Champion beats Maplewood on Vaughn’s game-winner

Columbiana won a high-scoring game with Springfield.

CHAMPION — Trailing by one point, Champion’s Markel Vaughn hit the game-winner with eight seconds left to lift the unbeaten Flashes to a 46-45 victory over Maplewood in a boys basketball game on Friday.

Vaughn finished with 12 points to lead Champion (4-0), which was outscored 16-2 in the third quarter before rallying in the fourth.

Marty Urchek and Mike Kindle each scored 11 points for the Rockets (1-1).

Columbiana 85, Springfield 81

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Joe Blinsky popped in 32 points while Kevin Blinsky added 18 and Josh Weikart 14 to lift Columbiana in a high-scoring early season ITCL battle.

Joe Blinsky made 12 of 16 free throws while Kevin Blinsky and Weikart were both 4 for 4 at the line for the Clippers.

Springfield held a 44-27 lead at halftime, but the Clippers outscored the hometown Tigers, 28-15, in the third quarter.

Both teams shot well from two-point range as Columbiana hit 24 of 50 while Springfield was sinking 32 of 60.

The Clippers, however, made only five of 22 from 3-point range while the Tigers were 0 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Todd Kibby had 24 points, Nate Schuler added 16 and Eric Lipp 14 for Springfield.

East Palestine 49, South Range 44

EAST PALESTINE — The unbeaten Bulldogs (3-0, 2-0 ITCL Tier 1) took a 18-9 lead in the first quarter, but the Raiders (1-2, 0-2) cut the margin to 22-20 at intermission, but East Palestine pulled ahead 38-31 going into the final period and held on for the victory.

Ben Gysin scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Bulldogs. J.C. Bollinger added 14 points. Wes Best had four assists. Travis Wisler and Joe Mihlan led the Raiders with 15 and 11 points respectively.

United 55, Mineral Ridge 46

HANOVERTON — The Golden Eagles built a 39-33 lead through three quarters, then put the game away 16-13 in the final period.

Jimmy Phillis scored a game-high 24 points for United. Carter McCavitt chipped in with 13. Nick Miele led the Rams with 22 points and T.J. Bevilacqua finished with 15.

Lowellville 64,
Western Reserve 57

BERLIN CENTER — Jimmy Sudon scored 20 points to go along with nine assists and nine rebounds for Lowellville (1-3, 1-1 ITCL Tier Two). Zach Matisi added 20 points and nine rebounds and David Minnie had 14 for the Rockets, who outscored Reserve 44-35 in the second half.

Jay Lude scored 12 points and Shane Ewing added 10 points and eight rebounds for Reserve (1-3, 0-2).

Leetonia 68, Jackson-Milton 53

NORTH JACKSON — Timely steals by Jake Kruegel enabled Leetonia to snap a 49-49 tie and finish on top.

Kruegel made 5 of 8 free throws in the closing minutes in addition to three field goals in the fourth quarter. He finished with 17 points.

Ryan Gruszecki scored 18 points for Leetonia (3-2, 1-1 ITCL Tier Two).

Ben Carlile, a junior, had 18 points for Jackson-Milton, while brother Jacob Carlile, a freshman, added 12 points.

Sebring 47, Southern 32

SEBRING — Sebring jumped out to a 33-10 halftime lead and then coasted past Southern.

Zach Tieche led the Trojans with 18 points, while Justin Wade added 10 points.

Tyler Baker had 12 points to lead Southern, while Andrew Diaz pulled down nine rebounds.

Lordstown 61,
Heartland Christian 58

COLUMBIANA — Jake DiEugenio fired in 20 points, including three 3-point goals, to lead Lordstown (3-0).

DiEugenio was reinforced by Nate Rech with 16 points and Scott Chaffee with 10, while Brian Cribley added seven rebounds and six points and Greg Cribley seven rebounds.

Justin Storm tallied 17 points to lead Heartland Christian while Aaron Shields added 10 points and Nate Hall nine.

West Branch 54, Minerva 41

BELOIT — The Warriors (4-1, 2-1) rushed out to a 21-11 lead in the first quarter. Leading 37-30 through three periods, West Branch pulled away 17-11 in the final quarter.

Vic Pappas scored 25 points and he had 11 assists for the Warriors. Trent Woods chipped in with 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Farrell 65, Kennedy Catholic 50

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Farrell jumped out to a 22-8 lead, increased its margin to 56-30 at halftime and coasted.

Donald Jackson had 13 of his 18 points in the second half and Traphael Stubbs had 13 of his 17 in the first half for Farrell.

Kennedy junior Kyle Randall had 24 points, including 10 of 12 free throws. Randall is averaging 25 points in three games. Junior Aundra Jones, a first-year player who moved in from Atlanta this year, added 10 points for Kennedy.