FEDERAL LEAGUE Fitch drains Uniontown Lake, 60-44

Not surprisingly, the Falcons did so behind Terrell Eargle and Mark Aikens.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- If you're an optimist -- and Fitch coach Gary Conroy can play that role -- it's pretty easy to keep the Falcons' recent funk in perspective.
Two losses came against two of the top five Division I teams in the state: Canton McKinley (No. 1) and North Canton Hoover (No. 5). The other came against Boardman on Christmas break.
"Emotionally -- and even mentally -- we had a little bit of a letdown," Conroy said of the Boardman loss. "I don't think we played very well."
Still -- optimist or not -- the Falcons entered Tuesday's game against Uniontown Lake in need of a win.
They got one.
Dynamic duo
And, not surprisingly, Fitch did it on the backs of senior guards Terrell Eargle and Mark Aikens, who combined for 42 points to lead Fitch past the Blue Streaks, 60-44, in a Federal League boys basketball game.
"This was one of those games we really needed to win," said Eargle, who had 20 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists. "We knew they weren't as big, so the game plan was to attack the paint and score inside."
Aikens had 22 points -- 18 in the first half -- and four rebounds for Fitch (8-3, 3-2), while Michael Hardy added seven points and five rebounds.
"You figure you gotta win this game," Conroy said. "You probably aren't going to beat McKinley and you might steal one at Hoover. But against Lake at home -- if you're going to be in the top half of this league, you have to get it done."
Fitch opened the first quarter with an 8-0 run and then used a 9-0 run to open the second quarter to take a 23-12 lead. Lake battled back within seven, 31-24, late in the quarter, but Aikens hit a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Falcons a 34-24 halftime lead.
The Blue Streaks got within four, 38-34, midway through the third quarter, but Fitch used an 8-2 run over the final four minutes to take control. Lake never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
Exchanging thoughts
"I was talking to [Lake coach] Tom McBride before the game and we both basically said the same thing," Conroy said. "We have similar records, but we don't know where our teams are going.
"This could have very easily been the other way around, but we played well enough to win. But I still think we're making too many unforced errors."
Sophomore James Wallace had four points and three rebounds for the Falcons -- "He stepped in and played well for us," Eargle said -- and Stas Cherney had five points and three rebounds.
Corey Slaybaugh led Lake (7-5, 2-3) with 16 points, while Kacy Sommers had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jeromy Duera added eight points and five assists.
scalzo@vindy.com