Tag Archive for: West Branch

GATORS CHOMP DOWN ON WARRIORS TITLE HOPES

MACEDONIA OH- In a thrilling district championship showdown on Saturday, Laurel’s standout sophomore, Saniyah Hall, showcased her immense talent as she propelled the Gators to victory over West Branch. Hall, ranked 3rd in the country for the class of 2026, dominated the court, scoring an impressive 29 points, leading her team to a 51-39 triumph.

Despite the formidable effort from West Branch, led by Sophia Gregory’s 24 points and Livvie Showalter’s 9 points, they couldn’t overcome Laurel’s relentless offense and tenacious defense. With this victory, Laurel advances, while West Branch concludes their season with an admirable 23-3 record, reflecting their commendable efforts throughout the season.

WARRIORS WORK THEIR WAY TO DISTRICTS

BELOIT OH- In a thrilling tournament matchup, the West Branch Warriors showcased their resilience and determination as they powered past the East Tech Tigers with a final score of 62-49. Despite trailing 9-7 after a closely contested first quarter, the Warriors quickly shifted gears, seizing control of the game to claim a 23-16 lead by halftime.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Jeremiah Thomas, whose stellar performance saw him net an impressive 19 points, guiding his team towards victory. Supported by the dynamic efforts of Gavin Gregory with 13 points and Jaxon Robb contributing 12 points, the Warriors’ offense proved to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the game. Additionally, Copper Anderson’s nine points further bolstered West Branch’s commanding performance on the court.

With this hard-fought win under their belt, West Branch now sets their sights on the OHSAA District Tournament at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin. The Warriors’ next challenge awaits them in the form of the Revere Minutemen, whom they are scheduled to face on Thursday, March 7th at 7 PM.

WARRIORS STRIDING IN DISTRICTS

By Michael Ginocchi


Beloit, OH-
The West Branch Girls basketball team delivered a dominant performance, securing a 70-19 victory over Chagrin Falls in the Division 2 district semifinal held at Nordonia High School. The Warrior defense proved formidable, stifling the Tigers consistently throughout the entire game.

 

Sophie Gregory led all scorers with an impressive 20 points for West Branch. Additionally, she showcased her versatility by contributing rebounds, assists, and a couple of blocked shots, demonstrating her all-around impact on the game. Chloe Dennison scored 16 points with four three-pointers. Audrey Eaton added nine points with three triples, while Mikalyn Woods came off the bench to provide a significant spark, contributing 10 points to the team’s success.

 

Amelia Benco had most of Chagrin Falls success throughout the night. She ended up finishing with 10 points. Avery Russell scored 5 respectively. The West Branch size mismatch also proved to be a big difference in the game.

 

West Branch improves to 23-2 and will advance to the District Championship Game on Saturday. The Warriors will compete against  Shaker Hts. Laurel who is very good. Chagrin Falls ends their season at 15-10.

WARRIORS HAVE ANOTHER CLOSE ONE WITH EAST

By Michael Ginocchi 


Beloit, OH-
The first round sectional game for the West Branch Boys basketball team wasn’t your typical matchup. Hosting the formidable and underseeded East Golden Bears, the Warriors knew they were in for a tough battle, especially considering the Bears were seeking revenge for their earlier season loss to West Branch by just two points in overtime.The game lived up to expectations, with both teams giving it their all in a hard-fought and physical contest. In the end, West Branch managed to secure a narrow 50-47 victory, clinching their spot in the sectional championship. 

 

West Branch was led by Camden Lane, who had a significant impact with 14 points. His three-point shooting, not typically a strong aspect of his game, played a crucial role. Lane sunk three three-pointers, including a contested shot from the corner, showcasing his ability to deliver in key moments. His unexpected success from beyond the arc was pivotal in securing West Branch’s hard-fought victory. 

 

Jeremiah Thomas had a nice performance scoring 12 points while Cooper Adnerson contributed 10.The Warriors’ big men played a crucial role by showcasing physicality and dominance on the boards, effectively thwarting East’s attempts to secure rebounds.

 

Isiah McCray, the standout player for Youngstown East, faced tough defense throughout the game, limiting his usual impact. Despite this, he still managed to put up 16 points, including a last-second attempt at a buzzer-beater to force overtime. Cameron Sly and Tyris Davis also made significant contributions, each finishing in double figures to bolster Youngstown East’s scoring effort.

 

With the Win West Branch improves to 19-4 and will host 20th seeded East Cleveland Technical on Friday Mar. 1 for a trip to districts. Youngstown East ends their season at 11-10.

