Tag Archive for: Tigers

DESALVO CONTINUES TO BUILD HER LEGACY

HOWLAND OH- As the Howland girls basketball team embarks on a journey filled with redemption and resilience, senior standout Jessie DeSalvo emerges as a beacon of strength and determination. After a season devoid of seniors just a year ago, DeSalvo and her teammates returned with a renewed sense of purpose, driven by the valuable lessons learned from the challenges of the past.

For DeSalvo, basketball is not just a sport but a cherished family affair. Playing alongside her sister Jamie during the formative years of her career, DeSalvo honed her skills and developed into the exceptional player she is today. The bond forged on the court with her sister served as a catalyst for personal growth and athletic excellence, shaping DeSalvo’s journey in profound ways.

However, amidst the triumphs and trials of her basketball career, DeSalvo faced an unexpected hurdle with the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Despite the initial struggle, DeSalvo embraced this new reality with unwavering courage, drawing strength from the unwavering support of her family and teammates. Rather than allowing diabetes to hinder her dreams, DeSalvo transformed adversity into an opportunity for growth, emerging not only as a resilient athlete but also as an inspiration to her peers.

On the court, DeSalvo’s contributions have been instrumental in propelling Howland towards success, culminating in a showdown for the district championship against Copley. Her tenacity, skill, and leadership have served as the driving force behind the team’s impressive journey, with each game showcasing her unwavering dedication to her craft.

Despite averaging 6.4 points per game this season, DeSalvo’s impact transcends mere statistics, as she embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellence that defines the Howland Tigers. As her senior year unfolds, DeSalvo remains steadfast in her commitment to leading her team to victory, determined to savor every moment on the court and cherish the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.

As she continues to write the final chapter of her high school basketball career, DeSalvo remains resolute in her pursuit of success, fueled by a relentless desire to win and a commitment to making every game count. With her sights set on tournament glory, DeSalvo epitomizes the heart and soul of the Howland Tigers, inspiring her teammates and fans alike with her unwavering passion and unyielding determination.

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TIGERS REPEAT HOPES STAY ALIVE AT THE BUZZER

By Noah Doughty 


MINERAL RIDGE OH- It was districts at Mineral Ridge as #2 Badger took on #5 Springfield both teams’ defenses played tough with it being tied 14-14 at the half. It felt like the whole second half was the final stretch where every basket felt like it had a huge impact. And with Badger tying it up with under 10 seconds remaining Sprinfeild had a final drive where Ava Vecchione hit a buzzer beater with time expiring to give the Tigers a 40-38 win.

 

For the Badgers Katie Grexa led with 21 points and Hannah Betts made it into double digits with 10. For Springfield Jameka Brungard led with 14 points and Maren Vinkler made a huge impact for the Tigers off the bench with 8 points 6 of them coming in the third. Ava Vecchione also had 8 points as well in the win.

 

With the Win the Tigers advance on to district finals where they will take on Warren JFK this Saturday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm.

 

TIGERS ALLOW NO THOUGHTS OF UPSETS IN THE SEMIS

ELYRIA OH- In a commanding display of dominance, Howland left no room for upsets on Wednesday night as they powered past Berkshire with a convincing 61-38 victory, securing their spot in the district championship. From the opening tip-off, Howland asserted their control on the court, demonstrating their strength and determination to advance in the postseason.

Leading the charge for Howland was Alyssa Massucci, who delivered a standout performance with a team-high 18 points, showcasing her scoring prowess and leadership on the court. Mia Barrish also made significant contributions with 13 points, while Sophia Powell added 8 points and Mya Kubanscek chipped in with 7 points to bolster Howland’s offensive attack.

The suffocating defense and efficient offense displayed by Howland proved too much for Berkshire to handle, as Howland cruised to victory and secured their place in the district championship.

With the win, Howland advances to the district championship, where they are set to face off against Copley on Saturday. The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 at Elyria.

TIGERS NEVER HAVE A DOUBT IN FINAL HOME GAME

HOWLAND OH- In a commanding performance from start to finish, Howland showcased their strength and determination in their first tournament win on Tuesday, defeating Harvey with a decisive 65-44 victory. The Tigers displayed consistency and composure throughout the game, never relinquishing their control as they imposed their will on both ends of the court.

Leading the charge for Howland was John Perry, who delivered a stellar performance with a team-high 17 points, setting the tone for the Tigers’ offensive attack. TJ Douglas contributed 15 points, while Alex Henry added 11 points and Anthony Chieffo chipped in with 10 points, highlighting the balanced scoring effort that propelled Howland to victory.

With the win, Howland advances to the sectional final on Friday, where they will face a tough road matchup against Madison.

TIGERS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REPEAT

NEWMIDDLETOWN OH- In their quest to defend their regional championship title, Springfield took a significant stride forward on Saturday with a commanding 59-43 victory over Heartland Christian, advancing to the district round of the tournament. With their sights set on postseason glory, Springfield showcased their talent and determination on the court, leaving no doubt as to their capabilities.

