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Sharon High boys basketball team was far from flawless during its 2012-13 opener Tuesday night. But the Tigers also were too quick and athletic for visiting Mercyhurst Prep.
Khalil Hopson had a game-high 25 points, as the Tigers tamed the Lakers, 68-53, in new head coach Jason Rankin’s debut on the Bengals’ bench.
The Tigers’ defensive quickness pressured Prep (1-2) into 21 turnovers in a wire-to-wire win for Sharon, which surged to leads of 15-9, 32-16 and 52-38 at the conclusion of each quarter.
When Hopson hit a triple with 4:42 remaining in the 3rd period the Tigers took a 45-26 lead. From that juncture, however, Sharon seemed to lose its focus.
“One of the things we talked about at halftime was we needed to stay mature and keep playing at the same level. But we kind’ve let things go,” Rankin related. “They scored 16 in the first half, then 22 in the third quarter.
“Sometimes when you get up, take a big lead, you just assume, ‘I can start taking bad shots or do whatever I want to do.’ So we’ve got to work on our discipline and get better at that, because a good team’s gonna make you pay,” Rankin admitted.
Hopson had plenty of help as Rankin’s rotation included 10 Tigers. Mark Henry had 14 points — his back-to-back triples commenced the 2nd half — and dished out 4 assists, sharing Sharon’s team-high with Hopson. Also, Mike Porterfield pulled down a team-high 9 caroms, while Darrell Stovall snared 7 caroms.
Led by Hopson’s 8-for-19 outing, Sharon shot 24 for 57 (42.1 percent) from the floor. But while Hopson hit 7 of 9 freebies, collectively the Tigers tallied only 12 of 20.
For Prep, 6-foot-6 senior post Alex Borges bucketed 21 points, despite misfiring on all 6 free-throw attempts. Borges also bounded a team-high 9 times. Also, Rocco Agnello annexed 10 tallies, tossing in a trio of treys.
“We really try to preach defending man-to-man,” Rankin related, “pressure defense and trying to really work on the press, and that was our strength, and I think we played to it, for the most part, except a couple times they were able to get it down low.”
The Tigers turned over the ball only 5 times during the 1st half, but had 9 second-half miscues.
“There was some sloppiness,” Rankin admitted. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can play. I’m trying to find some combinations of guys, see who fits where. We had a couple extra days (of practice), but we’ve still got some work to do.
“We have a deep bench, but we just have to find a way to mix and match the right way,” Rankin said, concluding.
“It’s a good feeling to get a win against a good team. But we’ve got a lot of work to do. But the kids played hard for the most part.” — By Ed Farrell, Herald assistant sports editor.
Grove City 69, Sharpsville 50 — At “The Eagle’s Nest” in Grove City, longtime GC coach Don Fee picked up his 400th win as bench boss of the Eagles (1-2) in a 19-point non-region win over the Blue Devils (1-2).
Grove City jumped out to a 14-5 lead after 8 minutes of play and held a 36-24 lead at the break. GC then outscored Sharpsville 15-10 in the 3rd quarter and 18-16 in the 4th.
Danny Torok drained 4 three-pointers en route to a game-high 18 points for Grove City while Matt Thrasher scored 16 and Foster Reznor bucketed 15.
Jalen Mockabee led the way for Sharpsville with 17 points.
ä Lakeview 46, Kennedy Catholic 43 (OT) — At Stoneboro, coach Gary Burke’s Sailors (3-0) stunned the Golden Eagles (2-1) in an early-season non-region battle of unbeatens.
Casey Greggs rifled in 23 points to pace Lakeview while Dalton Boggs added 10 markers.
Mac Hartman had 13 points for KC and Chris James tallied 11.
ä Conneaut Area 49, Greenville 47 (OT) — At Greenville Monday, the visitors rallied from a scoreless 1st period to pull out an overtime win.