WARRIORS MAKE THE MOST OF FINAL HOME GAME

BELOIT OH- In a commanding display of dominance, West Branch claimed the sectional championship on Saturday with an emphatic 61-10 victory over Hubbard. From the opening whistle, West Branch showcased their superiority on both ends of the court, overwhelming Hubbard with their relentless defense and high-powered offense.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Sophia Gregory, who poured in 14 points, setting the tone for her team’s offensive outburst. Mikayln Woods added 11 points, while Livvie Showalter and Ellie Tucker each contributed 7 points to the winning effort. Additionally, Chloe Dennison and Audrey Eaton both chipped in 6 points, highlighting the depth and balance of West Branch’s scoring attack.

The suffocating defense of West Branch limited Hubbard’s scoring opportunities, allowing them to cruise to a decisive victory and secure the sectional championship.

With the win, West Branch advances to the District Semifinals, where they will face off against Chagrin Falls on Wednesday at Nordonia High School. Tip-off for this highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for approximately 7:30.

WARRIORS TAKE A STANCE

By Michael Ginocchi 


Beloit, OH-
The West Branch Boys’ Basketball team won their final game before tournament play by defeating Heartland Christian 64 to 42. West Branch finished the regular season with an 18-4 record and were EBC champs. 

 

The Warriors led 35 to 23 at the half, but Heartland showed a lot of heart by cutting the lead to eight points in the second before the Warriors pulled away. West Branch will play at home on Tuesday against the 13-9 Youngstown East Golden Bears in the first round of the state playoffs. The matchup between the two teams should be an exciting first round game. West Branch won the first meeting 73 to 71 in overtime a few weeks ago.

 

Leading the Warriors’ offense was Jeremiah Thomas with 16 points and Gavin Gregory with 10 points. Jaxon Robb contributed 9 points and Cooper Anderson and Joey Jackson each had 8 points.

 

The Heartland Lions were led in scoring by Will Morgan with 12 points and Jake Walker with 11 points. Their regular season record ends with a 13-9 record. The Lions will face Southington Chalker at home on Tuesday at 7 pm. in the first round of the state basketball playoffs. 






WARRIORS TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME

BELOIT OH- In a highly anticipated tournament matchup, the West Branch High School basketball team wasted no time asserting their dominance on the court as they dispatched Coventry with a commanding 56-18 victory. From the opening tip-off, West Branch showcased their skill and determination, leaving no doubt about their intentions in postseason play.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Sophia Gregory, whose stellar performance saw her rack up an impressive 22 points, setting the tone for her team’s offensive onslaught. Audrey Eaton contributed 11 points, while Chloe Dennison added 7 points to bolster West Branch’s scoring effort and help secure the win.

Defensively, West Branch stifled Coventry’s offense, holding them to just 18 points for the entire game. The team’s tenacity and cohesion on defense proved to be a key factor in their victory, as they effectively shut down their opponents and controlled the pace of the game from start to finish.

With this convincing win, West Branch advances to the sectional final on Saturday with their sights set on further postseason success. Their next challenge will come in the form of Hubbard, whom they will host at 7:00 in what promises to be another thrilling matchup.

 

SPARTANS GET SIGNATURE WIN OVER BRANCH

BOARDMAN, OH- In a nail-biting showdown between West Branch High School and Boardman High School, the Spartans emerged victorious with a final score of 64-60, wrapping up their regular season in style. It was a game marked by intense competition and impressive displays of skill from both sides.

Boardman showcased their best performance of the season, demonstrating exceptional consistency in their gameplay while effectively managing turnovers and maintaining a steady scoring pace throughout the match.

Leading the charge for the Spartans was Grayson Eicher, who delivered a stellar performance with a career-high 27 points and 8 rebounds. Eicher’s standout contributions were crucial to Boardman’s success, particularly his flawless 4/4 free throw performance during the critical moments of the game.

Not to be outdone, Terrell McDowell also made his presence felt on the court, contributing 20 points, including an impressive 6/8 performance from the free-throw line in the decisive fourth quarter, securing the victory for his team.

Sullivan Smith rose to the occasion with 6 points of his own, including a crucial free throw that sealed the game with just 7 seconds remaining on the clock. Noah Ziak also played a vital role, adding 4 points to the scoreboard and demonstrating resilience during the intense final moments of the match.

Nico Holzschuh and Kaden Mayhew contributed 2 points each, with Holzschuh showcasing remarkable determination in battling against West Branch’s formidable size advantage in the paint. Zach Haus and Vince Butto rounded out the scoring, each connecting on a pivotal free throw while providing essential energy and defensive prowess throughout the game.

