Tag Archive for: High school basketball

RAIDERS ANCHOR IN ANOTHER CLOSE WIN

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AUSTINTOWN OH- Facing a formidable test on the road, South Range entered the nest of Austintown Fitch for what turned out to be another hard-fought battle. In a game that remained close throughout, the Raiders managed to secure a victory in a tight 63-61 contest on Saturday.

Landon Moore emerged as a scoring force for South Range, delivering an outstanding 34-point performance that played a pivotal role in the team’s success. Luke Rohan added 15 points, contributing to the Raiders’ offensive output.

For Austintown Fitch, the duo of DeShawn Vaughn and Marcel Finkley each scored 16 points, showcasing their offensive prowess. Despite a valiant effort, Fitch found themselves on the wrong side of a possession game that could have gone either way.

South Range’s resilience and ability to navigate tough contests have become a hallmark of their recent seasons, and this win adds to a series of hard-earned victories. With a 6-3 record, South Range looks forward to the new year, gearing up for a matchup at Poland on January 5th. Austintown Fitch, now standing at 5-3, will shift their focus to AAC play, hosting Warren Harding on January 2nd. The game exemplified the competitive nature of high school basketball and sets the stage for both teams as they progress through their respective seasons.

MOONEY RULES THE ROOST IN YOUNGSTOWN

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By Matt Maher 


YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Some days you’re feeling good and some days you’re feeling great and on Saturday afternoon Cardinal Mooney felt the latter when they traveled to Valley Christian and dominated with a capital D. The Cardinals never looked off and their shots reflected that in the final score which ended as a 75-45 win for Mooney.

 

Mooney came out with a statement and that statement was “get out of the way, we’re going to score” and score they did as they put up 22 points to the Eagles 8. Mooney saw some great scores from the likes of Nick Pregibon, Nico Genova and Jibri Carter but it was Ashton O’Brien who dazzled in the first. O’Brien put up 9 points including two elite looking 3’s and a beautiful drive to the net that resulted in an and-1 that he delivered on. The Cardinals would just be getting started while the Eagles just couldn’t get much past Mooney’s defense but what they did get through was 4 points for Deion Miller and two more scores from two separate sources.

 

Valley Christian looked much better in the second and as a result they doubled their score from the first with 16 points. Jaylen Robinson hit a dramatic and-1 and Patrick Riley went 3-for-4 from the stripe. While we saw some good individual efforts from the Eagles we saw greatness from Ra’Shaun Bell who found 8 points against a menacing cardinals defense. Bell had two field goals but he also went a perfect 4-for4 from the line which helped, not only himself, but his team find more confidence. 

 

While Valley Christian looked better, Mooney was still, well, Mooney and they put up 24 more points to end the half with 46 points! Pregibon added to his total with two and-1’s and O’Brien found two more points for his day but the real story was Carter who not only found 7 points but also hit his 200th career 3-pointer and cemented himself in school history! 

 

Valley Christian continued to stay consistent into the second half. The Eagles found 11 points in quarter number three with 5 of them coming from Robinson and 4 more coming from Bell. Mooney started to settle down a bit by only scoring 20 points with Carter putting up 7 more points including his 201st 3 and O’Brien and Pregibon both found 5 points. 

 

The final frame went by in a flash due to Mooney scoring enough to trigger the running clock and as a result saw them only score 9 points as a team with Carter scoring 4 more to end his night at 20 points. Valley Christian was able to out score the Cardinals in this frame but finding 10 points with 6 of them coming from Bell with a nice 3 and yet another and-1, he would end the game with 18 points. 

 

While Cardinal Mooney played an exceptional game, Valley Christian still looked very good defensively but just left some holes that were just big enough for Mooney to squeeze through which was ultimately what allowed Canfield to put up 75 but if anything they still played a good game and proved that the score doesn’t tell the whole story. Cardinal Mooney (6-3) will continue their road trip when they travel to East Liverpool on January 5th at 7:00PM while Valley Christian (3-3) stays home when they host Lowellville on January 2nd at 7:00PM. 

CARDINALS KEEP THEIR STREAK ALIVE IN OVERTIME

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BELOIT OH- In a clash of two teams riding high on winning streaks, Canfield and West Branch engaged in a basketball showdown that lived up to the anticipation on Saturday night. Both teams entered the game with a five-game winning streak on the line, and the contest played out as a back-and-forth battle with plenty of lead changes.

Despite a valiant effort from both sides, four quarters proved insufficient to determine a winner, and the game extended into overtime. In the additional period, the Cardinals demonstrated resilience and determination, ultimately prevailing with a final score of 59-53.

