Herald Staff reports
BOYS BASKETBALL
ä Sharpsville 74, Sharon 72 — Undaunted by double-digit deficits, the Blue Devils dented the scoreboard for 31 fourth-quarter points in their comeback bid.
Sharon surged to leads of 21-16 at the quarter, 36-25 by the break, and 56-43 through 3 periods, before Sharpsville’s spree during the game’s final 8 minutes.
Ben Davis delivered the Devils with 13 of his team-high 23 points during the 4th frame, while Chad Piccirilli produced a 22-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist line to stake Sharpsville (4-2). Also, Anthony Sloan scored 19. He and Davis both connected on 8 of 13 floor shots.
“ ... I have to give (Piccirilli) credit, ’cause he played all thirty-two minutes, never came out of the game. And any coach’ll tell you: You’re only as good as your point guard makes you,’ praised Sharpsville skipper Jim Smiley.
Sharpsville secured its initial lead (69-67) with 1:43 remaining as Mattt Totin fed Sloan for a layin. The Tigers tied the tally at 72 on Andray Jefferson’s drive down the lane with 34 ticks to play.
Ultimately, Piccirilli’s pair of free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining provided the difference. Jefferson launched a triple from in front of the scorer’s table along the right wing that glanced off the rim at the buzzer.
Sharon (1-4) was led by Jefferson’s 21 points, Sammy Schweiss’ 17-point, 6-rebound line, and Marlin Sanders’ 15-point performance. However the Tigers turned over the ball 13 times after intermission — including 8 during the 4th frame — en route to a total of 18.
Conversely, Sharpsville made only 8 of its 18 miscues during the 2nd half, including a handful during the final 8 minutes. Also, the Blue Devils enjoyed a substantial edge from the charity stripe, converting 15 of 25 compared with Sharon’s 4-for-6 chart.
“We had a couple of good days of preparation, and we knew where the holes in (Sharon’s trapping) defense were because we play a similar type defense,” Smiley observed. “It’s one thing to know where it is and it’s another to execute it, and that’s going back to our guard play, and I have to give our guards a lot of credit.”
Regarding to the rivalry’s intensity as it relates to upcoming region AA games, Smiley said, “What you have to do is, when you’re in these types of games you really have to pull one or two of them out, ’cause the mental aspect of the game will, pretty much, determine what you do. So it was a good day to be us, and we feel fortuante to come out on top.” — By Ed Farrell, Herald assistant sports editor.
Dresch-McCluskey Tourney
ä Farrell 73, Pine-Richland 61 — At E.J. McCluskey Gymnasium, the Steelers (1-2) outscored the Rams 22-13 in the 3rd quarter to notch the win in the tourney’s nightcap.
Patrick Horton tickled the twine for 26 points while Devante Goudy bucketed 16 and Danny Odem contributed 13 markers.
For Pine-Richland, Collin Ryan posted 16 points and Ben Brown registered 10 markers.
In the tourney’s opening game, Delaware Valley Charter School defeated New Castle, 65-41.
Tonight’s consolation game between New Castle and Pine-Richland is at 6 p.m. followed by Farrell vs. DVCS at 7:30 p.m.
Mars Holiday Tourney
ä Hickory 56, Sto-Rox 43 — At Cranberry, the Hornets (5-2) and Sto-Rox (2-5) were tied 12-all after the 1st quarter but coach Nick Cannone’s Hornets pulled ahead by outscoring the Vikings 15-9 in the 2nd quarter and 14-6 in the 3rd frame.
Matt Durisko fired in a game-high 25 points to lead the way for Hickory. Garret Trosch added 14 markers for the locals.
Andrew Carswell and Dontae Gilmore led Sto-Rox with 10 points each.
Hickory plays in the title game at 6 p.m. tonight. They face the winner of Monday’s late game between Mars and Northgate.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Union Boosters Tourney
ä Wilmington 44, Laurel 38 — At New Castle, the Lady ’Hounds (4-1) led 17-6 after 1 quarter and held on for a 6-point win.
Wilmington led 37-21 after 3 frames and held off Laurel in the 4th quarter as the Lady Spartans outscored them 17-7.
Haley Marett bucketed 12 points to lead Wilmington while Stephanie Kish added 10 markers.
Becca Kerr scored a game-high 20 points for Laurel.
Brookfield Lady Warrior Holiday Tourney
ä Columbiana 47, Lakeview 40 — A 27-point 2nd-half performance keyed Columbiana.
H. Goist and K. Witmer went for 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Columbiana, which convertedonly 8 of 23 free-throw attempts.
Fawn Miller’s 20 markers led Lakeview (0-7), but she was the Lady Sailors’ lone double-digit scorer.
Lakeview will compete in today’s 6 p.m. consolation contest against Brookfield.
ä Erie East 56, Brookfield 39 — At Brookfield, East outscored the Lady Warriors 14-8 in the 3rd quarter and 25-11 in the 4th to notch the win.
Zhane Brooke posted 18 points for East while Marla Benson bucketed a dozen.
Ashley Swezey (17) and Kayla Boyer (12) scored in double digits for Brookfield (2-5).
ä Monday’s Sharon game against Warren-John F. Kennedy was postponed; no make-up date has been set.
