BOYS BASKETBALL Boardman snaps slump, topples rival Fitch, 56-50

Nick Ludban had 18 points for the Spartans, who had lost three straight games.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Despite his team's 1-3 overall mark, Boardman High boys basketball coach Dan Gorski knew his Spartans were playing well and due for a breakout game.
It came Saturday as Boardman knocked Austintown Fitch from the ranks of the undefeated, posting a 56-50 win over its Federal League rivals.
"We had trouble with their press tonight, but game film will help us in that area," Gorski said. "Our goal was to limit both Terrell Eargle and Mark Aikens offensively, forcing others to pick up the load.
"I thought that Mike DeOnofrio did a good job on Eargle and Nick Ludban an excellent job on both Eargle and Aikens," Gorski added. "This is by far and away the most complete game that we have played this year. We went hard for 32 minutes."
Leaders
Ludban had a game-high 18 points for the Spartans while DeOnofrio and Jay Davis added 12 points apiece as Boardman ended a three-game skid.
The Falcons (6-1) got a game-high 19 points from Aikens, with Eargle adding 14 points.
"This was Boardman-style basketball versus Fitch-style basketball," Fitch coach Gary Conroy said. "I didn't feel like we played a full 32 minutes tonight. You can't play 16 minutes of basketball and expect to win."
The Falcons took an early 4-0 lead on the strength of buckets by both Aikens and Michael Hardy. Ludban, however, scored seven of his 17 first-half points in the opening period as the Spartans raced to a 10-6 advantage.
Ludban added 10 more points in the second quarter, with the Spartans outscoring the Falcons 22-14 in the frame to surge to a 32-20 lead at intermission.
Taking control
A Jay Davis bucket at 2:57 of the third period helped the Spartans to their largest lead of the game at 45-30. He scored nine of his 12 points in the quarter as the Spartans raced to a 45-36 advantage after three quarters.
The Spartans weathered a 5:45 scoring drought that kept them scoreless until two Jon Kocon free throws at 5:12 of the final quarter made it 47-39 in their favor.
The Falcons managed just four of 13 from the free throw line in the final period, with Kocon canning five of his team's seven foul shots in the final period as the Spartans secured their victory.
"We spend quite a bit of time each and every practice working on free throws," Gorski said. "It has been our Achilles' heel all year, but tonight we hit them when we needed them most. Kocon, Ludban and Steve Fabian played really well for us tonight."