Tag Archive for: MVAC

RIDGE’S FINAL FRAME PUSHES THEM TO A TITLE

MINERAL RIDGE OH- With the MVAC title on the line, Mineral Ridge and Springfield squared up for a high-stakes rematch Monday night. The packed house knew what was at stake—winner takes all. When the dust settled, Mineral Ridge delivered in crunch time, using a monster fourth quarter to secure a 61-49 win and make history with their first-ever outright MVAC championship.

Mineral Ridge got a huge night from Ava Hulett, who dropped 23 points and etched her name into program history, moving into second on the all-time scoring list. She now trails only Alexis Harkins (1,420 career points) and even passed her own head coach, Amy Harrison (1,330). Sullivan Sandy was clutch with 21 points, while Kadence Conaway (7) and Lily Merolillo (5) chipped in to seal the deal.

Springfield’s Jameka Brungard led all scorers with 27, putting up a fight to keep the Tigers in it. Kendall Maughan added 7, and Kristina Vecchione sparked a late push with all 6 of her points in the fourth. Mariana Tuscano added 5.

Up next, Mineral Ridge wraps up the regular season with a non-conference matchup at home against Champion on Wednesday. Springfield gets a quick turnaround, heading to Campbell for their final conference game.

Game Photos Can Be Found HERE 

RAMS SURVIVE SCARE FROM ORANGE

MINERAL RIDGE, OH – The Mineral Ridge Rams extended their winning streak to four games, surviving a furious fourth-quarter comeback from the Orange Lions to secure a 64-62 victory on Saturday night.

The Rams wasted no time setting the tone, using strong outside shooting and stifling defense to grab a 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. They maintained control through the second, heading into halftime with a 25-20 advantage despite Orange’s efforts to close the gap.

Mineral Ridge seemed to take full command in the third quarter, outscoring the Lions 20-16 to build a comfortable lead heading into the final frame. With just six minutes remaining, the Rams held a 14-point advantage, but Orange refused to go down without a fight.

Major Calhoun led the late-game charge for the Lions, finishing with a game-high 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter alone. Alex McCulloch also came alive in the final stretch, scoring all 7 of his points in the last period as Orange stormed back into contention.

With just 19 seconds remaining, Calhoun was fouled on a three-point attempt, giving him a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line. The tension in the gym was high, but he managed to convert just one of the three shots, leaving Mineral Ridge clinging to a 62-60 lead. The Rams capitalized on the miss, hitting two clutch free throws to push the lead to 64-60. Orange quickly responded with a field goal in the closing seconds, but time ran out before they could complete the comeback.

Chase Moore led the way for Mineral Ridge with 21 points, while Kaden Shaffer added 20. Derrick Hester chipped in 10 points, and Jordan Moore contributed 6, including key free throws down the stretch.

Despite the loss, Orange showed tremendous heart in their fourth-quarter rally and will look to build on that momentum when they host Cleveland East Tech on Monday at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the Rams set their sights on Tuesday night’s matchup against Springfield, where they’ll seek revenge. JV action tips off at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00.

WITH CONFERENCE CROWN WITHIN REACH, CRESTVIEW SHINES AGAIN

WARREN, OH – Crestview’s dominance in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division continued Thursday night as the Rebels cruised past Champion 66-15. With the victory, Crestview remains unbeaten in league play at 12-0 and improves to 17-3 overall, inching closer to securing the conference title.

Addison Rhodes powered the Rebels’ offense with a game-high 29 points, lighting up the scoreboard from all areas of the court. Luvrain Gaskins also made an impact, contributing 10 points to the team’s commanding win. Ava Bucey added 9 points, while Myer Miller and Kerrigan Miller combined for 12, helping Crestview maintain control from start to finish.

Champion struggled to generate offense against Crestview’s relentless defense. Caldwell led the Golden Flashes with 6 points, while Kennedy McKee, Kylie McKee, and Woods each chipped in 2 points. Doan added 4 points, but the team was unable to keep up with the Rebels’ fast-paced attack.

Crestview wasted no time building a commanding lead, jumping ahead 23-6 after the first quarter and extending it to 48-12 by halftime. The Rebels continued to apply pressure in the second half, allowing just three points over the final two quarters to seal the dominant victory.

The Rebels’ junior varsity squad also secured a win, defeating Champion 24-14. Isabella Schaper led the way with 10 points, while Lainey Milhoan added 7.

Crestview will look to keep its perfect league record intact when it travels to Garfield on Monday, while Champion aims to regroup in its upcoming matchups.

VIKINGS STORM LIBERTY IN BIG WIN

YOUNGSTOWN, OH- LaBrae delivered a commanding performance on Thursday night, cruising to a 52-10 win over Liberty in league action. The Vikings showcased their depth and offensive firepower, overwhelming Liberty from the start.

Marissa Levensky led the way for LaBrae, finishing with a team-high 10 points. Riley Rowe and Angel Scruggs each contributed 9 points, adding to the Vikings’ balanced scoring attack. Freshman Ally Magoulick made a strong impact as well, chipping in 8 points to round out a dominant team effort.

With the win, LaBrae continues to build momentum in league play, while Liberty looks to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming games.

SECOND HALF LOOMS LARGE FOR LADY VIKES

GARRETTSVILLE, OH – LaBrae clamped down defensively in the second half, limiting Garfield to just four third-quarter points on the way to a 44-34 victory Wednesday night. The Vikings used a strong defensive effort after halftime to take control and secure the win.