Greenville led 12-0 after 1 period, but in the 2nd frame Conneaut came back to outgun the hosts 16-3 and lead by 1 at intermission. The last two quarters were tight battles, but in the OT period, the visitors outscored Greenville, 11-9, for the victory.
Lipling had 14 points and Noah Uplinger 13 for the victors. For Greenville, Matt Jones pumped in 16 markers, while Tyler Fattman added 13.
ä Brookfield 95, Mathews 44 — At Brookfield, Jeremy Quinlan connected for a game-high 29 points to lead the host Warriors (2-0).
Also for Brookfield, Jimmy Quinlan contributed a 13-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist line, while Ryan Morosa mustered 15 points, Jamar Tarver tallied 10, and Seth Wallace went for 7 rebounds.
Aaron Suchajek and Wyatt Ford each scored 11 points for the visiting Mustangs (0-3).
GIRLS BASKETBALL
ä Reynolds 46, Northwestern 38 — At Transfer, the host Lady Raiders recorded new head coach Wilbur Juranovich’s initial win at the helm.
“It was nice to be at home after opening with two on the road in a tipoff tournament,” Juranovich said. “The girls played hard. We’re learning from our mistakes, hopefully.”
Morgan McDanel mustered a 10-point, 9-rebound outing for Reynolds (1-2), Rose Stoyer secured a dozen points and dished out a handful of assists, and Brooke Bresnan notched 5 steals, while Maggie Ringer recorded 7 pionts and 7 caroms.
For Northwestern, Wheeler went for a game-high 15 points and Benton and Taylor evenly divided 20.
Reynolds’ Thursday night game against Wilmington has been postponed, Juranovich noted, adding, “We’ll have five practices before our next game, so we’ll just keep trying to get better every day. But the girls work hard and they’re great kids.”
ä Kennedy Catholic 62, Greenville 23 — At Hermitage, the Lady Golden Eagles (2-1) flew out to a 21-7 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back in posting the non-region win.
Akron University recruit Alex Ricketts drained 4 treys en route to 18 points, Taylor Hood bucketed 14 and Courtney Sargent added 10 markers for KC.
Jessica Burnett led the way for Greenville (0-3) with 9 points.
ä Hickory 42, Rochester 16 — At Rochester, coach Jeanette Whitehead’s Hornettes improved to 3-0 as they dismantled the Lady Rams of the WPIAL.
Hickory, which won the team title at the Kittanning Tipoff Tourney over the weekend, only led 7-6 after 8 minutes of play and 13-10 at halftime, but outscored the hosts 29-6 in the 2nd half.
Holly Grober rifled in 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds for Hickory, Nikki Arbanas bucketed 12 points and had 6 steals and 4 assists, Jenna Placzek posted 3 steals and 4 rebounds, Megan Chess registered 3 steals and Brandi Beader and Nicole Lacava both had 6 rebounds.
Rochester did not have a double-digit scorer.
ä Farrell 52, Wilmington 45 — At E.J. McCluskey Gymnasium in Farrell, the Lady Steelers (2-1) led 15-4 after the 1st quarter and 26-11 at the break and held off a Lady Hounds’ (0-3) rally in the 2nd half to earn the non-region victory.
Johntae Scott fired in a game-high 21 points for Farrell and Mykayla Washington bucketed 14.
Tessa Sikora led Wilmington with 14 points and Cassidy Marett added 10 markers.
ä Mercer 49, Grove City 27 — At Mercer, the Lady Eagles (2-1) held a slim 21-20 lead at halftime, but was outscored 15-1 in the 3rd quarter and fell to the Lady M’s (2-1).
Lexie Arkwright rifled in 27 points for Mercer while Corianne Hyduchak paced GC with 9 points.
ä Iroquois 58, Lakeview 37 — At Iroquois, the Lady Braves boasted a trio of double-digit scorers in Ashley Cavaday (18), Rosemary Campbell (17) and Allie Kaliszewski (10).
Leading Lakeview (0-3) was Rachel McKean, who fired in 14, and Chelsea Davis, who drilled 10.
