Tag Archive for: OVAC

HEARTLAND JOINS OVAC

/in /by

COLUMBIANA, OH- The Heartland Christian athletic program made a significant leap forward as they officially joined the ranks of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC). During an enlightening conversation on YSN, Athletic Director Josh Scott shared the driving force behind the move and its expected impact.

“The biggest thing, more than anything, was just for our kids to have something to play for, like all the other schools do. They are in a conference,” said Scott, emphasizing the importance of competitive goals for students.

At the heart of this decision is the opportunity for the school’s athletic program to provide meaningful experiences for the students. Joining the OVAC aligns with the school’s goal of offering impactful moments that reach beyond the court or field. The benefits of membership are more than just logistical; they fuel a culture of persistence and recognition.

Scott views the inclusion into the OVAC as a potential stepping stone, possibly laying the groundwork for Heartland Christian to become part of a multi-conference system in the future. “We’re hoping that we can show some stability, some responsibility of being in a league, and then maybe we’d be a little bit more attractive down the road to be in some of these local conferences as well,” he shared.

Travel and logistics are always a consideration for schools when joining new conferences. While acknowledging the challenges, Scott remains positive. “The reward was bigger in the fact that our kids now have a championship to play for, all conference honors, and just more opportunity across the board for our kids,” he pointed out.

Another aspect that Scott is excited about is the potential of “big moment games where, you know, the outcome matters.” Having regular chances to compete for championships and honors provides a different kind of motivation for student-athletes, which can be transformative both in sports and personal development.

Reflecting on Heartland Christian’s journey, Scott is both humbly proud and grateful to be part of this evolutionary step for the school. “I’ve been just, this one called to the whole system here… to see it to come to fruition. I just, I hope that the kids will find a way to enjoy it as much as we hope that they will,” he shared, looking to the future with optimistic anticipation.

Heartland Christian is poised to embark on a thrilling new chapter as a member of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference. Under Josh Scott’s leadership, the school’s athletics are sure to flourish, marking the potential for new legacies built on the foundation of hard work, passion, and community spirit.
Stay tuned to this space as YSN continues to provide coverage on Heartland Christian’s exciting new journey in the OVAC, and perhaps, the crowning of their first conference championship in the near future.

POTTERS POUND MARTINS FERRY, ADVANCE TO OVAC TITLE

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL- The East Liverpool Potters advances to the OVAC Championship game with a dominating 80-41 win over Martins Ferry on Tuesday night.

The Potters were helped by a tremendous effort from Tresean Jackson who scored 31 points. Jackson’s contributions didn’t end there as he did a masterful job distributing the ball finishing with 8 assists on the night. Brennan O’Hara was also in double figures with 15 points.

The Potters defense was nothing to forget either. They held the Raiders to just 11 first half points with suffocating pressure.

The Potters now look to avenge an earlier loss to Meadowbrook in the OVAC championship on Friday night.

BEAVER LOCAL CELEBRATES BIG NIGHT; RICCARDO BOARDS 1000

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- Jenna Ricardo made Beavers basketball history as she and the Lady Beavers handled the Lisbon Blue Devils at home 77-44.

Ricardo came into the night needing 6 rebounds to reach 1,000 boards for her career. She has already eclipsed 1,000 points and become the all-time leading scorer in Beavers history, as she did so last year in her Junior season.

Everybody was on history watching from the tip, and they were not disappointed. Ricardo tallied 4 boards in the first quarter, and collected her 6th halfway through the 2nd quarter, sending the Beaver fans into a frenzy. At halftime, Ricardo was honored for accomplishing the feat, becoming the only player to reach 1,000 rebounds at Beaver Local (talk about the exclusive company). Head coach Stephanie Coie gave a speech about Ricardo and her accomplishments as a Beavers basketball player.

As for the game itself, the Beavers knocked down 15 three’s, that’s right, 15! Brooke Briggs went 4 for 4 from downtown, while Riley Britt and Madison Cline had 3 triples of their own. Ricardo also recorded a double-double in the game.

That certainly will help a team win as the Beavers put themselves in the win column in what was more than likely the last Lady Beaver home game.

