, and leading that charge? Carly Fleming. She was the tip of the spear in Canfield’s press, living in the other team’s back pocket. Fleming racked up a clean 100 steals on the year, averaging four takeaways a night. That kind of motor and awareness doesn’t just show up—she earned it. And she did it without getting herself in foul trouble, which meant she was out there late in games, still making things happen when others were gassed or benched. Her ability to stay disciplined while causing chaos is why she stood out.

YSN gave Carly her flowers, naming her Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and it’s well-earned. She’s not done yet either—Fleming’s suiting up one more time this season in the YSN All Star Game on March 22nd at Boardman High School. Tip-off for the girls game is set for 5:00. Come see one of the best defenders in the area do what she does best—lock down.

TURK TAKES YSN COACH OF THE YEAR

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ORWELL OH- Grand Valley’s Justin Turk has been named the 2025 YSN Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, and for good reason. Turk took a program that was struggling to find its footing and turned it into a powerhouse in just one season. His leadership, game planning, and ability to get the most out of his players made all the difference, and now Grand Valley is back on the map.

A great coach doesn’t just call plays—they change the entire trajectory of a program. At the high school level, a coach’s impact goes far beyond the court. The best ones create a culture where players buy in, trust the process, and believe in themselves. That kind of atmosphere can flip a program’s fortunes almost overnight, turning a struggling team into a contender. Turk built that kind of culture at Grand Valley, and the results speak for themselves.

Under Turk’s leadership, Grand Valley had one of the biggest turnarounds in recent memory. A team that won just eight games last season exploded for 21 wins this year. They came out of the gates on fire, ripping off nine straight wins and shattering last year’s total before even taking their first loss. It was a statement season, proving just how quickly things can change with the right leader at the helm.

Big congrats to Coach Turk and Grand Valley on an incredible run. Grand Valley will be represented in the YSN Boys All-Star Game on March 22nd at 8:15—don’t miss it!

BORNEMISS BRINGS HOME COACH OF THE YEAR

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GIRARD OH- Joe Bornemiss earning YSN’s 2025 Girls Basketball Coach of the Year is proof of just how much impact a coach can have on a program. A great coach doesn’t just draw up plays—they shape a team’s identity, set the culture, and push their players to be the best versions of themselves. At the high school level, that influence is even bigger. Coaches teach more than X’s and O’s; they teach resilience, discipline, and how to battle through adversity. The best ones leave a legacy, and Bornemiss is doing just that at Girard.

Under his leadership, Girard had a season for the record books. The Indians claimed their first-ever NE8 title in a league that was pure chaos from start to finish. When it mattered most, they delivered, closing the year with three straight wins over teams right in the thick of the title race—two of them on the road. It was a pressure-cooker stretch, but Bornemiss kept his squad focused, and they answered the call.

Big congrats to Coach Bornemiss and Girard for an incredible season. You can see him back on the sideline at the YSN Girls All-Star Game on March 22nd at 5:00. Be there!

2025 YSN BASKETBALL ALL STAR ROSTERS RELEASED

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COLUMBIANA OH- We are proud to present our fifth annual YSN Basketball All Star Games featuring the best talent in the YSN family! Come out and get your last chance to see these tremendous athletes do their thing on the floor!

The YSN Basketball All Star Game is set for Saturday, March 22nd at Boardman High School.. The girls game is slated for a 5:00, followed by both boys and girls skills competitions at 6:15, then the boys game at 8:15. .  The game will feature a total of 128 athletes athletes and represent 61  teams inside the YSN family. The games will be played in 2 25 minute halves with a running clock.

This season YSN continues their tradition of using these All Star events to give back to worthy local charities to lend a helping hand.  Tickets to the game will be $5.00 at the gate.  This year, proceeds from the All Star game will be given to Rich Center For Autism. The Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism is an externally funded unit of Youngstown State University. The primary mission of The Rich Center for Autism is to improve the lives of individuals with autism through innovative educational programs that allow them to reach their full potential and improve their quality of life.  All veterans, first responders, and active members of the military will be given free admission.

Coaches for this year’s All Star Game are volunteering their time to make sure the players, and fans have the best experience possible. This year the coaches coming to serve for the girls game are Mandy Rowe from LaBrae, and Joe Bornemiss from Girard.  The coaches for the boys game will be Pat Carden from South Range, and Kade Reynolds from East Liverpool. Below are the rosters split into teams.

Player check in will start at 4:00. You’ll then have time to warm up with your teams.

A waiver will also be linked below that will need to be filled out before the game. There will also be a link to the waiver available at check in.  If an athlete is under 18 they must have a parent/guardian fill out the waiver. If they are 18, they can fill it out themselves.  We are so excited to see all of our fantastic YSN athletes compete and have a great time!

