Tag Archive for: High School Girls Basketball

HART IN THE VALLEY

ORWELL OH-  As seasons go by, certain players become synonymous with their respective programs, embodying the spirit and essence of the team. For Grand Valley, that player is none other than senior standout Kaelyn Hart. Over the past four years, Hart has established herself as the cornerstone of the Grand Valley basketball program, leaving an indelible mark on the court and in the hearts of her teammates and coaches.

From the moment Hart stepped onto the court as a freshman, her leadership qualities were evident. Her unwavering determination and passion for the game set the tone for the entire team, earning her the respect and admiration of her peers. As the saying goes, “How Kaelyn goes, the team goes.” Her leadership is the heartbeat of the program, driving her teammates to exceed expectations and reach new heights.

But Hart’s impact extends beyond her role as a leader. She is the epitome of dedication and hard work, both on and off the court. During the offseason and summer months, while many of her peers were enjoying their break, Hart could be found honing her skills through AAU competitions and dedicated workouts. Her commitment to continuous improvement not only elevates her own game but also inspires those around her to strive for greatness.

The culmination of Hart’s dedication and talent came with her recent commitment to play at the collegiate level for Hiram College. For Hart, signing on to play at the next level was more than just a personal achievement – it was a validation of her years of hard work and sacrifice. It was a significant milestone, one that lifted a weight off her shoulders and filled her with pride as she embarks on the next chapter of her basketball journey.

As Hart’s senior year draws to a close, she finds herself leading Grand Valley to unprecedented success. For the first time in her career, the team secured a conference championship and a home tournament game, milestones that fuel Hart’s desire to lead her team as far as they can go. With a heart like hers, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.

In the annals of Grand Valley basketball history, Kaelyn Hart’s name will undoubtedly be etched in bold letters, a testament to her leadership, dedication, and unwavering passion for the game. As she prepares to leave her mark on the collegiate stage, Hart’s legacy at Grand Valley will serve as a shining example for future generations of players, reminding them of the power of heart and determination both on and off the court.

Presented By:

LEOPARDS SEE HISTORY MADE IN YOUNGSTOWN

YOUNGSTOWN OH- In a historic matchup that will be remembered for years to come, Louisville made headlines with a resounding 53-34 victory at Mooney. The day was marked by two remarkable achievements as two players etched their names in Louisville’s record books.

Brooke Haren led the charge for Louisville, not only guiding her team to victory with a stellar performance but also making history by breaking the program’s scoring record, surpassing an impressive 1,126 points. Adding to the milestone moments, Courtney Barwick made her mark by breaking the program’s record for career three-pointers, sinking her 97th in style.

Contributing to Louisville’s triumph were standout performances from Taylor McCully with 10 points and Barwick herself with 15 points, complementing Haren’s dominant display with 20 points.

Despite the loss, Mooney showcased their resilience, led by Sophia Diorio with 14 points and Katie Pregibon with 9 points, as they battled against Louisville’s formidable lineup.

With the regular season now concluded, Louisville (14-8) looks ahead to the postseason with confidence, gearing up for a tournament matchup with Cleveland Heights on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mooney (8-12) will continue their regular season journey, hosting Walsh Jesuit on Monday, aiming to finish strong.

BULLDOGS TURN HAWKEN UPSIDE DOWN

GATES MILLS OH- In a triumphant morning matchup, Poland’s journey to Hawken proved fruitful as they secured a convincing 42-26 victory.

Leading the scoring for Poland was Leanne Williams with 9 points, followed by Elliana Thompson with 7 points. Kate Harrell and Kylee Hudran each contributed 6 points, while Leanna Boccieri added 5 points to round out Poland’s balanced offensive attack.

With this victory, Poland’s season record improved to 13-8, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to their regular season. Their upcoming matchup against Hubbard on senior night presents a significant opportunity, as a win would secure the outright NE8 title for Poland.

 

SPARTANS CREATE SPACE AT SALEM

In a commanding display on the road, Boardman seized control early to secure a decisive 55-37 victory over Salem. From the opening tip-off, Boardman set the tone for the game with their strong performance.