BOYS BASKETBALL
SHARON 21 15 20 16 72
SHARPSVILLE 16 9 25 31 74
SHARON — Jackson 1-0-0-3, Jefferson 10-0-0-21, L. Brown 3-0-0-7, Schweiss 6-3-5-17, Barnes 1-0-0-3, C. Brown 1-0-0-2, M. Sanders 7-1-1-15, Taylor 2-0-0-4, Hopson 0-0-0-0, Spicer 0-0-0-0, Otey 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Schweiss 2, Jackson 1, Jefferson 1, L. Brown 1, Barnes 1. Totals: 31-4-6-72.
SHARPSVILLE — Totin 3-0-0-8, Sloan 8-3-3-19, Davis 7-7-14-23, Falconi 1-0-0-2, Piccirilli 7-5-8-22, Siguenza 0-0-0-0, Vasconi 0-0-0-0, Odem 0-0-0-0, Perriello 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Piccirilli 3, Totin 2, Davis 2. Totals: 26-15-25-74.
JV: Sharon, 49-35. Jalen Jackson 13 points for Sharon; Nick Siguenza 11 for Sharpsville.
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Mars Holiday Tourney
HICKORY 12 15 14 15 56
STO-ROX 12 9 6 16 43
HICKORY — Votino 2-3-4-7, Banas 2-0-0-4, Mastrian 0-0-0-0, DiBartolomeo 1-0-0-2, Jones 2-0-0-4, Trosch 7-0-2-14, Lenhart 0-0-0-0, Durisko 10-5-7-25. Totals: 24-8-13-56.
STO-ROX — Carswell 4-2-3-10, Gilmore 5-0-0-10, Smith 1-0-0-3, Arlotta 2-1-2-5, Huchinson 3-0-0-6, Ford 1-0-0-2, Dobsch 1-0-0-2, Jones 0-0-2-0, Geter 2-0-0-5, Tate 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Smith 1, Goter 1. Totals: 19-3-7-43.
JV: Sto-Rox, 69-52. Vinnie Mastrian 16, Donte Robinson 12, Cody Conley 10 for Hickory.
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Farrell Dresch-McCluskey Tourney
PINE-RICHLAND 17 11 13 20 61
FARRELL 15 16 22 20 73
PINE-RICHLAND — B. Baranowski 2-0-0-4, Andrle 2-2-2-8, Ryan 5-6-7-16, Rader 2-1-2-5, Bolosimo 1-0-0-2, E. Baranowski 3-0-1-8, Jackson 4-0-0-8, Brown 4-2-2-10. 3-pt. goals: Andrle 2, E. Baranowski 2. Totals: 23-11-14-61.
FARRELL — Scott 0-1-2-1, Jefferson 2-0-1-4, Johnson 1-0-0-2, Cimoric 1-0-0-2, Horton 10-4-6-26, Brodie 3-1-1-7, Odem 6-0-0-13, Shannonhouse 1-0-0-2, Goudy 4-6-9-16. 3-pt. goals: Horton 2, Goudy 2, Odem 1. Totals: 28-12-19-73.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Union Boosters Holiday Tourney
WILMINGTON 17 11 9 7 44
LAUREL 6 7 8 17 38
WILMINGTON — Kish 4-1-3-10, Marett 6-0-0-12, J. Burns 4-0-0-8, M. Burns 1-1-2-3, Foltz 1-2-4-4, Slonaker 0-0-0-0, Hiers 2-3-6-7, Gealy 0-0-0-0, Christofferson 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goal: Kish 1. Totals: 18-7-15-44.
LAUREL — McKissick 2-3-4-7, McCormick 2-1-2-5, Kerr 10-0-0-20, Yough 1-0-0-2, Schlemmer 0-0-2-0, Meals 0-2-7-2, Wallas 1-0-0-2. Totals: 16-6-15-38.
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Brookfield Lady Warrior Holiday Tourney
LAKEVIEW 8 10 7 15 40
COLUMBIANA 8 12 14 13 47
LAKEVIEW — Miller 8-2-3-20, Sturgin 0-3-6-3, Legal 2-2-2-6, K. Stringer 2-0-0-4, Sasse 2-1-4-5, C. Stringer 0-0-0-0, Watts 1-0-0-2, Custer 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Miller 2. Totals: 15-8-15-40.
COLUMBIANA — H. Goist 4-4-8-12, McKenzie 1-0-0-3, Rodriguez 3-0-0-6, Fullum 3-1-6-7, K. Witmer 4-3-7-11, Coy 3-0-0-6, Libb 1-0-2-2, 3-pt. goals: McKenzie 1. Totals: 19-8-23-47.
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ERIE EAST 9 8 14 25 56
BROOKFIELD 11 9 8 11 39
ERIE EAST — Brooke 5-7-12-18, Benson 4-0-0-12, Palan 1-0-1-3, Duck 3-0-0-6, Arnold 4-0-0-9, Hughes 4-0-0-8. 3-pt. goals: Benson 4, Brooke 1, Palan 1, Arnold 1. Totals: 21-7-13-56.
BROOKFIELD — Wallace 3-2-6-8, Swezey 5-6-8-17, Pearson 0-0-0-0, Snow 0-0-0-0, Necastro 1-0-0-2, Hopf 0-0-0-0, Boyer 5-0-1-12, Learn 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Boyer 2, Swezey 1. Totals: 14-8-15-39.