 

*Story contributed by YSN’s Michael McKenzie

 

BEAVERS CAGE EAST PALESTINE ON SENIOR NIGHT

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- The Beavers defeated the Bulldogs by 40 on Saturday night to honor the 5 seniors (Luke Chetock, Josh Hilditch, Tate Joseph, Jaden Kiddey, and Logan Reed) the right way.

The first half was competitive, as the teams exchanged leads early in the game. The Beavers were able to create a little separation to end the first quarter and hold on to that going into halftime. After the break, the Beavers came out firing, getting transition bucket after transition bucket to open the fourth quarter with a 30 point lead. Coach Nick Miller then took the seniors off the floor one by one as the fans gave them a standing ovation. The Beavers won by the final score of 91-51. They improve to 12-8 heading into OVAC play.

Luke Chetock drained 5 three’s as he finished with 28. Logan Reed had a night as well, scoring 21 on the night, as Josh Hilditch chipped in 10 of his own.

Jonathan Bertovich came into the game averaging 26 a game and did not disappoint, scoring 32 on the night.  Payton Elliott contributed to the Bulldogs scoring summary with 8.

The Beavers will play an away OVAC game this upcoming Tuesday, while East Palestine will face Lowellville.

 

*Story contributed by YSN’s Michael McKenzie

BEAVERS TAME TIGERS AT HOME

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- The Beavers picked up a nice home victory over the Wellsville Tigers by the final score of 59-54 in a back and forth affair.

Beaver Local jumped out to an early 10 point lead, but a late bucket by Darrion Suggs and a three pointer from Luke Green cut the deficit to 5 to end the first. Wellsville found a groove after that, taking the lead for the majority of the second quarter, as Justin Wright and Troy Carter found a couple buckets each in the post to find a 26-23 lead at the half. 

The Beavers came out of the locker room swinging and took the lead right back and stretched it to 8 entering the 4th. Wellsville went on a couple of runs and pulled to within one possession multiple times in the final quarter, but couldn’t finish the job as the Beavers took home the dub. They improve to 9-6 on the campaign.

Luke Chetock and Nathan Barber each had 16 points to lead Beaver Local. Logan Reed would chip in 9 points.

Darien Suggs led the Tigers with 18 points while Luke Green finished with 14.

Beaver Local will look to get revenge on Linsly this upcoming Tuesday as YSN Beaver Local will have coverage of the 7:00 tip.

 

*Story contributed by YSN’s Michael McKenzie

SENIOR NIGHT STUNNER; BL RUNS PAST FERRY

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- It was a perfect opportunity for the Beaver Local Senior Girls on the Basketball Team to send a lasting memory to their OVAC Rivals, Martins Ferry, on their way out.  Senior Night has the tendency to create distractions for the home team each season, but the Lady Beavers used their night as a marker of the last four years with a 50-44 victory on Monday.

Senior, and Baird Brothers Big Dog of the Valley winner- Jenna Riccardo cashed in for 26 points and 12 boards while handing out 6 assists in the victory.  Madison Cline also enjoyed her Senior Night with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Danica Taylor had 6 caroms on the night as well, while Brooke Briggs had 3 tallies.

Beaver Local (8-7) will now turn their attention to Oak Glen on Thursday on the road to try and keep the momentum flowing.

 

LADY TIGERS TAKE SHOWDOWN FROM BEAVER LOCAL

/in /by

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- The Wellsville volleyball team, ranked 20th in the state in the latest state coaches poll in Division 4, defeated Beaver Local for the second time this season in 4 sets 24-26, 25-21, 25-23 25-22 in an OVAC match Monday Night at Beaver Local High School. Each set was very close throughout the match but the Tigers were able to earn the victory to improve to 13-3 on the season.

Leading the way for the Beavers was Elizabeth Kolkowski with 16 kills, 4 blocks & 7 digs, Kodi Kinsey with 21 digs & an ace, Grace Hill with 13 kills & 4 blocks, Karlee Furman with 21 assists, 19 digs, 6 kills & 2 aces, Corin Turkovich with 13 digs & an ace & Brooke Talbot with 22 digs, 15 assists, 4 kills & 3 aces.

 

Greta Cartwright paced the Lady Tigers with 17 assists and three aces.  The YSN Player of the Game was Emily McNicol with 16 assists and five aces.  Emma Smith had 12 kills, while Alana Amato had 8.  Meaghan Nixon contributed 7 kills and a trio of aces from service while Jenna McNicol had 4 aces and 32 digs defensively.

