Patched-up Fitch prevails

The flu-bitten Falcons, using two new starters, held off Mooney.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- The Austintown Fitch High boys basketball coach, Gary Conroy, looked around at his team during practice Sunday and knew he had a problem.
Four of his top seven players were sick. His best player, senior guard Terrell Eargle, needed to be put on an IV.
Things didn't get much better as the week went on. Fitch had 347 people and 20 teachers miss school on Tuesday, Conroy said, and he wasn't sure the Falcons could play against Mooney that night.
"I came in and said, 'Whoever's here will play,' " Conroy said.
Good decision.
Armed with two new starters and Eargle coming off the bench, the Falcons dropped visiting Mooney, 56-50, in a non-league battle of unbeaten teams.
Was Conroy expecting to win?
"Oh yes, obviously," he said. "We're not going to cash in our chips. We dressed 12 guys and they should be able to fill in for each other.
"It's just a matter of execution."
Aikens, Eargle deliver
Senior guard Mark Aikens -- Fitch's only really healthy player -- led the Falcons (4-0) with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Eargle added 13 points and six steals.
"The other guys were weak and tired [from being sick]," Aikens said. "I felt that I had to lead."
The Falcons also got solid performances from two first-time starters: Nigel Taylor (four points, three assists) and Paul Mayer (eight points).
Mayer didn't shut down Mooney senior David Zidian (he finished with 19 points and six rebounds), but he did well enough.
"That was good," said Conroy. "We were supposed to give him more help and he didn't get it."
The Falcons held a slight edge at halftime, 26-21, but Mooney opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to take its first lead since midway through the first quarter. But the Falcons responded with a 16-3 run over the final five minutes to take control.
Mooney never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
Mooney struggles
"We didn't do a good job on Aikens and Eargle," Mooney coach Nick Bellino said. "We had some unforced turnovers that led to scores and those are the worst kind."
Mooney (3-1) also didn't pass well and struggled to stop Fitch's dribble penetration, Bellino said.
"I don't think we have a stopper who can take Eargle or Aikens one-on-one," Bellino said. "We need to leave and lend help and rotate, instead of standing around and watching."
Jeff Hehr added 12 points, while Ron Stoops had nine points, five assists and four rebounds for the Cardinals, who dressed just nine varsity players because of the flu bug.
But Bellino wasn't about to make excuses.
"I don't think sickness had anything to do with it," he said.
scalzo@vindy.com