Tag Archive for: Warriors

WEST BRANCH GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH WALT DESHIELDS

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BELOIT OH- West Branch is one of the most successful girls basketball programs in the area, and they have no plans on changing that any time soon. After their trip to the state tournament was cut short by the pandemic last season, the team is hungrier than ever to get back. There are some new faces on the team though, the Warriors lost all but one starter. Head coach Walt DeShields welcomes the challenge that this season brings.

Walt took time out of his day to call in YSN’s Running Point this week to update us on his team, and their season. Walt talks with DJ Yokley, and Steve Leslie about last year’s final four appearance, West Branch tradition, and much more. Gear up for this girls basketball season with Episode 1 of Coach’s Corner with Walt DeShields

Presented By

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j9hw-5jU04[/embedyt]

 

WEST BRANCH BREAKS OUT AGAINST RAIDERS

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BELOIT OH- West Branch and South Range boys opened the season on Friday night. It was the only show in town, and the Warriors were the ones who shined on the big stage. The separated themselves and never let go of their lead in a 55-40.

Justin Hendershott was Electric for the Warriors finishing with a game high 17 points. Dru DeShields was also in double figures with 10.

Michael Patrone led the Raiders with 14 points. Corey Penick added 7 points off the bench. Nate Brown was his usual defensive self, forcing 3 offensive fouls. Brown finished last season top 5 in the state in charges taken.

West Branch moves on to host Ravenna on Tuesday.

The Raiders want to rebound as they are currently scheduled to host Canfield on December 8th.

 

BROOKFIELD HOLDS BACK EAGLES

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BROOKFIELD OH- Brookfield Opener the season Monday night with an impressive 53-47 win over United.

United started the game with control. Their slow paced inside focused offense was really controlling a tempo. Freshman Grace Knight scores 5 of her 11 points in the 1st Qtr and helped United close the frame with a 11-7 lead.

However, in the 2nd Qtr, Brookfield would find rythym on offense. Sophia Hook knocked down three 3’s as the Warriors stormed to a 24 point frame and led 31-21 at the break.

United would not be swept away though, they’re zone tightened in on Hook’s jumpsuit and kept her relatively quiet in the third quarter. This helped the Eagles slowly but surely creep back in to the game.

The closest the Eagles would get was three points. Every time they got too close for comfort, Brookfield would come up with a huge shot. United had the ball down just four with about 12 seconds to go in the game and got senior Destiny Hill a good look from the corner. It would not fall though, and two more free throws from Hook would ice the game at 53-47.

Hook led all scorers on the night with 23 points. She 5 three pointers on the night. Audrey Reardon has a solid night as well finishing with 14. Katie Logan was also in double figures with 11.

United was led by Madison Kibler who finished with 15. Knight added 11.

Brookfield moves to 1-0 and they’ll host Heartland on Wednesday. United drops to 0-2 and they will host Salem on Monday.

WARRIORS WEAR DOWN GARFIELD

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BELOIT OH- The last time the West Branch Lady Warriors stepped on the floor it was to warm up for a Division II State Semifinal game in Columbus. Because of COVID-19, that game got cancelled, and West Branch said goodbye to six seniors, and four starters. Fast forward to Saturday night with four new starters, the Warriors haven’t lost a step. Their depth outlasted Garfield in a 48-33 victory.

it was a slow start for the Warriors, Garfield used an 8-0 run in the first quarter to take a 10-6 lead. It would be 10-8 at the end of the frame. The perimeter game of the Warriors showed up as three different players knocked down long shots in the second quarter. It was a quarter that the Warriors Win 18-9 to lead 26-19 at halftime.

A very experienced Lady G-Men squad fought back in the third quarter. After West Branch scores to make it 31-19, the G-Men went on a 10-0 run to cut it to two. In what may have been the biggest play of the game for the Warriors, Bella Laut drove inside and connected on a bucket, and got the foul. She completed the three point play to end the Garfield run and put the Warriors up 34-29. The Warriors would score the next seven points after that to lead 41-29.

Gardield had no steam left in the final frame. West Branch may have lost six seniors from last year’s team, but they still have a deep bench. Their depth overwhelmed the Lady G-Men.

Leading West Branch was Emma Egli with 13 points. Anna Lippiatt added 7, she hit a pair of threes. Freshman Lucie Showalter had a good debut contributing 7 points as well. Sydney Mercer has 6 points, and 10 rebounds.

Jenna Smith led the Lady G-Men with a game high 14 points. Grace Mills has 9. Smith also led in rebounds with 8.

West Branch is 1-0 and will travel to Canfield on Tuesday.

RESERVE RAKES WARRIORS TO GO TO DISTRICTS

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BERLIN CENTER OH- Western Reserve got their feet wet in tournament play on Saturday with a sectional final against Brookfield. The Blue Devils swept the Warriors to advance to the district semifinals (25-21 25-9 25-12).

Gianna Paris collected an impressive double double with 16 assists, and 11 digs. She also served up 5 aces. Dani Vuletich led the offense in kills with 13. Vuletich also finished with 5 digs. Kayla Owen led the defense with 16 digs.

Western Reserve now advances to the district semifinals where they’ll host the four seed Badger on Wednesday. That match is slated to start at 6:00.

URSULINE WITHSTANDS LATE WARRIOR RALLY

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BELOIT, OH- Perhaps one of the most looked at games this week had to have been the third seeded West Branch Warriors, hosting the sixth seeded Ursuline Irish in a dramafield quarterfinal matchup in Division IV region 13.  The first scoring drive started out when the Irish did their take on the Philly special as Brady Shannon pitched it to Dante Walker who then pitched it back to Matthew Reardon who found Luke Campbell making it 8-0 after converting the two point conversion.  