Jeffrey Markovitch and Jayse Varley also played their part in securing the victory, contributing to the team’s collective effort and determination on the court.

For West Branch, Jaxon Robb finished with 23 points to lead the way.  Gavin Gregory and Cooper Anderson each had double-doubles.  Gregory scored 13 and grabbed 12 rebounds while Anderson knocked down 12 and had 13 boards.

The Warriors will close out the regular season on Friday at home against Heartland Christian.

With this impressive win under their belt, Boardman now sets their sights on tournament play, with their next matchup scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 at Massillon Perry. As they carry the momentum from this triumph into the postseason, the Spartans are poised to make a strong statement on the basketball court.

WEST BRANCH STAYING LOCKED IN

By Matt Maher 


GIRARD, OH – The red hot Warriors made their way out to Girard for an end of season tuneup against the Indians. After a fairly close 1st quarter, the Warriors continued to outscore Girard and found themselves with a 65-40 victory. West Branch fought hard with great defensive coverage and took advantage of most of their possessions while Girard had their struggles.

 

The Warriors started out the night by winning the opening tip and quickly converting the first 2 points and while Girard did have a response it wasn’t nearly as powerful as what West Branch was showing and the frame ended 19-11 in favor of the Warriors. The 3 ball was the specialty for Girard in the first quarter with Kaiden Clare hitting two of them to get 6 of his 8 points and a third coming from Melvin Dixon. While Girard specialized from beyond the arc, West Branch was hard to tame in the paint, finding 7 of their field goals from within the arc with Gavin Gregory scoring four of them. Camden Lane found the first 3 of the game for West Branch and went 1-for-2 from the charity Stripe as well.

 

Both teams slowed down the offensive output in the 2nd quarter with West Branch finding 16 to Girards 7. Dom Philips found 4 points with a layup and 1 as well as putting up 1-of-2 later down the stretch, Nick Rafferty found another 3 ball for the Indians as well. Cooper Anderson found three 2’s to lead his team with 6 points in the frame while Ricky Hendershott followed Anderson with 5 points including another 3 for his team. 

 

Girard had a better 2nd half and started it out with a 10 point 3rd quarter that came up just 3 points shy of West Branches 13 points. The Indians found four scores from four different sources: Dixon and Stephen Sims both put up 2’s and Cam Herrick and Rafferty both shot from range and put up a combined 6 points. Jaxon Robb was the leader for West branch in the 3rd, with 7 points that came from two 2’s and a good 3-for-4 from the line he helped his team keep Girard at bay.

 

The Indians had their highest scoring quarter yet with a 12 point 4th. While Girard was reaching new heights late in this game, West Branch was staying put and scored 16 points to really put this one to bed. The Indians yet again found all their scoring from four different sources but this time all of them each hit a 3, Ahmad Curd, Nick Rafferty, Chris Cardiero and Cam Herrick all found buckets for Girard. West Branch spread the wealth as well with 7 different players all scoring at least 1 point with Gregory leading the cause with 4 points and Lane adding one last triple.

 

Girard was excellent from beyond the arc on Friday night but it wasn’t enough to take down one of the top teams in our area. West Branch found themselves in some favorable spots throughout the game and that was due in part to their excellent play making as well as some less than desirable coverage from their opponent. West Branch (17-3) will stay on the road when they face Boardman on February 20th at 7:00PM while Girard (2-19) will finish off their season at LaBrae on the 20th as well at 7:00PM.

WARRIORS BRING THE HEAT ON SENIOR NIGHT

BELOIT OH- West Branch’s senior night was nothing short of spectacular as they clinched a commanding victory over Girard with a final score of 42-23. The jubilant crowd cheered on their seniors in what proved to be a memorable game.

Leading the charge for West Branch was Livvie Showalter, who poured in an impressive 13 points, showcasing her scoring prowess on the court. Not far behind was Chloe Dennison, who contributed 11 points, adding to the team’s offensive firepower.

Sophia Gregory and Mikayln Woods also made significant contributions, each chipping in 5 points to secure the team’s victory. Their solid performances underscored the depth and talent of the West Branch lineup.

With this win, West Branch concluded their regular season with an outstanding record of 20-2, setting the stage for an exciting tournament run. Looking ahead, they are poised to face Coventry in their first-round game next Wednesday.

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/2-14-g-bb-west-branch-girard/2-14-g-bb-west-branch-girard/105EOS1D