Tag Archive for: High school basketball

WARRIORS HAVE ANOTHER CLOSE ONE WITH EAST

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By Michael Ginocchi 


Beloit, OH- The first round sectional game for the West Branch Boys basketball team wasn’t your typical matchup. Hosting the formidable and underseeded East Golden Bears, the Warriors knew they were in for a tough battle, especially considering the Bears were seeking revenge for their earlier season loss to West Branch by just two points in overtime.The game lived up to expectations, with both teams giving it their all in a hard-fought and physical contest. In the end, West Branch managed to secure a narrow 50-47 victory, clinching their spot in the sectional championship. 

 

West Branch was led by Camden Lane, who had a significant impact with 14 points. His three-point shooting, not typically a strong aspect of his game, played a crucial role. Lane sunk three three-pointers, including a contested shot from the corner, showcasing his ability to deliver in key moments. His unexpected success from beyond the arc was pivotal in securing West Branch’s hard-fought victory. 

 

Jeremiah Thomas had a nice performance scoring 12 points while Cooper Adnerson contributed 10.The Warriors’ big men played a crucial role by showcasing physicality and dominance on the boards, effectively thwarting East’s attempts to secure rebounds.

 

Isiah McCray, the standout player for Youngstown East, faced tough defense throughout the game, limiting his usual impact. Despite this, he still managed to put up 16 points, including a last-second attempt at a buzzer-beater to force overtime. Cameron Sly and Tyris Davis also made significant contributions, each finishing in double figures to bolster Youngstown East’s scoring effort.

 

With the Win West Branch improves to 19-4 and will host 20th seeded East Cleveland Technical on Friday Mar. 1 for a trip to districts. Youngstown East ends their season at 11-10.

LISBON’S SEASON ENDS IN HEART BREAKER

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LISBON OH- In a fiercely contested tournament matchup, Lisbon’s season came to an end in a heart-wrenching defeat on Tuesday, as they narrowly fell to Cornerstone Christian by a slim margin of 68-65. Despite putting up a valiant effort, Lisbon ultimately couldn’t overcome their opponents’ offensive firepower in a tightly contested battle that went down to the wire.

Leading the charge for Lisbon was Trevor Siefke, who delivered a standout performance with a game-high 27 points, showcasing his scoring prowess and determination on the court. Hunter Dailey also made significant contributions with 19 points, while Alex Schreffler added 6 points to round out Lisbon’s scoring effort.

Although Lisbon’s season may have concluded sooner than they had hoped, they can take pride in their achievements, finishing the season with an impressive record of 18-5 and earning the title of Co-EOAC champions.

FORTUNA’S MILESTONE PROPELS BROOKFIELD TO ADVANCE

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HANOVERTON OH- In an electrifying start to their tournament journey, Brookfield surged to victory in the first round, securing a convincing 52-38 win over United. With an impressive display of skill and determination, Brookfield showcased their resilience and tenacity on the court, earning themselves another opportunity to compete.

Leading the charge for Brookfield was Matteo Fortuna, whose outstanding performance not only propelled his team to victory but also marked a significant milestone as he surpassed 1000 career points. Fortuna’s remarkable effort included a game-high 20 points, underlining his importance to the team’s success. Shaun Dungee contributed 11 points, while Judah DeJoy added 10 points, providing crucial support to fortify Brookfield’s offensive arsenal.

Despite a valiant effort from United, led by Luke Courtney with 11 points, Brookfield’s balanced attack and stout defense proved too much to overcome.

With the win, Brookfield advances to the sectional final on Friday, where they face a challenging road matchup against Mooney.

BLUE DEVILS EARN ANOTHER GAME

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MCDONALD OH- In a solid start to their tournament campaign, McDonald seized control of the court with a convincing 50-37 victory over Kidron Central Christian, securing their spot in the sectional championship. From the opening tip-off, McDonald displayed their determination and skill, executing their game plan with precision to come out on top.

Leading the offensive charge for McDonald was Joey Cappuzzello, who delivered an impressive performance with a game-high 21 points, showcasing his scoring prowess and leadership on the court. Drew Zajack also made significant contributions with 13 points, providing valuable support to help propel McDonald to victory.