Canfield’s Dom Cruz led the scoring effort with an impressive 20 points, showcasing his offensive prowess. Sam Castranova contributed 15 points, and Tony Russo added 12 points to the Cardinals’ balanced scoring attack. Ben Weaver chipped in 7 points to round out the scoring.

For West Branch, Jaxon Robb delivered a standout performance with a game-high 22 points. Jeremiah Thomas and Gavin Gregory each contributed 9 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

With this hard-fought victory, Canfield extends their winning streak to six games and sets the stage for their upcoming conference play as they host Boardman on Tuesday. West Branch, now standing at 6-2, will hit the road to face Garfield in an effort to bounce back from this overtime thriller. The game showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their future matchups.

WRESTLING WEDNESDAYS WITH GARY ALTHISER (EP 5) FEATURING CYLE BURT

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As the calendar quickly turns towards the new year, the wrestling world is gearing up for a busy January month.  The sport really hits the ground running once the new year hits with conference duals during the week, and tournaments every weekend.  But first things first we have to close out the year of 2023. On this episode of Wrestling Wednesdays with Gary Althiser Gary and the boys recap the D3 meet at Waterloo, Hubbard winning at Pymatuning Valley, Canfield taking down Beaver Local and much more. They also preview the NE8 championships.

The special guest for the week is Salem’s own Cyle Burt.  Cyle is a hungry wrestler that is climbing his way to be in the state conversation.  Salem wrestking is not just known for its winning, but also its consistent sizable roster.  Wrestlers like Cyle keep holding that torch up high to bring more guys into the wrestling room to grow the team.

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MOONEY THRIVES AT HOME

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YOUNGSTOWN OH- Cardinal Mooney enjoyed a taste of home cooking on Friday night, securing a significant 56-50 win against NDCL in an exciting basketball matchup.

Leading the scoring effort for Mooney was Ashton O’Brien, who contributed an impressive 18 points. Rocco Turner added 14 points, showcasing the team’s offensive prowess. Eddie Nieves and Nick Pregibon each contributed 6 points, further solidifying Mooney’s balanced scoring attack.

The home victory marks a positive turn for Cardinal Mooney, bringing their record to 5-3. As they prepare for one more matchup before the calendar turns to 2024, hitting the road for a game at Valley Christian, Mooney carries the momentum of this home win into their continued journey through the basketball season. The win showcased the team’s ability to perform on their home court and sets the stage for future matchups as they look to build on their success.

WARREN JFK GETS THROUGH TEST ON THE ROAD

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BOARDMAN OH- Warren JFK faced a formidable challenge on Friday night as they ventured into one of the toughest environments in the area, taking on Boardman. In a tightly contested matchup, JFK emerged victorious, edging out the Spartans 57-52 in a thrilling contest.

Jaden Rishel led the scoring charge for Warren JFK with an impressive 20-point performance, displaying skill and composure on the court. Michael Condoleon contributed significantly with 16 points, while Nick Ryan added 12 points and Nico Ciminero chipped in 9 points to round out the scoring for JFK.

Boardman fought valiantly in front of their home crowd, with Grayson Eicher leading the team with 14 points. Noah Ziak added 12 points, Kaden Mayhew contributed 9 points, and Nico Hozschuli tallied 8 points in a collective effort.

The hard-fought victory propels Warren JFK to an 8-1 record, and they will look to maintain their momentum when they host Badger on Wednesday. Boardman, now standing at 3-5, will hit the road on Tuesday for a matchup against Canfield, seeking to bounce back from a challenging but competitive contest. The game showcased the intensity of high school basketball and sets the stage for both teams as they continue their respective seasons.

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/12-29-b-bb-boardman-jfk/12-29-b-bb-boardman-jfk/103EOS1D/

CANFIELD HITS CRUISE CONTROL AGAINST BULLDOGS

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By Matt Maher


CANFIELD, OH – Another season, another installment of the Battle of 224 this time it was Canfield’s turn to host Poland and boy did these two teams bring their A game. Canfield saw a well balanced offense with two players reaching double digits and Poland played well in the paint allowing three players to score 10 or more. Thursday night brought a fun matchup and the rivalry game ended with a 58-47 victory for the Cardinals.

 

Both teams came out with a fast start with Poland winning the tip and scoring first but Canfield responded immediately after and set the tone of both teams staying on top of each other and matching each other for the bulk of the night. Poland had two scorers on the night in Todd and McCully who both put up 4 points each. Canfield saw 15 points as a team including a three from Castarnova and two and-1’s from Castarnova and DeLisio. 

 

Canfield kept up the pressure and managed to outscore the Bulldogs 19-15 in the second frame. Poland saw Todd add 3 more points from beyond the arc and McCully added 4 more points to his total. Tukalo would score his first 5 of the night and Hayes would put up a bucket and 1. Weaver would lead his team this quarter with 7 points and DeLisio would follow with 4. 

