DIVISION IV Rockets, Mustangs triumph to set up district showdown

Lowellville and Mathews romped to sectional titles.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LIBERTY -- Minutes after his team defeated Youngstown Christian, Mathews High girls basketball coach Glenn Rowland was asked about his upcoming district semifinal game against Lowellville.
He smiled.
"We're hoping they get the wrong game time," Rowland said.
Not a bad strategy.
Lowellville, the tournament's top seed, cruised to their second straight sectional victory on Thursday, routing Southern, 79-19, to set up the March 4 matchup with the Mustangs.
"Our goal is to win this thing," Lowellville coach Tony Matisi said of the tournament.
"I'm not afraid to say that. That's been our goal since the beginning of the season."
Stunning upset in '03
Last season, the Rockets didn't even get that.
After going 18-2 and winning the Inter-County League, they were stunned by Warren JFK in the opening round of the tournament.
Matisi hasn't forgotten.
"That's what's driving us right now," he said.
"We know what that felt like. I didn't bring it up until our first tournament game, when I mentioned it during the pregame.
"I think it struck a nerve," Matisi said.
Rocket routs
The Rockets haven't been challenged in their opening tournament games this year.
Amanda Nero scored 18 points to lead Lowellville (17-4) on Thursday, which took a 29-0 lead in the opening minutes.
The Rockets crushed Southington earlier in the week and already have beaten Mathews twice.
It's still early, but Leetonia could be the team standing in Lowellville's way.
The second-seeded Bears have won five straight district titles.
Matisi wants to stop that streak this year.
"We're not satisfied with a sectional championship," he said.
Mathews 63, Youngstown Christian 35
Junior Tara Ford had 20 points and six rebounds for the Mustangs (12-10), who took a 35-10 halftime lead. Junior center Emily Cleland added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Mathews does not have a senior on the roster, but has three players (Ford, Cleland and Melissa Morrison) who have played since they were freshmen.
"We have some good experience and we because we play in the ICL, we see some really good teams during the year," said Rowland, whose team moves to the Northeastern Athletic Conference next season. "The kids are maturing. We've developed into a pretty good team."
Sophomore center Rachel Coristin had 13 points -- all in the second half -- and nine rebounds for the Eagles (14-5), who were the tournament's fourth seed.
scalzo@vindy.com