Leading the charge for Boardman was Mackenzie Riccitelli, who showcased her scoring prowess with an impressive 19 points, followed closely by Sara Bero with 15 points. Sam Duble contributed 7 points, while Mikayla Rivera added 6 points to bolster their team’s offensive output.

Despite a valiant effort from Salem, highlighted by Reese Davidson-Chuck’s impressive 20-point performance, Boardman’s early momentum proved insurmountable. Rylee Hutton also contributed 8 points for Salem’s offensive efforts.

With this victory, Boardman improved their season record to 17-5, setting their sights on a promising postseason journey as they prepare to open tournament play at home against Massillon Perry on February 17th. Meanwhile, Salem, now standing at 7-13 for the season, will continue their regular season with a matchup against Springfield on Wednesday.

 

WARRIORS DEFENSE TRAVELS WELL

HOWLAND OH- In a thrilling road showdown, West Branch showcased their defensive prowess and emerged victorious against Howland with a hard-fought 43-39 win on Saturday. It was a test of resilience for both teams, but West Branch’s stalwart defense proved to be the difference-maker in the end.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Audrey Eaton, who displayed her scoring prowess with 11 points, supported by Sophia Gregory with 8 points and MiKalyn Woods with 7 points. Carter Shepard also contributed 6 points to bolster their team’s offensive efforts.

Howland put up a strong fight, with Alyssa Massucci leading their scoring with 11 points, followed by Jessie DeSalvo with 7 points and Sophia Powell with 6 points.

However, West Branch’s tenacious defense proved to be the deciding factor, as they held off Howland’s offensive threats to secure the victory.

With this win, West Branch improved their impressive season record to 19-2, setting the stage for a final regular-season showdown at home against Girard on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Howland, with a season record of 15-6, will conclude their regular season with a matchup against Fitch on Tuesday.

EAGLES KEEP AN EYE ON WINNING

EAST LIVERPOOL OH- In an impressive display of skill and determination, United delivered a commanding performance on Thursday night, securing a decisive victory on the road against Beaver Local with a final score of 52-23.

United’s offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Grace Knight who delivered an outstanding performance with a game-high 18 points. Kate Dees added 10 points to the scoring tally, while Addy Blazer and Grayson Kidder each contributed 7 points, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Despite a valiant effort from Beaver Local, led by Calli Sorge with 7 points and Karsyn Bowyer with 6 points, they couldn’t overcome United’s dominant performance.

With this important win, United improves their record to an impressive 15-6 as they prepare to close out their regular season with a road matchup against East Liverpool. Meanwhile, Beaver Local, with a 6-16 record, completes their regular season and now awaits their tournament matchup on February 21st at Steubenville.

LAKERS RIDE INTO TO BROOKFIELD AND COME OUT ON TOP

By Matt Maher 


BROOKFIELD, OH – Pymatuning Valley and Brookfield squared off Thursday night in a game that saw the Lakers show a consistent stream of offense and enough defense to keep Brookfield at arms length and win the game 45-42. The Lakers found themselves an early lead and never let it go, showing Brookfield that the home court isn’t always an advantage.

 

Quarter one saw Pymatuning Valley outscore Brookfield 10-7, The Warriors saw scores from Cailey Wellman with 3 points from a 2 and 1-of-2 free throws made and MaRae Craig who found two scores in the paint. Leah DeMoss accounted for 7 of the 10 Py Valley points with a strong 3 to start off her night and two more scores from within the arc while Zoey Painter found the other 3 from beyond the arc. 

 

Both teams looked about even in the second frame with the two squads recording 9 points each before halftime. Wellman led the Warriors this quarter with 5 more tallies including her first made 3 and a 2. Mya Jumper found 2 points on the field while Craig and Jasmine Hubbard both went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe. The Lakers saw Painter find another triple while Sadie Paul, Jolene Sharp and Mae Struna all found 2 points on the field.

 

Both teams went into double digit scoring out of the break with Pymatuning Valley staying on top of Brookfield this time 17-12. Hubbard and Wellman both found 4 points all from within the arc while Craig found 2 more points and Jumper went a perfect 2-for-2 from the line. If you want a lot of scoring from one player, you look towards Zoey Painter who went off with 11 points with 4 2’s and a huge 3! Paul found 5 more points this frame as well with a 2 and a 2. 