 

Halftime came and went and Poland showed heart, putting up 17 points to Canfields 12. Poland would put up the first 4 points of the quarter before Canfield would get their response but offensive rebounds helped Poland in a big way. The Bulldogs saw Todd and Nittoli both score 6 points and Tukalo would find 3 from beyond the arc. Canfield saw Cruz join the party with 6 points and McCune and Russo both shot impressive 3’s. 

 

While Poland had momentum in the 3rd it would be Canfield who made necessary tweaks and would walk away with 12 points to Polands 7. The Bulldogs saw Tukalo add 4 more points and Nittoli got the other 3 with a made free throw and a 2. Canfield had Castarnova put in 4 and their other four scores each put in 2. 

 

The cardinals may have come in with the lesser record but the way they played they looked like a team that could be undefeated with 7 or more points for 5 players including 10 for Russo and 13 for Castarnova. Poland turned the ball over a ton in this one and as a result didn’t see the ball as much in the offensive zone as they should have but when they did they got it to either McCully who scored 10, Tukalo who scored 12 or Todd who put up 13 points.

 

The Bulldogs move to 6-2 while Canfield improves to 5-2. The Bulldogs won’t play again until 2024 when they host South range on January 5th at 7:00PM while Canfield has one final matchup in the calendar year when they travel to West Branch on December 30th at 7:00PM.

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. 

CRUZ WRITES HIS NAME IN RECORD BOOKS IN CANFIELD BLOW OUT

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CANFIELD OH- In a spectacular offensive display, Canfield dominated Collinwood on Friday, securing a commanding 88-15 victory. The team’s three-point shooting was particularly noteworthy, as they collectively sank an astounding 17 threes.

Highlighting the offensive showcase was Dom Cruz, who not only led Canfield with an impressive 37 points but also broke the program record for threes in a game, hitting an extraordinary 11 shots from beyond the arc. This feat surpassed the previous record of 10, showcasing Cruz’s exceptional shooting prowess.

Contributions were widespread for Canfield, with Roy McCune adding 9 points, Nico Biondillo contributing 8 points, and an impressive 13 different Cardinals making their mark on the scoreboard.

The resounding win improves Canfield’s record to 4-2, setting the stage for an exciting Battle of 224 matchup at home against Poland on December 28th. The Cardinals’ offensive explosion and Cruz’s record-breaking performance undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on their basketball campaign.

HOWLAND TAKES CLASH OF THE TIGERS

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By Ty Bartell

NEWTON FALLS OH- In the wild, Tigers are known to be fiercely territorial animals and will quite often assert their dominance on other tigers that stumbled upon their land. In Trumbull County, a pair of tigers call the same area home in The Newton Falls Tigers and The Howland Tigers, taking it to the court to determine Trumbull County’s top tiger!

Howland started fast by getting on an early 9-0 run to take an early advantage on the road at Newton Falls. Alex Henry helped his team with 7 points in the first quarter for Howlad, helping them hold a 13-5 lead after the opening quarter. The Tigers from Howland were able to keep pace in the second, while Newton Falls also, unfortunately, paced themselves with the previous quarter as Howland outscored The Falls 16-5 in the second. Effectively holding a 29-10 lead at the halftime buzzer.

Starting the second half, Newton Falls’ Jabriel Rufai got the energy going in the gym with a one handed dunk and a three pointer to follow as The Falls were trying to get momentum back in their court! However, Howland still managed to be a bucket better at 12-9 scoring in the third quarter and a 41-19 Howland lead after three. Up by 22 points, Howlandwas playing with all the momentum as they attempted to ride out the lead en route to a .500 record. Newton Falls would put together their strongest quarter of the night, outsourcing Howland 19-10 in the fourth! But it would not be enough, as Howland is Trumbull County’s Top Tiger this year with a 51-38 win over The Falls.

The Player of the Game performance was in the hands of Alex Henry, as The Howland point guard dished and served to his teammates, getting them involved, while also scoring a game-high 22 points in the contest! Anthony Chieffo followed Henry in scoring on Howland with 8 points, while Luca Fronzaglio and Chris Fenton each had 5 points. Newton Falls was led by Cameron Huff who finished with 9 points, followed by Jabriel Rufai with 7 points and Ethan Powell with 6 points. Interviews with both Alex Henry and Head Coach Dan Bubon can be found below!

Howland (4-4) next matchup will come after the holiday on Thursday, December 28th when they travel to Hudson to battle The Explorers (6-2). Meanwhile, Newton Falls (2-4) will try to right the ship when they host Lakeview (4-2) on Friday, December 29th. Catch both The Howland Tigers and The Newton Falls Tigers basketball this season with live games, scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!