 

Ursuline’s next touchdown came during the second when Terrell “TG” Dilworth turned into Barry Allen aka the flash going 70-yards to the house with nobody stopping the Air Force commit.  His take off was like a fighter jet putting the Irish up 16-0.  But those Warriors, you should never count them out as Brock Hillyer who has been having a good season found Dru DeShields two-yards out cutting the Ursuline lead to 10.  The Irish got one more score on the board to make it 24-6 at the half and now the Warriors needed a plan.

 

That’s when they knew that being aggressive and forcing Trevor Lawrence aka Brady Shannon would come into their favor as Shannon was picked off by Alec Wilson and guess what, he could go all the way and that he did, a 37-yard pick six making it now 24-12.  

 

However, Shannon was not finished yet, as he put that last pass he had behind him and now it was a new set of downs.  He would trust Dante Walker to make a spectacular 38-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown making it 32-12.  Once again, those Warriors would not go away as Hillyer found DeShields yet again two-yards out, cutting the lead to 13.  But then, it was Emmitt Smith, aka DeMarcus McElroy who smelled the end zone and man it was smelling good as he took it in five-yards out extending it 38-19.  

 

West Branch did what they usually do on offense and that is score during crunch time with two touchdowns late in the game.  The first was when Hillyer found Nick Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown and then the man would sneak it in himself putting the game to only seven with 2:45 to go and they were back in this.  These Warriors were not giving up without a fight, they would not let their winning record be ruined.  They would try for the onside kick, but Matthew Reardon would recover, ending the game with a final of 38-31 in a hard fought nearly come from behind win.  But, the Irish pulled it off even through the fourth quarter struggle that they had.  

 

Dan Reardon and the Ursuline Irish (6-2) are heading to the regional semifinals to take on the two seeded Poland Bulldogs (7-1) who got a big win Saturday against Chagrin Falls 34-9.  A program that seemed to be the laughing stock of Youngstown GRIT football is now back on top, but man those Bulldogs still need to be fed and they are hungry for some Lucky Charms. The game will be played on a spooky Saturday night, October 31st at 7pm on YSN Live. 

 

  West Branch (7-1) may have lost in the playoffs, but can still schedule a regular season opponent until week 10 with their choice.  The Warriors should pick their heads up after a tremendous season and prepare for another 2021 playoff run. 

 

*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*

QUAKERS UPSET WEST BRANCH

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SALEM OH- Salem couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the regular season with a huge upset win over West Branch in straight sets (25-13 25-18 25-23).

Kaley Davis led the Quakers offense with 9 kills, and she served up 6 aces. Jenna McClish rocked in the back row leading the team with 31 digs. Morgan McGaffick ran the offense well for the Quakers setting up 16 assists, and she completed a double double with 14 digs. Kaelyn Helmick has a solid night as well with 8 kills and 2 blocks.

Salem will kick off their tournament run on Tuesday as they host Ravenna. West Branch will also host a first round match up against Chaney on Tuesday.

WARRIORS CLINCH 7TH STRAIGHT EBC CROWN

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SALEM OH-

The Lady Warriors clinched their 7th straight EBC title, beating Salem 3-0 at Sebo Stadium. Addy Jones opened the scoring in the first half off an assist from Jillian Pidgeon. Pidgeon would find the back of the net twice in the second half to seal the win. Sophia Gregory provided an assist to Pidgeon’s first goal. Amanda Davidson recorded the shutout, making 7 saves on the evening. Davidson was aided by strong play from her defenders – Maria Manley, Alexis Gregory, Bri Thomas and Sarah Bungard.

They improve to 13-1-2 on the season.

The Lady Warriors will host the winner of Notre Dame Cathedral Latin and Crestwood in tournament action on Thursday, 10/22.

*Contributed by Cheryl Ficco at wbathletics.org

COLE SECURES 1,000 KILLS IN LEOPARDS WIN

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BELOIT OH-

The Louisville Lady Leopards traveled to West Branch and defeated the Warriors in 3 sets:
25-18, 25-16, 25-21

Senior Paige Cole led the Leps offense with 19 kills and hit a career milestone of 1,000 kills!! Congrats to Paige on this incredible accomplishment.

Senior Lauren Siegfried also added in 9 kills and led the Leps with 21 assists.
Defensively Senior Sydney Bast led with 12 digs.
Freshman Addison Burick had a team high of 16 service points.

Leps advance to 11-8.

Louisville returns to action Wednesday as they host Barberton.

*Contributed by Alicia Mihelic at leopardathletics.org

MERCER SHINES IN WARRIORS VICTORY

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BELOIT OH- Sydney Mercer showed her power on Tuesday night as West Branch made quick work of conference for Minerva with a sweep (25-16 25-16 25-16).

In the first set, the opening points told a story of a back and forth match. Although Minerva never led in the set, they also didn’t trail by more than 2. That was until West Branch went on a 5-0 run to push a lead to 20-14. They coasted their way through the rest of the set, scoring 5 of the next 7 points to win 25-16. Sydney Mercer has 6 kills in the set.

The second set was much of the same as the two teams traded points back and forth in the start of the set. Minerva was actually able to grab a couple of one point leads. With the set tied at 14-14 Minerva took a timeout. This plan backfired as the Warriors rattled off seven straight points out of the time out with Bailey Campbell serving. The Warriors used the momentum to win 25-16. Sydney Mercer had another 6 kill set.

The third set belonged to West Branch from the get go. Their middle blockers started to get involved on both the offensive, and defensive sides of the net. Alexa Gusset also contributed a handful of kills from the right side position. West Branch ran away with set three 25-16.

West Branch served extremely well, totaling 11 service aces as a team. Mercer led the team with 13 kills on the night. Mikalyn Fitts finished with 5 kills.

West Branch will travel to Canton South on Thursday to continue conference play.