GIRLS BASKETBALL Boardman cruises to 15th win, 57-31

Amber Bland's 30 points led the Spartans over Poland.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Boardman High girls basketball coach Ron Moschella has had many good teams over his long and successful coaching career.
This year's edition of the Spartans (15-0) might be one of the best ever.
"One of the best," Moschella said after the Spartans defeated Poland, 57-31, on Monday.
One reason is Amber Bland.
The senior scored 30 points against the Bulldogs to move within 25 points of 2,000 points for her career.
Bland is arguably the best player Moschella has coached during his tenure.
"It's a shame if she's not named Ms. Basketball," Moschella said. "She's a great athlete that can carry a team.
"I'm not sure that any other player in the state can carry a team by herself."
Bland had to pick up her game even more when Boardman's other returning starter from last year, Brittany Durkin, went down with a knee injury.
But Bland hasn't had to do it alone.
Good supporting cast
The supporting cast is big, fast and capable of shooting the basketball well from 3-point range.
Against Poland, Boardman shot 44 percent from the field and was 7-of-10 at the foul line.
Most of the Spartans played on the junior varsity team last year but this is one of the most athletic teams Moschella has ever assembled.
Senior Diane Snyder scored 10 points and junior Brittany Sirak added eight as the Spartans methodically pulled away from the Bulldogs.
"We certainly didn't come ready to play," said Poland coach Jamie Dunn. "Boardman's a great basketball team and they played well.
"I would like to think and hope that we can learn something from a game like this, but I don't know," Dunn said. "We're not playing very hard."
Durkin makes return
An encouraging sign for the Spartans, who open the Federal League tournament tonight at home against Austintown Fitch, was the return of Durkin.
The senior played very limited minutes in the second, third and final quarters for Boardman as she tries to work her way back from the injury suffered Jan. 3 against Uniontown Lake.
"That was probably the most exciting thing about tonight," said Moschella. "Her return gave everyone -- the players, fans and coaches -- an emotional lift."
Durkin, who stepped on the floor to a standing ovation, said she couldn't look at the crowd.
"I would have started crying," Durkin said. "It felt great to get back out there but we're going to take it really slow.
"The knee feels real good."
Poland was led in scoring by junior Dee Muransky, who had eight points, while junior Erin Hawkins added seven points and nine rebounds.
Junior Jessica Moore pulled down seven rebounds for the Spartans.