BOYS BASKETBALL
MERCY. PREP 9 7 22 15 53
SHARON 15 17 20 16 68
MERCYHURST PREP — Anderson 3-2-2-8, Bojewski 1-0-0-2, Borges 10-0-6-21, Corritore 0-5-8-5, Johnson 1-2-2-4, Agnello 3-1-3-10, Haas 0-0-0-0, Vallimont 0-0-0-0, Post 0-0-0-0, Williams 0-0-0-0, Pude 0-0-0-0, Klein 0-0-0-0, Winschel 0-0-0-0, Jones 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Angell 3, Borges 1. Totals: 18-10-21-53.
SHARON — Hawkins 0-0-0-0, Henry 5-1-2-14, Stovall 3-1-3-8, Hopson 8-7-9-25, Porterfield 1-2-2-4, Crawford 2-0-2-4, Waller 1-1-2-3, Austin 2-0-0-4, Rodgers 2-0-0-4, Lampkins 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Henry 3, Hopson 2, Stovall 1. Totals: 24-12-20-68.
JV — Sharon, 50-47. Jamal Waller, Jason Austin 14 points apiece for Sharon; Nate Klein 15, Chris Vallimont 13 for Prep.
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SHARPSVILLE 5 19 10 16 50
GROVE CITY 14 22 15 18 69
SHARPSVILLE — Luchey 2-3-6-7, Kennedy 2-0-0-4, Morris 1-0-0-2, Barringer 1-1-2-3, Santell 2-0-0-4, Smith 1-0-0-2, Keck 1-0-0-2, Mockabee 7-3-8-17, Lenzi 4-0-0-9. 3-pt. goal: Lenzi 1. Totals: 21-7-16-50.
GROVE CITY — Marnich 1-0-0-2, Turner 3-0-0-6, Torok 6-2-2-18, Thrasher 6-1-2-16, Reznor 5-4-8-15, Young 1-3-4-5, Polkabla 1-0-0-2, Dolan 2-1-2-5. 3-pt. goals: Torok 4, Thrasher 3, Reznor 1. Totals: 23-11-18-69.
JV — No score reported.
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KENNEDY 7 5 11 16 4 43
LAKEVIEW 2 9 17 11 7 46
KENNEDY CATHOLIC — Brewer 2-0-0-6, Zachar 0-2-2-2, Thompkins 3-0-0-6, D’Onofrio 1-0-0-2, Cianci 0-1-2-1, James 4-0-0-11, Crow 1-0-0-2, Hartman 4-5-8-13. 3-pt. goals: James 3, Brewer 2. Totals: 15-8-12-43.
LAKEVIEW — Patridge 0-0-0-0, VanDusen 1-1-3-3, Greggs 8-5-6-23, A. Rice 0-0-2-0, Boggs 4-2-4-10, B. Rice 2-2-3-6, Gander 2-0-0-4. 3-pt. goals: Greggs 2. Totals: 17-10-18-46.
JV — KC, 46-39.
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CONNEAUT 0 16 9 12 11 49
GREENVILLE 12 3 13 9 9 47
CONNEAUT AREA — Martin 0-0-0-0, Smith 2-0-0-4, Barlett 2-2-3-6, Uplinger 6-1-2-13, Holcomb 1-0-0-3, Richardson 2-3-6-7, Vance 1-0-0-2, Braden 0-0-0-0, Lipling 6-0-0-14. 3-pt. goals: Holcomb 1, Lipling 2. Totals 20-6-11-49
GREENVILLE — Fattman 4-3-4-13, Houpt 2-0-2-5, M. Jones 7-2-4-16, Ferguson 1-2-2-7, Addison 1-2-2-4, A. Jones 0-0-0-0, VanAken 0-0-0-0, Zavala 0-0-0-0, Emmett 0-2-2-2. 3-pt. goals: Fattman 2, Houpt 1, Ferguson 1. Totals: 16-11-16-47.