Leading the charge for Springfield was Jameka Brungard, who delivered a standout performance with an impressive 24 points, leading the team’s offensive charge with her scoring prowess. Ava Vecchione also made significant contributions with 19 points, while Mariana Tuscano added 10 points to bolster Springfield’s offensive firepower.

Despite a spirited effort from Heartland Christian, Springfield’s relentless attack proved too much to handle, as they secured the decisive victory to continue their postseason journey.

With the win, Springfield advances to Wednesday’s district semifinal, where they are set to face off against Badger. The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled to take place at Mineral Ridge at 6:00.

HOWLAND OWNS THE FOURTH QUARTER

HOWLAND OH- In a thrilling matchup that came down to the wire, Howland showcased their resilience and determination on Saturday, unleashing a monumental fourth-quarter surge to secure a spot in the district semifinals with a hard-fought 45-32 victory over Tallmadge. Trailing entering the final frame, the Tigers erupted for an impressive 21-8 scoring burst, propelling them past their opponents and into the next round of the postseason.

Leading the charge for Howland was Alyssa Massucci, who delivered a stellar performance with a game-high 19 points, displaying her scoring prowess when it mattered most. Jessie DeSalvo also made significant contributions with 10 points, while Maya Kubanscek added 7 points to round out the Tigers’ offensive attack.

The tenacity and resilience exhibited by Howland throughout the game ultimately paid off as they punched their ticket to the district semifinals.

Looking ahead, Howland sets their sights on their next challenge as they prepare to face Berkshire in the district semifinals. The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Elyria, with tip-off set for 6:00. As they continue their postseason journey.

TIGERS POUNCE IN OVERTIME FOR THE WIN

By Matt Maher 


NEWTON FALLS, OH – The battle for second on the MVAC Gray division came down to the wire Friday night when Campbell Memorial visited Newton Falls. Newton Falls showed great defense combined with stellar offense right out of the gate but that defense and offense began to slip in the 2nd half and Campbell clawed their way back into it and forced an overtime thriller that came up just short for the Red Devils and saw the Tigers earn themselves a 50-45 victory.

 

Everyone knew this game was going to be a grind but the 17-8 first quarter score that saw Newton Falls on top started to question that. David Moore got his night started with the first triple for the Red Devils while Josue Rodriguez found 3 himself with a 2 and 1. Alex Stinson and Cameron Huff were money from the arc giving their team a huge 3 each while Jabriel Rufai found 5 points with a double then a triple. 

 

Campbell tightened their defense in the second quarter and only allowed Newton Falls to score 11 to their 5. It was Moore and Rodriguez leading the way again with Moore finding another 3 while Rodriguez found 2 more. Landon Mcgregor joined the party with his team’s only 3-pointer of the quarter and led his team in scoring this frame with that tally. Rufai was held scoreless this frame which is a testament to Memorials defense that they kept one of the deadliest Tigers from pouncing going into halftime.

 

Campbell knew they needed to improve on the defensive showing they put up in the last quarter and find simpler shots and boy did they deliver, with a 12-4 edge in the 3rd, Campbell got themselves right back into it and made Newton Falls nervous. Unlike the 2nd, the 3rd quarter saw Jabriel Rufai score all 4 for his team with a double and a perfect 2-for-2 from the stripe. David Moore seemed to have found Superman’s cape during the break because he went off on the Tigers with 10 points in the quarter starting with a 3 then continuing on with three made 2’s and an and-1 that hit.

 

The Red Devils would not and could not be stopped going into the 4th and man were they good with a 15-8 edge in scoring they had found enough to tie this game late and force overtime in this huge game. Rufai scored 4 points to lead his team this quarter with 2 hard fought 2’s. Moore and Rodriguez continued their dominance for their team with Moore putting up 4 more and Rodriguez adding 5 points to his teams total. 

 

The Red Devils went into overtime scoring the first 3 points quickly only to see McGregor respond immediately after with a 3 of his own and it didn’t take long for the Falls to find a narrow lead and force Campbell to foul which promptly sealed this game for the Tigers because Jabriel Rufai went 5-for-6 from the stripe.

 

Campbell showed grit and heart in this game but just fell short after finding their game and forcing this one to overtime. The Tigers will end their season on a 6 game winning streak and will host Chippewa on February 27th for round 1 of the OHSAA playoffs while Campbell gets ready for their first round brawl against Trinity on the 27th as well, both game will be played at 7:00PM EST. 

URSULINE SPINS AROUND TIGERS IN OVERTIME

By Noah Ricks

 

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Howland Tigers and Ursuline Fighting Irish boys’ basketball teams put on a thrilling finish to the regular season in a game that would take an extra period to complete. The Irish did the right things at the right time as they would defeat the Tigers in overtime 62-53.