Angel Scruggs and Marissa Levensky paced LaBrae’s offense, each finishing with 14 points to lead the charge. Their efforts helped the Vikings build and maintain a steady lead throughout the second half.

Garfield fought to stay in the game, with Riley Grace leading the G-Men with 11 points. However, the offensive struggles in the third quarter proved too much to overcome as LaBrae pulled away down the stretch.

With the win, the Vikings continue to build momentum, while Garfield looks to regroup as the season winds down.

TIGERS KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE; TAKE DOWN JACKSON MILTON

NEW MIDDLETOWN, OH – Springfield kept its momentum rolling Wednesday night, securing its seventh straight win with a 59-38 triumph over Jackson-Milton. The Tigers controlled the pace from start to finish, using a balanced offensive attack to keep the Blue Jays at bay.

Jameka Brungard was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 24 points to fuel Springfield’s offense. Maren Vinkler provided solid support, adding 12 points in the victory. The Tigers maintained their rhythm throughout the game, never allowing Jackson-Milton to find its footing.

Despite the loss, Amani Yasin put together a strong effort for the Blue Jays, finishing with a team-high 19 points. Gabby Kerr also contributed 11 points, but Jackson-Milton struggled to keep up with Springfield’s firepower.

With another dominant performance, the Tigers continue their winning streak as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

RAMS GET EVEN ON THE SEASON; DOCK THE ROCKETS

MINERAL RIDGE, OH – The Mineral Ridge Rams used a strong start and an even stronger finish to take down Lowellville 61-48 on Tuesday night. Despite missing key player Kaden Shaffer due to illness, multiple Rams stepped up to the challenge to secure the win.

Chase Moore led the charge with a game-high 25 points, while Jordan Moore added 10. Derrick Hester contributed 8 points, with Landon Bingham chipping in 7. Nicholas Anderson added 5 points, Thomas Koniowsky knocked down 3, and Ryan Aleshire rounded out the scoring with 2.

The Rams set the tone early with a 16-point first quarter and sealed the deal with a dominant 19-point fourth quarter. With the victory, Mineral Ridge evens its record at 7-7, surpassing last season’s win total.

The Rams return to action Friday night on the road at Waterloo, looking for revenge. JV tips off at 5:30, with varsity following at 7:00.

LADY RAMS ROLL THANKS TO BIG SECOND HALF

MINERAL RIDGE, OH – The Mineral Ridge Lady Rams kept their conference dominance rolling with a commanding 74-41 victory over Lowellville on Wednesday night.

Ava Hulett led the charge once again, posting her second double-double of the week with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Lily Merolillo stepped up with 20 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Kadance Conaway added 7 points and 3 assists, while Sullivan Sandy contributed 5 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals. Gianna Gilbert chipped in 4 points and 2 steals, with Brystal Mills, Norah Schneider, and Kylee Molnar each scoring 2 points. Molnar also grabbed 3 steals, while Mills and Schneider added rebounds and assists to the team effort.

After a tight first quarter, the Lady Rams took control, outscoring Lowellville 46-19 in the second half to put the game away. With the win, Mineral Ridge remains undefeated in conference play.

The Lady Rams are back in action Thursday night at home against Jackson-Milton, looking to keep the momentum going.

VIKINGS ROLL PAST BROOKFIELD

BROOKFIELD, OH – LaBrae brought the offensive firepower on Tuesday night, rolling past Brookfield 74-55 in a conference showdown.

Derek Wilson was unstoppable, dropping a game-high 28 points to lead the Vikings. Austin Rowe wasn’t far behind, torching the Warriors for 24 points, while Owen Boone chipped in 14. Dan McLaughlin added 6, and Lucas Glaser rounded out the scoring with 2.

Brookfield put up a fight behind Teagan Barbe’s 16 points, with Blake Hammond contributing 14. Juda DeJoy added 11, and Cody Davidson tacked on 5. DeJoy also crashed the glass for a team-high 8 rebounds, while Hammond dished out 4 assists and Davidson led the defensive effort with 3 steals.

LaBrae set the tone early and never looked back, controlling the tempo and outpacing Brookfield on both ends of the floor. With the win, the Vikings continue to build momentum as they push through league play.

Brookfield will look to bounce back in their next matchup, while LaBrae keeps their eyes on another statement victory.

SOUTHEAST SAILS PAST CHAMPION

By Ty Bartell 

RAVENNA, OH – The Southeast Pirates girls basketball team claimed their 13th win of the season with a decisive 48-27 victory over the Champion Golden Flashes on Monday night. 

 

Southeast (13-6, 8-3 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference) set the tone early, edging Champion 13-10 in the first quarter before extending their lead to 25-16 by halftime. The Pirates held a commanding 35-23 advantage after three quarters and sealed the game with a strong defensive effort in the fourth, allowing just four points. 

 

Kayla Grope led Southeast with a game-high 17 points, while Kristen Campbell added 13 and Bailey Morris contributed 11. 

 

Champion (6-12, 4-7 MVAC) was paced by MacKenzie Braham’s seven points and Kennedy McKee’s six. 

 

Southeast will look to keep their momentum rolling as they travel to Brookfield (2-14, 1-9 MVAC) on Thursday, January 30, for a 6:15 p.m. tip-off. Champion will return to action the same evening, hosting league-leading Crestview (16-3, 11-0 MVAC) at 7 p.m