Players in the skills competitions can be found below:

GIRLS:

3 Point Contest

Allyssa Shroades- Southern

Claire Urchek- Maplewood

Gwen Lowry- South Range

Jayden Smyth- Lisbon

Jocelynn Torres- Boardman

Zoey Painter- Pymatuning Valley

Jenna Triveri- Canfield

Sophie Irwin- Lakeview

3-2-1 Contest 

Addison Rhodes- Crestview

Layla Songer- Hubbard

Marissa Levensky- LaBrae

Ally Gassman- Girard

Sullivan Sandy- Mineral Ridge

Gracie Callow- McDonald

Katelyn Kimble- Struthers

BOYS

3 Point Contest

Luke Rohan- South Range

Jayce Varley- Boardman

Anthony Covetta- Jefferson

Cohen Pease- East Liverpool

Beau Siegfried- Louisville

Ryen Romigh- Jackson Milton

Marcel Finkley- Austintown Fitch

True Carey- Hardin- Niles

Dunk Contest 

Brayden Gross- Louisville

Ashton Marshall- Louisville

Gavin Gregory- West Branch

Graham Heikkinen- South Range

Jace Riccardo- Ursuline

Derek Wilson- LaBrae

DIGITAL WAIVER

 

 

COACH ROWE – HOME COACH BORNEMISS – AWAY
Austintown Fitch Sam Severn Archbishop Hoban Amariya Davis
Badger Gabriella Miller Beaver (PA) Annsley Baker
Beaver Local Ally Wright Boardman Jocelynn Torres
Boardman Sarah Bero Canfield Carly Fleming
Brookfield Mya Jumper Cardinal Mooney Talecia Huff
Campbell Memorial Rayona Floyd-Brown Columbiana Annah Clemmer
Canfield Jenna Triveri Columbiana Ellie Venezia
Chaney Simone Lewis Crestview Addison Rhodes
Conneaut Bella Fix Crestview Luvrain Gaskins
East Alyssa Crankfield Garrettsville Garfield Mandy Cardinal
East Palestine Jacky Ogle Girard Ally Gassman
Grand Valley Cloe Turk Girard Caylee Wilkes
Heartland Christian Sarah Reynolds Girard Makenzee White
Howland Maya Kubanscek Hubbard Layla Songer
Jefferson Area Bella Boyd Jackson Milton Amani Yasin
LaBrae Angel Scruggs Jefferson Bella Boyd
LaBrae Marissa Levensky Louisville Maggie Baker
LaBrae Riley Rowe McDonald Gracie Callow
Lakeside Onesty Anderson Mineral Ridge Ava Hulett
Lakeview Sophie Irwin Mineral Ridge Sullivan Sandy
Lisbon Jayden Smyth Newton Falls Lilly Sait
Lowellville Morgan Lewis Niles Kherington Stanford
Maplewood Claire Urcheck Salem Reese Davidson-Chuck
Perry Victoria Linch Sebring Raegan Wynn
Pymatuning Valley Zoey Painter Springfield Jameka Brungard
South Range Ceci Foster Struthers Katelyn Kimble
South Range Gwen Lowry United Maelee Smith
Southeast Jenna Canale Ursuline Kennedy Carpenter
Southern Allyssa Shroades Warren JFK Didi Ryan
Wellsville Bella Poppelriter West Branch Tallie Muniz
Windham Makenna Jones Western Reserve Giana Leone
COACH REYNOLDS – HOME COACH CARDEN – AWAY
Archbishop Hoban Kenny Scott Austintown Fitch Marcel Finkley
Ashtabula St John Dyln Newsome Badger Alton Winchek
Boardman Terrell McDowell Beaver Local Owen Hill
Boardman Grayson Eicher Campbell Memorial Sway Rodriguez
Boardman Jayse Varley Campbell Memorial Jared Colon
Brookfield Blake Hammond Cardinal Mooney Dante Turner
Conneaut Jordan Kulko Cardinal Mooney Dom Letlow
Crestview Jonathan Best Champion Christian Williams
East Kevin Pullen Chaney Austin Brown
East Liverpool Quintin Conrad Columbiana Seth Struharik
Edgewood Mason Thorr Columbiana Cooper Brown
Hubbard Jakob Hayes East Liverpool Cohen Pease
Jackson-Milton Ryen Romigh East Palestine Kyler Bourne
Jefferson Area Anthony Covetta Garrettsville Garfield TBA
LaBrae Austin Rowe Girard Dom Phillips
Lakeview Carter Doran Grand Valley Carter Turk
Lordstown Ganon Force Heartland Christian Collin Kalaher
Louisville Beau Sigfried LaBrae Derek Wilson
Lowellville Drew Modelski Lakeside Jarez Osborne
McDonald Drew Zajack Leetonia Carson Brock
Newton Falls Cam Huff Liberty Evan Bates
Niles Avon Fryer Lisbon AJ Ramgeet
Niles True Carey-Hardin Louisville Brayden Gross
Sebring Kaleb Rowles Louisville Ashton Marshall
South Range Luke Rohan Maplewood Ethan Nevinski
Southeast Joe Sharish Mineral Ridge Chase Moore
Southern Braxton Sloan Poland Carmine Tukalo
Springfield Carson Cunningham Salem Deontay Steele
Ursuline Noah Bell South Range Graham Haikkenen
Valley Christian Jaylen Robinson Struthers Tommy Cole
Wellsville Tyrell Watkins United Jason Pratt
West Branch Gavin Gregory Ursuline Jace Riccardo
Western Reserve Nico Paris Wellsville Jaron Jackson