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MATHEWS 14 9 8 13 44
BROOKFIELD 19 32 17 27 95
MATHEWS — Javric 0-3-6-3, Helmick 1-0-0-3, Sharp 3-0-0-7, Ford 4-3-8-11, Kennedy 0-0-0-0, Pratt 1-0-0-3, Forsythe 0-0-0-0, Suchajek 4-1-2-11, Gollan 1-1-2-3, Rodgers 0-0-0-0, Morgan 0-3-4-3. 3-pt. goals: Suchajek 2, Helmick 1, Sharp 1. Totals: 14-11-22-44.
BROOKFIELD — Hunkus 4-1-2-9, Jim. Quinlan 4-5-7-13, Dickson 1-0-0-2, Jer. Quinlan 12-2-2-29, Mosora 5-4-5-15, Tarver 3-4-8-10, Wallace 2-1-2-5, Prats 2-1-1-5, Smoot 2-3-4-7. 3-pt. goals: Jer. Quinlan 3, Mosora 1. Totals: 35-21-41-95.
JV — Brookfield, 58-39. Nate Johnson 14 points, Javon Sims and Matt Smoot 10 points apiece for Brookfield.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
N’WESTERN 5 11 12 10 38
REYNOLDS 13 12 5 16 46
NORTHWESTERN — Benton 4-0-2-10, Taylor 4-1-2-10, Gilson 0-1-2-1, Wheeler 6-1-3-15, Kaufer 0-2-6-2, McLaughlin 0-0-0--0. 3-pt. goals: Wheeler 2, Benton 2, Taylor 1. Totals: 14-5-14-38.
REYNOLDS — Ringer 2-2-5-7, McDanel 3-4-7-10, Burnworth 2-0-0-4, Stoyer 4-4-6-12, Bresnan 2-1-5-5, Campbell 3-0-0-6, Napadano 1-0-0-2. 3-pt. goal: Ringer 1. Totals: 17-11-23-46.
JV — Reynolds, 34-23. Danielle Babcock 12. points for Reynolds.
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GREENVILLE 7 6 6 4 23
KENNEDY CATH. 21 14 21 6 62
GREENVILLE — Marini 0-0-0-0, D’Alfonso 0-0-0-0, Peacock 0-0-0-0, Fagley 2-0-0-4, Williams 0-0-0-0, Herrick 1-0-0-2, Burnett 3-3-4-9, Montalvo 2-0-0-4, Guerrini 0-0-0-0, Fenton 0-0-0-0, Holder 0-0-0-0, Leary 2-0-0-4. Totals: 10-3-4-23.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC — O’Brien 0-0-0-0, Yacoub 0-0-0-0, Kress 1-0-0-2, Hood 7-0-0-14, Kish 4-0-2-9, Burns 2-0-0-5, Scoccia 0-0-0-0, Ricketts 7-0-1-18, Sargent 5-0-0-10, Bocian 2-0-0-4. 3-pt. goals: Ricketts 4, Kish 1, Burns 1. Totals: 28-0-3-62.
JV — KC, 32-15.
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HICKORY 7 6 15 14 42
ROCHESTER 6 4 2 4 16
HICKORY — Placzek 1-0-2-2, Bible 0-0-0-0, Arbanas 4-2-2-12, Chess 1-0-1-2, Moore 0-1-2-1, Gustas 0-0-0-0, Zreliak 0-0-0-0, Beader 0-0-2-0, White 1-0-0-2, Lacava 1-5-7-7, Grober 7-1-7-16. 3-pt. goals: Arbanas 2, Grober 1. Totals: 15-9-23-42.
ROCHESTER — Besong 2-0-0-5, Simmons 0-0-2-0, McFrazier 2-1-2-6, Ziegler 0-0-0-0, Komasko 0-0-0-0, Whittinston 1-1-2-3, Waxler 0-2-2-2, Laure 0-0-0-0, Donaldson 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Besong 1, McFrazier 1. Totals: 5-4-8-16.
JV — Hickory, 44-16. Lexi Bible 12, Elana Marchand 11 for Hickory.
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WILMINGTON 4 7 15 19 45
FARRELL 15 11 13 13 52
WILMINGTON — Christofferson 3-2-2-9, Slonaker 3-3-6-9, Sikora 7-0-0-14, Marett 4-2-2-10, Drake 1-0-0-2, Thompson 0-1-2-1. 3-pt. goal: Christofferson 1. Totals: 18-8-12-45.
FARRELL — Scott 10-1-1-21, Oatis 2-0-0-4, Avery 2-0-0-4, Page 0-0-2-0, Washington 5-4-4-14, Murray 4-1-3-9, Sharper 0-0-0-0. Totals: 23-6-10-52.
JV — Farrell, 46-32. Whitney Murray 13, Maykayla Washington 11 for Farrell.
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LAKEVIEW 4 9 8 16 37
IROQUOIS1818 13 9 58
LAKEVIEW — Riddle 1-1-3-3, Davis 3-1-2-10, Stringer 0-5-10-5, McKean 6-2-4-14, Womer 1-0-1-2, Foster 0-2-2-2, Holland 0-1-2-1. Totals: 11-11-22-37.
IROQUOIS — Cavaday 9-0-0-18, Kaliszewski 5-0-0-10, Campbell 6-5-9-17, Breski 3-1-5-7, Miller 1-0-0-2, Jackson 2-0-0-4. Totals: 26-6-14-58.
JV — Lakeview, 36-20. Sam Womer, Marla Holland 11 points apiece for Lakeview.
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GROVE CITY 8 13 1 5 27
MERCER 8 12 15 14 49
GROVE CITY — B. Deyarmin 0-1-2-1, Hall 3-2-2-8, A. Deyarmin 1-0-0-3, Hyduchak 4-1-2-9, Wyllie 1-0-0-2, Lucido 1-0-0-2, Ferguson 1-0-1-2, Sprando 0-0-2-0. 3-pt. goal: A. Deyarmin 1. Totals: 11-4-9-27.
MERCER — Whenry 1-2-2-4, Arkwright 9-6-8-27, McKinney 3-0-0-7, Cook 3-0-0-9, Fisher 1-0-0-2, Mills 0-0-0-0, Ryder 0-0-0-0, Angermeier 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Arkwright 3, Cook 3, McKinney 1. Totals: Totals: 17-8-10-49.
JV — GC, 38-26.
Sports
Roundup: Rankin gets 1st win at Sharon; Fee wins 400th; Sailors stun KC
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Herald-Tamie junior tourney set Thursday-Friday
THEY SAY THAT “The best things in life are free.” Well, one of those “best things” is the annual Herald-Tam O’Shanter Junior Golf Championships every summer.
The event, which has been free to boys and girls in the Shenango Valley since it’s inception in 1949, will be held Thursday and Friday at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage.
It has been the premier youth tournament for decades and some of the top players ever to come out of this area have participated. But you don’t have to be a great young golfer to take part. It’s a wonderful opportunity for every youngster to get a free round of golf on a great course, which is in immaculate shape this season. -
Hickory lists 2013 scholar-athlete award winners
Hickory High Athletic Director Barb Dzuricsko recently announced that a total of 213 students (grades 9-12) earned Don McKay Scholar-Athlete awards.
To be eligible, students must maintain an A (93 percent or higher) grade-point-average through the academic year’s third 9-week grading period and compete in a PIAA-sponsored sport.
A total of 375 students competed in athletics this past year, Dzuricsko noted, meaning almost 57 percent qualified for the McKay Scholar-Athlete Award. Since the award’s inception, this is the highest total number of students to earn the honors, she reported. -
SCHOLASTIC NOTEBOOK: Hearns to continue golf career in college; Petty to be honored
RECENT HICKORY High alumna Rosy Hearns will continue her education and golf careers at the State University of New York-Albany. Hickory links coach Craig Antush said Hearns recently signed a letter-of-intent.
Hearns’ Hickory career concluded as one of the finest on the links — male or female — in Mercer County annals. -
Bowlers compete in Senior Games
The bowling portion of the annual Mercer County Senior Games was held Wednesday at Grove City Bowlodrome. That followed horseshoes and shuffleboard competitions earlier in the week.
Following is the rest of the schedule: -
COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Ex-Hickory great Richards has great spring track season
FORMER HICKORY HIGH standout Morgan Richards enjoyed a successful spring season for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte track & field team. The female 49ters won the Atlantic 10 Conference outdoor track & field team title.
“Morgan kept her stride as she transitioned into the outdoor season, running top times in several events among (Atlantic 10) freshmen and on Charlotte’s all-time top 10 lists,” assistant coch Edwin T. Schlichter wrote in a recent e-mail to The Herald. “Morgan finished just one spot (9th) out of scoring at the 2013 A-10 Championships in the 3000-meter steeplechase, despite this being her first year ever attempting the event, and running 11:02.22 which was 2nd among all freshmen in the A-10 and 5th all-time for UNC-Charlotte.” -
SPORTVIEW: Hickory tri-athletes deserve special recognition
EVERY YEAR we receive a photo from the Hermitage School District of a group of student-athletes that I am thrilled to receive and run in the paper.
The photo is of Hickory High School “tri-athletes,” boys and girls who participate in sports during each of the fall, winter and spring seasons. But there is more to it than that. Each of these athletes also must maintain an 85 percent B average during the first three 9-week grading periods of the year. -
TIDBITS: Scurpas make college choices; Matthews, Norris, Bonner part of great Clarion recruiting class; Lewis earns national medal
SHARPSVILLE HIGH volleyball standouts Kristen and Paige Scurpa, who are cousins, will continue their education and athletic careers at California University of Pa. and Penn State-Behrend, respectively.
The duo, both of whom were named to the All-State team in Class A by the Pa. Volleyball Coaches Association, led the Blue Darlings to the District 10 title game in November. Sharpsville, Region 1 champs the past 4 years, suffered a 3-1 loss to Cochranton in that match and finished the season 16-4. -
Sharpsville falls in D-10 title game
SLIPPERY ROCK — Monday was a pretty good day for Saegertown High School.
Just mere hours after the Lady Panthers won the District 10 Class A softball championship, the Saegertown baseball team (19-2) captured its third straight D-10 Class AA title with a convincing 10-3 victory over Sharpsville (15-6) at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
“We knew going into the game that Saegertown’s a pretty good team and they’ve been a pretty good team for the past few years,” Blue Devils coach Mike Sikorski said. “I think they’ve been in the District 10 Championship the past four years. They’re a solid team, a very good team. They’re very patient at the plate and when they get their pitches, they hit them.” -
STATE TRACK NOTEBOOK: WM seniors leave legacy of greatness
WEST MIDDLESEX High always has had a proud athletic heritage, and this past weekend’s PIAA Class AA Track & Field championship will only add lustre to that legacy.
According to available archives at The Herald, only the 1954 boys’ basketball team and Coach Bob Morris’ boys’ cross country team from earlier this decade previously had won commonwealth crowns. -
Allen wins 4 gold medals to lead WM to PIAA team title
SHIPPENSBURG — Clay Allen said he had to explode out of the starting blocks for his 100-meter dash showdown with Hickory’s DeShawn Coleman. But Allen — all afternoon — was getting the jump on his competitors during the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships.
By approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Shippensburg University, Allen annexed 4 gold medals — 100- and 200-meter dashes, long jump, and as part of the sprint-relay. The workload West Middlesex High’s senior exhibited enabled the Big Reds to record the Class AA commonwealth crown. - More Sports Headlines
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Herald-Tamie junior tourney set Thursday-Friday