With the win, McDonald advances to the next round of the tournament, where they will face off against Western Reserve at home on Friday.

TIGERS NEVER HAVE A DOUBT IN FINAL HOME GAME

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HOWLAND OH- In a commanding performance from start to finish, Howland showcased their strength and determination in their first tournament win on Tuesday, defeating Harvey with a decisive 65-44 victory. The Tigers displayed consistency and composure throughout the game, never relinquishing their control as they imposed their will on both ends of the court.

Leading the charge for Howland was John Perry, who delivered a stellar performance with a team-high 17 points, setting the tone for the Tigers’ offensive attack. TJ Douglas contributed 15 points, while Alex Henry added 11 points and Anthony Chieffo chipped in with 10 points, highlighting the balanced scoring effort that propelled Howland to victory.

With the win, Howland advances to the sectional final on Friday, where they will face a tough road matchup against Madison.

TIGERS POUNCE IN OVERTIME FOR THE WIN

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By Matt Maher 


NEWTON FALLS, OH – The battle for second on the MVAC Gray division came down to the wire Friday night when Campbell Memorial visited Newton Falls. Newton Falls showed great defense combined with stellar offense right out of the gate but that defense and offense began to slip in the 2nd half and Campbell clawed their way back into it and forced an overtime thriller that came up just short for the Red Devils and saw the Tigers earn themselves a 50-45 victory.

 

Everyone knew this game was going to be a grind but the 17-8 first quarter score that saw Newton Falls on top started to question that. David Moore got his night started with the first triple for the Red Devils while Josue Rodriguez found 3 himself with a 2 and 1. Alex Stinson and Cameron Huff were money from the arc giving their team a huge 3 each while Jabriel Rufai found 5 points with a double then a triple. 

 

Campbell tightened their defense in the second quarter and only allowed Newton Falls to score 11 to their 5. It was Moore and Rodriguez leading the way again with Moore finding another 3 while Rodriguez found 2 more. Landon Mcgregor joined the party with his team’s only 3-pointer of the quarter and led his team in scoring this frame with that tally. Rufai was held scoreless this frame which is a testament to Memorials defense that they kept one of the deadliest Tigers from pouncing going into halftime.

 

Campbell knew they needed to improve on the defensive showing they put up in the last quarter and find simpler shots and boy did they deliver, with a 12-4 edge in the 3rd, Campbell got themselves right back into it and made Newton Falls nervous. Unlike the 2nd, the 3rd quarter saw Jabriel Rufai score all 4 for his team with a double and a perfect 2-for-2 from the stripe. David Moore seemed to have found Superman’s cape during the break because he went off on the Tigers with 10 points in the quarter starting with a 3 then continuing on with three made 2’s and an and-1 that hit.

 

The Red Devils would not and could not be stopped going into the 4th and man were they good with a 15-8 edge in scoring they had found enough to tie this game late and force overtime in this huge game. Rufai scored 4 points to lead his team this quarter with 2 hard fought 2’s. Moore and Rodriguez continued their dominance for their team with Moore putting up 4 more and Rodriguez adding 5 points to his teams total. 

 

The Red Devils went into overtime scoring the first 3 points quickly only to see McGregor respond immediately after with a 3 of his own and it didn’t take long for the Falls to find a narrow lead and force Campbell to foul which promptly sealed this game for the Tigers because Jabriel Rufai went 5-for-6 from the stripe.

 

Campbell showed grit and heart in this game but just fell short after finding their game and forcing this one to overtime. The Tigers will end their season on a 6 game winning streak and will host Chippewa on February 27th for round 1 of the OHSAA playoffs while Campbell gets ready for their first round brawl against Trinity on the 27th as well, both game will be played at 7:00PM EST. 

WARRIORS TAKE A STANCE

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By Michael Ginocchi 


Beloit, OH- The West Branch Boys’ Basketball team won their final game before tournament play by defeating Heartland Christian 64 to 42. West Branch finished the regular season with an 18-4 record and were EBC champs. 

 

The Warriors led 35 to 23 at the half, but Heartland showed a lot of heart by cutting the lead to eight points in the second before the Warriors pulled away. West Branch will play at home on Tuesday against the 13-9 Youngstown East Golden Bears in the first round of the state playoffs. The matchup between the two teams should be an exciting first round game. West Branch won the first meeting 73 to 71 in overtime a few weeks ago.

