GIRLS BASKETBALL Boardman gives Hubbard a lesson

The Spartans opened their season with a 75-31 win against the Eagles.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- There's a reason Hubbard High girls basketball coach Dave Konczal schedules Boardman to open the season, and it has little to do with winning.
"We're not afraid to lose," Konczal said. "When you open with them, you can't be afraid to lose. They show us what we need to work on and that's why we play them.
"That's why I love to play them."
The downside is that the score can get lopsided. It happened Monday, as visiting Boardman took a 25-6 first quarter lead en route to a 75-31 opening game victory.
"I'm happy with everything," Boardman coach Ron Moschella said. "I'm just one happy man."
Bland leads way
Senior Amber Bland scored 13 of the Spartans' first 16 points and finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists. But the Spartans -- who had just two starters back -- showed off their depth, getting five or more points from five other players.
"They're good," Konczal said. "They're probably one of the top teams in Ohio in Division I. In my six years of playing them, that's the best Boardman team I've seen. It just seems like they've got more weapons."
Senior guard Brittany Durkin added 12 points, four assists, four steals and four rebounds for the Spartans, while Emily Hays came off the bench to score nine points and grab eight rebounds.
"The kids just played really hard and I'm very happy with that," Moschella said. "I also thought Hubbard played really well. They're very competitive kids and that's what I like about them."
Young Eagles struggle
But Hubbard -- which lost four starters to graduation -- struggled early and often against Boardman's defensive pressure, committing 11 turnovers in the first quarter and 28 overall.
"We use our speed to our advantage," said Spartan junior Brittany Sirak, who had seven steals in her first varsity start. "Last year we didn't have as much speed."
And with six players at 5-foot-8 or taller, the Spartans also have good size.
"Personally, I think we're better than last year," Sirak said. "We have Amber and Durkin and we have a lot of people who can shoot."
Hubbard, meanwhile, will need some of its younger players to develop quickly. Senior guard Lynle Cornell -- the team's lone returning starter -- had seven points, while junior Amanda Taylor led the Eagles with 10 points.
"We get to see every defense and we get a chance to see what we need to do to improve," Konczal said. "We're playing Poland next week for the same reason, because we feel that once we start league play, we're better prepared."
scalzo@vindy.com