 

The Lakers slowed down their offensive production while Brookfield cranked up the pressure and pushed themselves within one score but unfortunately for the Warriors their 14-9 fourth wouldn’t be enough to overcome the Lakers lead. Pymatuning Valley saw Sharpe put up 5 points with a 2 and a decent 3-for-4 from the line while Kelsie Britton and Taryn Tisch both found 2’s. The huge comeback effort was led by Mya Jumper who found 10 of the 14 points with two 3’s, a 2 and 2-of-3 free throw sunk. Craig added two more points while Wellman went 2-for-2. 

 

The Lakers never truly lost control of this game despite what that 4th quarter score might tell you, they played a strong offensive game and refused to leave Brookfield with much room to breathe on offense. Zoey Painter led all scorers with an impressive 17 points on the night and is a big reason for her team’s success. Cailey Wellman and Mya Jumper both finished with 14 points for the Warriors and showed great leadership in a tough loss. Pymatuning Valley (12-6) will be back at home on February 12th to take on the Jefferson Area Falcons at 6:15Pm while Brookfield (8-13) look to finish off the regular season at Newton Falls on February 12th at 6:00PM.

TIGERS PUT THE CLAMPS ON LAKEVIEW

CORTLAND OH- In a dominant performance, the Howland girls’ basketball team secured a convincing victory over Lakeview with a final score of 64-32. Alyssa Massucci led the charge with an impressive 18 points, while Mia Thomas contributed 13 points to the team’s success. The win improved Howland’s overall record to an impressive 16-5.

Looking ahead, the Tigers have a challenging matchup as they are set to host the state-ranked West Branch. The JV game is scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 am, followed by the varsity game at 1 pm. It promises to be an exciting contest. Lakeview (6-16) closes out their regular season. They’ll look forward to their first tournament game on February 21st at Rootstown.

CLIPPERS CLINCH OVERTIME VICTORY

In a thrilling and hard-fought battle on Thursday night, Columbiana emerged victorious in overtime against Western Reserve, securing a narrow 36-35 win.

Both teams displayed exceptional resilience and determination throughout the game, with neither side willing to concede defeat easily. However, it was Columbiana who ultimately prevailed, clinching the hard-fought victory.

Leading the scoring effort for Columbiana was Taylor Long, who delivered an impressive performance with 11 points. Megan Moser and Lilly Hoschar each contributed 6 points to the team’s scoring tally, showcasing their offensive contributions in a tightly contested matchup.

On the other side, Western Reserve put up a valiant effort, with Angelina Coppabianca leading the scoring charge with 13 points, followed by Quincy Miller with 9 points and Kylee Ramsey with 7 points.

With this crucial win, Columbiana improves their record to an impressive 18-3 as they prepare to close out their regular season with a home game against Lisbon on Saturday. Meanwhile, Western Reserve, now 12-8, will embark on a road trip to face South Range on Saturday, eager to bounce back from the tough loss.

 

CARDINALS TAKE THE LATEST ROUND OF THE BATTLE OF 224

CANFIELD OH- In a highly anticipated showdown, Canfield emerged victorious on the road in the latest installment of the Battle of 224 rivalry, defeating Poland with a final score of 41-30.

Leading the scoring charge for Canfield was Cami Hritz, who delivered a standout performance with 11 points, showcasing her offensive prowess and leadership on the court. Grace McQuiston contributed 10 points, while Carly Fleming added 9 points and Macey Kalina chipped in with 5 points, highlighting the team’s balanced scoring effort.

Despite a valiant effort from Poland, led by Elliana Thompson with 11 points and Avery Jakubovic with 5 points, they couldn’t overcome Canfield’s determined performance.

With this crucial win, Canfield improves their record to 14-7 and now turns their attention to their season finale at home against Streetsboro on Saturday, February 17th. Meanwhile, Poland, with a 12-8 record, will embark on a long road trip to face Hawken on Saturday.