PHOTO CREDIT: JOSH WORKMAN

 

The state-ranked Tigers will be back in action Tuesday at home against United Local. The Beavers are now 13-5 on the season & will travel to Steubenville to take on the Big Red before returning home to play Saint Clairsville on Thursday in Buckeye 8 Conference action.

 

*Story contributed by YSN’s Jason Hannum

 

GET GAME PHOTOS HERE

THE REVENGERS: LADY REBS ELIMINATE SOUTHEAST

/in /by

COLUMBIANA, OH- The Crestview Lady Rebels hosted a 4C’s Tournament earlier this year that featured Southeast and Girard, two of the teams that the Rebels would potentially see in the postseason.  During that tournament, the Rebels lost both games that accounted for nearly half the losses on the year.

On Thursday, the Lady Rebs got one of those wins back when it counted the most.

Crestview beat Southeast Ravenna 2-0 in Div III Sectional Finals behind great pitching and timely hitting.   Going into the bottom of the 4th scoreless Karsyn Moore would lead off the inning with a line drive single to left field, Later in the inning, Taylor Mellington would hit a line drive to the outfield scoring Moore from second to make it 1-0.  The next batter McKenna Schultz would then hit a shot to left center moving Mellington to third base, and Ashton Hughes would hit a ball to left field, making it 2-0.

That would be all the Lady Rebels would need.

Mellington led the team with 2 hits and an RBI, Hughes would have a hit and RBI.

For Southeast Prater would lead the Pirates with 2 hits.

Freshman, Kaedyn Sutton would pick up her 14th win of the season and held the Pirates down with 9 strikeouts. Crestview would improve too 20-5 on the season and will host LaBrae tonight for Senior Night at 5:00 pm.

LADY REBELS FALL IN POSTSEASON TUNE-UP

/in /by

COLUMBIANA, OH- Crestview’s bats were silent tonight in a 10-0 loss to Newton Falls. Newton Falls jumped out to a 2-0 in the top of the first and never looked back.

Olivia Strank led the Rebels with 2 hits, Haley Eskra and Karsyn Moore each added a hit apiece.

For Newton Falls Olivia Koehrsen had 3 hits. McKenna Schultz took the loss while Tara Backherms earned the win.

Crestview dropped to 19-5 on the season and will host Southeast Ravenna tonight to open up sectional play at 5:00 pm.

 

*Contributed by Greg Eskra

LADY REBS GO EXTRAS, PULL OUT ANOTHER VICTORY

/in /by

NEWTON FALLS, OH- The Lady Rebels love putting in overtime during the softball season.  Crestview won 6-5 in 12 innings at Newton Falls on Monday Night.

Newton Falls would score 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th and 1 in the 5th making the score 4-0. For the Rebels in the top of the 6th, Olivia Strank would get walked then Kaedyn Sutton would hit a line drive to the fence scoring Strank from 1st. Skyler Mattern would lay down a sac bunt scoring Shianna Mathes from third, cutting the score in half, 4-2.

In the top of the 7th, Baylie Bettura would lead off the inning with a single, with one out Ashton Hughes would lay down a perfect bunt advancing Bettura to second base. Bettura would score on an overthrow and Hughes would end up on third. Haley Eskra then would get hit by the pitch.  Then with runners on second and third base with no outs, Sutton would then hit another rocket-scoring Hughes and Eskra giving the Rebels a 5-4 lead. That lead didn’t last long as Newton Falls would tie the score in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams would go scoreless till the top of the 12th. With two outs in the top of the 12th Karsyn Moore would draw a walk then Mattern would hit a line drive advancing Moore to third.  With the count 2-2 with 2 outs Moore would score the eventual winning run on a passed ball.

Sutton would end up with 2 hits and 3 RBI’s, Bettura had 2 hits, Moore, Mattern, and Hughes each added a hit. For Newton Falls, Tara Bacherms had 3 hits, Zoe McElrath and Joel Hood each added two hits. Sutton picked up the win for the Lady Rebels.

Crestview improves to 19-4 on the season and will host Newton Falls on Wednesday.

 

 

*Contributed by Greg Eskra