By Noah Ricks

HOWLAND CENTER, OH – Coming off a 6-17 season and a lot to prove, coach Dan Bubon and the Howland Tigers utilized their experience and well-rounded depth and made a big statement against area powerhouse Poland, a team with a new head coach for the first time in 28 years in Eric Felder. The Tigers scored both inside the paint and beyond the arc to pull off a 67-56 victory over the Bulldogs on opening night. 

 

“We thought we had a chance to be a good team this year,” Bubon told YSN’s Noah Ricks. “In any of our scrimmages. we didn’t play real well. We were still trying to find our pieces and who was going to do what, so I did not know what was going to happen tonight.”

 

Howland got off to a fast start by putting up 23 points in the first quarter while good defensive switching held Poland to just 10. Senior Anthony Massucci showed even more improvement from his junior year to this year. He scored 15 of those first quarter points, along with the first eight, en route to a red hot 32-point night. Bubon was very pleased with Massucci’s performance after his season-ending knee injury during the COVID year last year. 

 

“I told everybody last year, and because of COVID, and because of him getting hurt about eight, nine games in, nobody really got a chance to see him. He was averaging 19 points and eight rebounds last year, and I’m telling everybody, ‘This kid can really play’, and then he was done for the year. Honestly, he didn’t start practice until about a week and a half ago. He hurt his other knee in the fall here, so you are not 100% sure of what you’re going to get, but he was raring to go. Give the kid credit, man. He put the work in in rehab and that kid is a competitor. He took a few bad shots that we’ll try to correct, but when you’ve got a kid that’s that hot, you’ve got to let him know that we’ll win.”

 

Poland is a team that has never been known for being down and out when they fall behind. They took some needed runs to keep the Tigers on their toes throughout. Senior Christian Colosimo helped the Bulldogs cut the lead to 31-24 at halftime with 7 of the team’s 14 second quarter points. He also picked up two three-pointers in the third period for 10 of the 18 third-quarter points. He led the Bulldogs in scoring with 28 and 6 three-pointers overall.

 

In a game with only three lead changes, the Tigers fell behind by one in the third quarter, but took the lead right back and never trailed from there. Howland’s bench came up strong tonight with the likes of sophomore Alex Henry. He went all out in his first varsity game and got twelve vital points in the eleven-point victory. He helped pick up 4 two-pint field goals and was perfect from the free throw line with 4. Bubon was really happy with how his role player exceeded his expectations for his bench to step up when they needed to.

 

“You never know what you are going to get out of him. We know Alex has the talent, but the first real varsity game, you never know what you are going to get, but he played great in the fourth quarter.”

 

Howland used a well-balanced motion offense and did a great job getting feeds and finishes inside. They also had some aggressive defense from the likes of Grant Brown.

 

“I thought Grant Brown played great defense on #4 (Rodd Dedo) for them, who’s a really good player, and I thought Bobby Sullivan was huge at the end getting baskets underneath and really playing smart, so they were really unheralded guys coming up, but we thought they were going to be good and help us, and it’s great to see them do that in game one.”

 

With the win, the Tigers will start off their season with a 1-0 mark and a 1-0 record in non-conference play. They will get ready for their next game on Friday at home against Lakeview, who Bubon says will be ready and prepared.

 

“They never slouch. They knocked us out of the tournament last year in a game that we had a ten point lead in the third quarter, so I know these guys don’t forget that. It’s always great, intense, just like this. This was awesome for a Tuesday night having fans back in the stands, kids were loud, and I think it will be even bigger on Friday.”

 

The Bulldogs will start off their season 0-1 as they drop to 0-1 in non-conference play. Poland will look to rebound as they open their home slate next Monday against Austintown Fitch.

 

You can watch the full interview with Coach Dan Bubon and YSN’s Noah Ricks below.

 

Box Score:

        1        2        3        4        F

PHS              10              14              18              14              56

HHS              23        8              12              24              67

 

Game Stats:

 

• Howland

• #11 Ben Bronson – 5 points, 1 3PT, 2/2 FT (100%), 1 foul

• #14 Michael Vacha – 2 points, 2/2 FT (100%), 1 foul

• #25 Grant Brown – 4 points, 1 3PT, 1/2 FT (50%), 4 fouls

• #30 Anthony Massucci – 32 points, 11 2PT, 3 3PT, 1/1 FT (0%), 1 foul

• #35 Gabe Bedea – 2 points, 1 2PT, 0/2 FT (0%), 4 fouls

• #4 Alex Henry – 12 points, 4 2PT, 4/4 FT (100%), 2 fouls

• #33 Alex Vacha – 2 points, 1 2PT, 1 foul

• #40 Bobby Sullivan – 8 points, 4 2PT, 2 fouls

• Poland

• #2 Jack Fulton – 3 points, 1 2PT, 1/3 FT (33%), 1 foul

• #3 Christian Colosimo – 28 points, 2 2PT, 3 3PT, 6/6 FT (100%), 1 foul

• #4 Ross Dedo – 14 points, 5 2PT, 4/6 FT (66%), 3 fouls

• #11 Noah Huda – 4 points, 2 2PT, 2 fouls

• #12 Carson Maurel – 4 points, 2 2PT

• #21 Michael Nittoli – 3 points, 1 2PT, 1/2 FT (50%), 4 fouls

 

 

Postgame Interview With Don.Bubon: