AUSTINTOWN 'New' Mayes has 'coming-out' party in Fitch's first win

Greg Mayes has arrived as a big-and-talented prospect for the Fitch High basketball team.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- Area high school basketball fans: Meet the new Greg Mayes.
The 6-foot-7 junior, a high-jumper and sharp-shooter who tenaciously pursues rebounds and blocks shots, has evolved into a dominating force underneath for the Austintown Fitch High basketball team.
Mayes demonstrated all of his maturing and well-developed talent and power near the hoop Friday night, when he poured in 27 points, plucked 16 rebounds and blocked six shots to lead the Falcons to a 72-55 victory over Liberty.
Much progress: "They [players and fans] know Greg Mayes has come a long way from two or three years ago," said Fitch (1-1) coach Gary Conroy, noting that Mayes has invested the time and practice sessions to hone his skills, especially "his post moves," and that the dedication "has paid off."
"He has the knack of going after the ball," Conroy said. "That's what great rebounders do."
Mayes was 10 of 18 from the field and seven of nine from the foul line, and whenever he missed a shot he relentlessly pursued the ball to get second and third shots.
Teammates help: And his effectiveness and productivity increased because of a supporting cast of guards that looked to feed him the ball.
"That's the key to our offense," said Conroy of the 1-2 punch of Mayes and his guards.
"But the key for us was the guards had to play well," he said. "Shawn Barber and Rob Patzak hit the shots when they had to and made good decisions inside [getting the ball] to Greg."
Patzak scored 12 points, Terrell Eargle 11 and Barber nine, while Eargle was outstanding overall with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Barber also chipped in with three steals, while Dajwan Stubbs had eight rebounds.
"The more we play, the better we become," said Conroy.
No match-up: Coach Burt Stellers of Liberty (0-2) said he didn't have anyone to stop Mayes.
"We don't match up with him. We don't have a guy over 6-3," said Stellers, who also lauded Mayes' feeders. "They did a nice job of getting him the ball."
Stellers also said Fitch's pressure defense was effective.
"Their pressure defense rattled us, and we need to do a better job of handling their traps."
Joel Marshall managed 11 points to lead Liberty, while Bradley Fletcher added nine and Chad Huston eight. Jeff Schnall chipped in with five points, three assists and two blocks, while Mario Miller had four points, four blocks and three steals.
Strong start: Mayes scored the first six points of the game and had 12 in all in the first period, as Fitch opened a 19-14 lead. Then he added five more points in the second period while the Falcons held Liberty to just six, as Fitch carried a 33-21 cushion into intermission.
Mayes then tallied four of the Falcons' first eight points of the third quarter, as they went ahead by 41-23, and then widened the command to 52-38 entering the final period.
There, Mayes drilled in eight of Fitch's first 10 points as the Falcons padded their advantage to 62-38.
kovach@vindy.com