KINSMAN, OHIO- The St. Thomas Aquinas Knights traveled to farm town, USA to take on the Badger Braves. The Braves got off to a hot start and led 26-16 at the half. The knights made a huge comeback and it was all back and forth from that point on.
Freshman Lewis Flowers made some key rebounds that saved possessions for the Braves. The scoring by the braves was led by Duncan Moy, with 25, and as well as Cole Burnett, with 16. Brad Hamilton added on 12 more points as well as making the key free throws that put the Braves in front for good. The Braves snuck away with the 62-56.
The Braves improve to 9-0 and will be back in action on against Conneaut next Friday.
*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/154B9226-FAA6-4DD1-9F33-3ADBA8C0BA8E.jpeg198369Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2022-12-31 23:14:252022-12-31 23:14:25BADGER PASSES BIG MID SEASON TEST
STRUTHERS OH- it’s been three seasons since the struthers wildcats finished with a winning record, this season they look to change that, and what a better way to do that than with a big victory against St Thomas Aquinas of Louisville 49-6.
Quarterback Jason Dukes was out with an ankle injury he sustained in the scrimmage against West Branch. Najier Howard was three for three for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. All four running backs scored a touchdown, one later on in the game with Anthony Carter for a three-yard touchdown and Tyler Sanchez with a touchdown too as he rushed for 74 yards in the first half and Devin “Bam Bam” Braham. Najier Howard got the first points as well with a 14-yard score.
Star player Alec Grzyb had two targets in the first half for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He also had interceptions on defense along with Nico Farina.
Owen Burick in the first half was four of 14 for 20 yards for Aquinas. Luke Gordon, Julian Randle and Carl Bonner got some playing time as well. Aquinas got their first score late but it wasn’t enough to comeback.
After the game, YSNs Ian O’Brien caught up with coach John Bayuk about the big first win of the season:
Struthers (1-0) will host Geneva. Aquinas (0-1) will play host Smithville.
On what was a cold, but clear Monday night of girls basketball for YSN, including several area teams with their first home games of the year.
Over in Atwater, Ohio, The Waterloo Lady Vikings looked to make some noise with their first appearance on the network this season.
That matchup was with The Saint Thomas Aquinas Lady Knights, who had a clear height advantage going into this one.
With girls like 6’2” Jo Smith for The Lady Knights, you would think rebounding might be cause for concern. However, that was not the case, as Waterloo had the advantage on the glass.
You may not be able to teach height, but you can teach effort and positioning as Coach Longanecker might say for The Lady Vikings. A generous amount of rebounds for Waterloo came off just that. Beingpositioned well for the box out and never giving up on the ball lead to countless offensive boards for Waterloo.
Yes, Waterloo may lack some height compared to other teams. There is something else you cannot teach in basketball, and that is heart, which The Lady Vikings exemplify so well!
The two teams met in the middle for the opening tip, and Waterloo wasted no time getting to work. As the defense implemented by The Lady Vikings forced so many turnovers that resulted in offensive buckets in the first half.
Aquinas tried making a halftime adjustment, which they did a great job at, but Waterloo did not take their foot off the gas. Rose Couts and Kaira English both had 20 points for Waterloo, while Abby Mazur pitched in 14 as well, for a combined 54 points of offense between 3 players. It helped propel The Lady Vikings to the emphatic 66-38 victory on Monday.
With a team as young as this, you expect there to be growing pains early in the season. But the Basketball IQ of the seven strong Lady Vikings was the most impressive Monday night. Passing was like poetry in motion, creating a lot of baskets off assists, a brand of basketball that Waterloo can have a ton of success in.
They will look to continue that success Thursday, December 9th in a MVAC Scarlet Conference matchup with The Lowellville Lady Rockets!
There may only be seven, but sound the horns! Because The Lady Vikings are here!
*Contributed by YSN’s Ty Bartell
Postgame Interview With Kevin Loganecker:
Postgame Interview With Kaira English:
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BF364C39-9471-4CAA-84C4-A149B6C02B84.jpeg12051919Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2021-12-07 16:40:092023-07-14 22:56:23VIKINGS GLIDE RIGHT THROUGH AQUINAS
HANOVERTON OH- The message from the coaching staff heading into Monday Night’s home opener was rebound. Message received as United rebounded following their first loss of the season a week ago with a 45-33 victory over St Thomas Aquinas.
The Eagles and Knights traded baskets early and often in the first quarter before United was able to build a 13-9 lead. Aquinas, led by Jo Smith 10 pts / 5 rebs, challenged the Eagles with numerous second chance points to keep the game close early on in the second period. Using their pressure defense United was able to reel off 6 straight points just before the half extending their lead to 30-19.