 

Howland gave the red hot Fighting Irish all they could ask for in a non-conference classic. They would take control of the game in the first half thanks in part to senior Alex Henry, who would pick up 9 first-quarter points, en route to a 21-point performance. The Tigers were able to take a 23-21 advantage heading into the locker room as senior John Perry tagged along his teammate Henry with 13 tallies.

 

Despite first half struggles, Ursuline would make huge adjustments in the second half, which revolved mainly around coach Keith Gunther’s son Jaylen. The true freshman Gunther exploded for 21 points in the second half and overtime, ending the contest leading all scorers with 23. He would also connect on back-to-back threes to give his team a 46-43 advantage in the fourth.

 

Henry would come up clutch, however, for Howland, as he would drain a tray near the end of regulation to tie up the scoring at 48-48. With a chance to win the game, the Tiger heroics came up just short as the Irish defense blocked Steven Bubon’s layup at the buzzer to keep the tie, sending Howland into their third overtime game of the season. Ursuline used the momentum to fire away with a 14-5 overtime period. Overall, between the fourth quarter and overtime, the Irish outscored the Tigers 27-17.

 

Ursuline ends their regular season with an 18-3 mark as they start their tournament run in the Sectional Semifinal against Cleveland Collinwood. Howland, with the hard-fought overtime defeat, will finish the regular season 11-11 with a home Sectional Semifinal game coming up against Painesville Harvey. Both games will tip-off at 7:00 P.M. this upcoming Tuesday.

 

You can watch interviews with Ursuline head coach Keith Gunther and Howland head coach Dan Bubon below.

TIGERS MIGHTY ROAR HEARD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT

By Noah Ricks

 

HOWLAND CENTER, OH – The Howland Lady Tigers were dominant right from the opening tip-off to start postseason play. They would roar to a 78-9 victory over visiting Ravenna in the Sectional Semifinal to advance to the next round.

 

The offense was in sync all night for the Tigers, as they were able to score the game’s first 21 points. Senior leader Alyssa Massucci would pile up 15 of the team’s 29 points in the first quarter, as she would end up leading all scorers with 25. Mia Barrish and Sophia Powell also contributed 8 apiece for the Tigers. All but one player for Howland was able to get on the board throughout the course of the night, with the bench compiling 41 points in total. 

 

Despite being held to single digits, Ravenna showed fight in the fourth, outscoring the Tigers in the final quarter 5-3. Shamyah Henderson led the Ravens with 5 points. Miriyha Sandifer and Abby Schofield each cashed in a bucket to add to the team’s total.

 

Howland (17-6) advances to the Sectional Final, where they will welcome Tallmadge on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 P.M. as the Tigers seek their third consecutive Sectional title. Ravenna closes their season with a 4-19 mark.

 

You can watch interviews with Howland head coach Aaron Pounds and YSN Live Player of the Game Alyssa Massucci below.

TIGERS LEAVE THE HANGAR WITH HEADS HELD HIGH

By Ty Bartell

 

WINDHAM, Ohio — The Newton Falls Tigers claimed a hard-fought road playoff win against the Windham Bombers with a final score of 30-24, advancing to the next round of the Division IV, Region 13, Northeast 1 bracket.

In a matchup between two closely matched teams, the Tigers traveled to Portage County to take on the Bombers in a sectional semi-final showdown. Both teams had similar regular-season records, with the Tigers finishing 10-12 in the Gray Division of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC) and the Bombers ending with an 11-11 record as part of the Stripes Division in the Northeastern Athletic Conference (NAC).

The game got off to a slow start, with a low-scoring first quarter that saw Newton Falls holding a slim 6-4 lead after eight minutes of play, propelled by a pair of 3-point shots by Dani Drake and Madison Davis. Defensive intensity continued into the second quarter, with both teams struggling to find scoring opportunities. The Tigers managed to maintain their lead, outscoring the Bombers 6-5 in the quarter to take a 12-9 advantage into halftime.

After the break, Windham fought back in the third quarter, matching Newton Falls basket for basket. Led by Briah Daniel and Lorena De Oliveria, the Bombers rallied to tie the game at 19-19 heading into the final quarter. However, the Tigers regained their momentum in the fourth quarter, posting an 11-5 period to secure the 30-24 playoff victory.
Dani Drake was named Player of the Game for the Tigers, leading all scorers with 10 points, including three made 3-point shots. She was supported by Morgan Kendall with 6 points, and

Kennedy Howard and Madison Davis with 5 points each. Windham’s offense was led by Lorena De Oliveria and Briah Daniel, who each contributed 10 points.

With the win, the 23rd-seeded Newton Falls Tigers advance to the sectional final, where they will face the winner of the matchup between the 25th-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas and the 13th-seeded East Canton.
For the latest updates on Tiger and Bomber basketball and more, including live games, scores, stats, and stories, fans can stay tuned to YSN throughout the season.