Talented Hoover subdues Spartans

Brittany Orban and Stephanie Gibson led the Vikings to their 14th.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH CANTON -- Don't try to tell North Canton girls basketball coach Paul Wackerly that Boardman is having a down year.
"They're good, no joke," Wackerly said. "People keep saying they're down. My [behind] they're down. Whenever they play me, they're not down.
"That team's going to get better, just like we're going to get better."
The Spartans may get better, but they can't play any harder than they did on Saturday. Despite losing its top two post players to foul trouble, Boardman gave the Vikings all they could handle before falling 76-63 at North Canton High School.
When asked what the difference in the game was, Boardman coach Ron Moschella said, "They had more points than we did."
The other difference?
"They had 27 shots at the foul line and we had 19," Moschella said. "That was the difference in my opinion."
Orban sparkles
Maybe, but Hoover's talent and experience had a lot to do with the outcome, too. Sophomore post player Brittany Orban, a Big Ten recruit who came into the game averaging more than 20 points a game, finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings (14-2, 7-0), who locked up the top seed in next week's Federal League tournament.
Junior guard Stephanie Gibson added 24 points, six rebounds and six assists -- most coming as a direct result of her speed. The game's fast tempo seemed to favor Hoover (in theory, anyway), but Moschella didn't seem to mind.
"That didn't matter to me," he said. "I don't think it affected us at all. We ran on them as much as they ran on us."
Schiffauer is standout
Sophomore post player Courtney Schiffauer played a terrific game for Boardman (9-4, 5-2), scoring 24 points to go along with nine rebounds, four steals and three assists before fouling out with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter. Three minutes later, senior post player April Melquist (15 points, eight rebounds) also fouled out, leaving the Spartans with two freshman guards (Katie Fiffick and Samara Sutton) on the floor.
With that lineup, Boardman cut a 12-point deficit to eight with over a minute left, but couldn't get any closer.
"I thought the little kids came in and played their hearts out," Moschella said.
Senior guard Colleen Mallis added 13 points and four steals in the loss. It was probably the most physical game of the year for both teams (Hoover junior Giavana DiPietro also fouled out) and one of the most intense.
Of course, with these teams, it always is.
Developed into rivalry
"The past few years, this game has determined the league or the district," said Wackerly. "I think that has something to do with it."
This year is no different, although Boardman will have the third seed in the Federal League tournament after losing to Canton McKinley earlier in the year.
The Spartans beat Hoover three times last season before advancing to the state semifinals. The two teams have met in the district final the past six years (each team has won three) and each meeting seems to bring out the best in the everyone.
Saturday was no different, although Moschella refused to say it was the biggest game of the regular season.
"We play a lot of big games -- Hoover, McKinley, Ursuline, Blackhawk; they're all big," he said. "I put this one in there with those."
scalzo@vindy.com