 

Leading the Warriors’ offense was Jeremiah Thomas with 16 points and Gavin Gregory with 10 points. Jaxon Robb contributed 9 points and Cooper Anderson and Joey Jackson each had 8 points.

 

The Heartland Lions were led in scoring by Will Morgan with 12 points and Jake Walker with 11 points. Their regular season record ends with a 13-9 record. The Lions will face Southington Chalker at home on Tuesday at 7 pm. in the first round of the state basketball playoffs. 






ROCKETS WIN DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE STRUGGLE

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LOWELLVILLE OH- In a gritty defensive showdown, Lowellville emerged victorious over conference rival McDonald, prevailing in a hard-fought battle by a final score of 38-33. In a game characterized by tough defense and intense competition, Lowellville managed to secure a crucial win.

Leading the charge for Lowellville was Matt Lucido, who paced the team with 11 points, while Michael Ballone added 7 points and Drew Modelski contributed 6 points, helping to power Lowellville’s offense against McDonald’s stout defense.

On the McDonald side, Drew Zajack led all scorers with 13 points, followed closely by Wyatt Wolford with 12 points, but their efforts ultimately fell short against Lowellville’s defensive resilience.

With the win, Lowellville improves to a 14-8 record on the season and looks ahead to their next challenge in the tournament. They are set to face the winner of Springfield vs. Open Door Christian on March 1st in what promises to be an exciting postseason matchup.

Meanwhile, McDonald will regroup and prepare for their own tournament game, as they are slated to host Kidron Central Catholic on Tuesday. Despite the setback, McDonald remains a formidable opponent and will surely bring their A-game as they look to make a statement in the postseason.

 

CLIPPERS EARN A SHARE OF THE LEAGUE IN THE SEASON FINALE

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COLUMBIANA OH- In a pivotal matchup on Friday night, Columbiana seized their chance to claim a share of the EOAC championship, exacting revenge on Lisbon with a convincing 51-39 victory. Led by a balanced scoring effort, Columbiana showcased their depth and determination on the court.

Seth Struharik led the charge for Columbiana, pouring in 14 points, while Devin Daugherty added 11 points of his own, and Maddox Brown contributed 10 points to the winning cause. Ian Less chipped in with 8 points, rounding out a formidable offensive performance for Columbiana.

On the Lisbon side, Hunter Dailey and Tate Wallen each tallied 11 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Columbiana’s tenacious defense and efficient scoring.

With the win, Columbiana finishes their regular season with an impressive 17-5 record, securing a share of the EOAC title. Now, their focus shifts to the upcoming tournament, where they will host Chagrin Falls on Tuesday in what promises to be an exciting postseason opener.

Meanwhile, Lisbon, with an 18-4 record, also looks ahead to tournament play. They will host Cornerstone Christian on Tuesday, aiming to make a statement as they pursue postseason success.

 

MOONEY PUTS A BOW ON THE REGULAR SEASON

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YOUNGSTOWN OH- In a commanding finale to their regular season, Mooney’s boys’ basketball team showcased their dominance on Friday night as they hosted Struthers in an electrifying showdown. Despite a brief setback in the second quarter, where they only managed to tally 5 points, the Cardinals rallied back with sheer determination to secure a convincing 63-39 victory.

Leading the charge for Mooney was Ashton O’Brien, whose stellar performance on the court yielded an impressive 18 points, supported by the dynamic duo of Eddie Nieves and Rocco Turner, each contributing 11 points to the scoreboard. Jibri Carter and Nick Genova also made significant contributions, chipping in with 9 and 8 points, respectively.

On the opposing side, Struthers put up a valiant effort, with Lucas Patti leading the charge with 13 points, while Jason Dukes and Tommy Cole each added 8 points to the team’s total.

With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, Mooney (17-5) sets their sights on the upcoming tournament, eager to carry their momentum into postseason play. Their journey begins with a home matchup against Academy of Urban Scholars on Tuesday, where they will look to make a statement on their quest for championship glory.

Meanwhile, Struthers (9-11) will also turn their attention to tournament action, determined to make a splash as they host Marlington on Tuesday.