Coach Josh Sigler challenged his team during the intermission “My message to them was we have to rebound. No more second chances, everyone needs to get involved and be more physical.” The Eagles took that message to the court in the second half limiting the Knights abilities on the offensive glass. Behind Taylor Cope’s team high 12 rebs and Colby Burton’s 7 rebs the duo shut down any chances of the Knights comeback chances. Only able to muster 15 second half points it was the Eagles defense that took control of the game.
Sophomore point guard Addyson Blazer led the way for the Eagles with 10 pts / 6 stls. Madison Kibler’s 10 pts / 7 rebs also help secure the first win for United. Coach Sigler on their first win of the season “ It always feels great to get that first win, now comes the hard part of sustaining it for the season” The young United (1-1) squad will return to action Thursday as they travel to Leetonia
*Contributed By YSN’s Chris Sigler
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/75660C6F-0283-4017-A3C1-ABBB1A457CC1.jpeg8691364Anthony Hartwighttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngAnthony Hartwig2021-11-30 15:40:492023-07-14 22:44:35UNITED SECURES FIRST WIN
St Thomas Aquinas and Warren JFK met up for an important Divison 7 Region 25 matchup tonight. Warren JFK at the start of the game was number 3 in the region while St. Thomas was 6th. St. Thomas used a lot of big plays and 5 touchdown passes by Senior Quarterback Alex Hawkins throws 5 touchdowns to win the showdown 34-9.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff down the field all the way down to the Knights 17-yard line, the Eagles had to settle for 34-yard field goal by senior kicker Armand Nannicola to give the Eagles the 3-0 lead with 9:25 left in the first quarter. The rest of the quarter was a back and forth battle to end the first quarter, the Eagles failed on a 4th down and 5 on the Knights 30-yard line to end the quarter. The Knights opened the second quarter with the ball after the Eagles turned the ball over on downs. Hawkins completed a short slant to Junior Vinny Zeren to the Eagles 49-yard line on 3rd and 4. On the next play, Hawkins threw a long 49-yard pass to Senior Elijah Chungo who beat his defender by a step in the left side of the end zone, to give the Knights a 7-3 lead after the extra point was added.
Kennedy blocked a field goal attempt by the Knights with 1:25 left in the first half and tried to pick it up inside their own 5-yard line and took over on their own 3-yard line. On the first play after the blocked field goal Sophmore Michael Mauro took a handoff right up the middle to the Eagles 46-yard line. Coach Bayuk ran 2 more plays not taking a timeout content on going into half time trailing 7-3 to the Knights.
The Knights blew the game open in the 3rd quarter when they took the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter and with 11:14 left in the quarter, Hawkins threw a slant pass to Junior Asia Burk who outran the secondary for a 49-yard touchdown to make the score 14-3. On the kickoff, JFK Junior Gabe Green picked it up around the 15-yard line and got stripped of the ball the Knights fell on the ball at the 17 to get the ball back. After an incomplete pass and a holding penalty, Hawkins threw a ball over the middle to Junior RaySean Owens who the Eagles lost in coverage and were wide open at the goal line for the 26-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-7. The Knights scored 14 points in the first 2 minutes and 43 seconds of the 2nd half. Right before the end of the 3rd quarter JFK drove the ball down to the 13-yard line and turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass by Senior quarterback Christan Marantis threw the ball a little to far to the outside to Junior Cameron Hollobaugh. Aquinas took over and a couple plays later Hawkins hit Burk again on a short pass to the left side and Burk broke 2 tackles and just was touched the rest of the 81 yards to the end zone, the extra point was blocked which made the score 27-3 with 5 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
The Eagles tried to gain momentum in the 4th quarter and with 9:02 left in the 4th quarter, Marantis threw a beautiful 28-yard fade to the back of the end zone. Junior wideout Sejjan Couto ran under the pass to cut the lead to 27 to 9 after the Knights blocked the extra point. After an exchange of punts, Hawkins threw his 5th touchdown pass of the night to Vinny Zeren for 15 yards to cap the scoring at 34- 9.
Alex Hawkins finished the night with 336 yards passing and 5 touchdown passes 2 of those to Asia Burks. St Thomas outgained Kennedy for the game 447 total yards to 364 yards for Warren JFK. St Thomas improves to (5-2) they take on the North Vikings (1-6) at home next week. Warren JFK (4-3) get to come back home next week to take on Gilmour Academy (3-3)
https://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/71182584_505511143562440_1319986476766724096_n.jpg640960Nate Keiperhttps://ysnlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Default-Email-Signature-2673571-300x70.pngNate Keiper2019-10-14 13:29:332019-10-14 13:29:33ST. THOMAS SINKS WARREN JFK
