With Schiffauer ill, Boardman comes together to win final game at Rayen

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rayen School girls basketball coach Tanisha Franklin wants her team to be considered among the area's best.
"To be considered the best, you have to play the best," Franklin said.
Which is why Franklin reserved the final spot on her home schedule for Boardman, the Mahoning Valley's perennial power. Saturday's game had the added benefit of being a terrific tournament tune-up for both teams.
"Absolutely," Franklin said. "We try to get our schedule as competitive as we can. We want to get ready for the playoffs."
Consider it done.
The Tigers didn't have quite enough to edge the Spartans -- Boardman outscored Rayen 18-10 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 56-48 victory -- but they put together a performance worthy of the final girls basketball game at Rayen. The school will merge with Wilson into the new East High next fall.
Grand finale
Rayen will hold its final boys game next Saturday, but Franklin said there was already some sadness about saying goodbye.
"It's an emotional day for us," she said. "You could see the expressions on the girls faces after the game.
"It's sad for everyone to see."
Boardman (16-3), meanwhile, regained some confidence after falling to Hoover last week for the second time this season. The Spartans play Canfield today and have a chance to end the regular season on a terrific note.
"Hoover was not a good game, so it was great to get a win and build some confidence," said senior Lyndsie Hall, who had five points and eight rebounds in the victory.
Even better, the Spartans won the game despite having standout junior Courtney Schiffauer at nowhere near 100 percent. Schiffauer missed the first half with the flu and finished with just two points.
"It was hard to play without Courtney," Hall said. "Even when she was in the game, you could tell she was a little out of it."
Taking charge
Several players stepped up in her absence, including freshman Darryce Moore, who finished with 13 points and five rebounds before fouling out late in the game.
She was one of four players who fouled out -- both teams were in the double bonus at the end of the game -- and Boardman struggled at times against the more physical Tigers.
Rayen finished with a 43-34 rebounding edge and attempted far more shots (62-30).
"I think Rayen came out hard and aggressive," said Boardman coach Ron Moschella, whose team fell behind 11-2 after one quarter. "It was a good game and I hope we can continue to play them [as East]."
Renewal
It was the first meeting between the teams since Boardman beat Rayen in the district tournament in 2000 -- Franklin's senior year.
The Tigers stayed close the whole fourth quarter -- they trailed by just four with 45 seconds left -- as the Spartans failed to put the game away at the line. Boardman made just 7-of-18 in the fourth quarter, but Rayen countered with 2-of-17 shooting from the field over that stretch.
"It was anyone's game," Franklin said. "They just made a few more plays than us down the stretch."
Brittney Taylor scored 16 points and six rebounds for the Tigers (15-4), while Kenysha Beacham had 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists. Jaleesa Beverly had 11 points and nine rebounds.
"It's a shame they lost, especially with this being the last game at Rayen," Moschella said. "I wish some other team had been the one to beat them."
scalzo@vindy.com