Gibson is thorn in Boardman's side

Hoover will likely earn the top seed in the district tournament when the pairings are determined today.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Before Saturday's game against Boardman, North Canton High girls basketball coach Paul Wackerly stopped Spartans junior Courtney Schiffauer to deliver a message.
"I said, 'Listen, [Hoover senior] Stephanie [Gibson] is going to Kent State. It'd be a good idea if you went with her. I think you'd like it,' " Wackerly said. "After the game, I said, 'Think about Kent. I know you'd like it there.' "
Wackerly knows first-hand just how much Gibson adds to a basketball team and the standout guard showed it against the Spartans, scoring 13 of her 22 points in the second half to help the Vikings slip past Boardman, 69-63, in what has become the biggest rivalry for both Federal League teams.
Diplomatic
"I think both teams played well," said Wackerly. "I wouldn't say one team played better, it's just that one team won.
"There's more to come for sure."
Boardman and Hoover met in every Division I district final from 2000-05 (the teams split the six meetings) and it seems likely that they'll see each other twice more this year: in the championship game of the Federal League tournament and in the district final.
Saturday's game provided a glimpse of things to come. Schiffauer and Hoover forward Brittany Orban came into the game as two of the most highly-touted juniors in the state and they didn't disappoint. Schiffauer got the better of that matchup, recording game-highs in points (25, compared to 22 for Orban) and assists (eight) and tying Orban for rebounding honors (10), but Hoover's 1-2 punch of Orban and Gibson proved to be too much.
"Schiffauer played the game of her life," said Boardman coach Ron Moschella. "Gibson and Orban are great players, but she's better than both of them."
The game was close throughout (Boardman trailed by one after the first quarter and it was tied at halftime) before Hoover finished the third quarter on a 10-3 run to take a 46-42 lead entering the final quarter. The Vikings led by at least four the rest of the way. Junior guard Jackie Nicodemo stepped up for the Vikings over that stretch, scoring all seven of her points in the fourth quarter.
Gibson also had seven in the fourth for Hoover (14-3, 6-0), who will likely earn the top seed in the district tournament when the pairings are determined today.
Wahlman adds punch
Staci Wahlman came off the bench to score 12 points and grab five rebounds for Boardman (13-2, 5-1), whose other loss came against the fifth-ranked Division I team in the state, West Chester Lakota West.
Three Spartans fouled out of Saturday's game: Schiffauer, sophomore guard Katie Fiffick (who had nine points) and freshman Darryce Moore (eight points). Moore, a 6-foot-1 center, was forced to sit for large stretches because of foul trouble, allowing Hoover's 6-3 junior center Kyle Baumgartner (14 points, six rebounds) to help Orban underneath.
"It was a good regular season game," said Wackerly. "But we have some things we need to go back and work on."
Boardman entered the game ranked second in the state and has proven it can play with the best. Unfortunately for the Spartans, freshman guard Doriyon Moore (one of the top-ranked ninth-graders in the state) isn't expected back from her knee injury until the second game of the Federal League tournament, at the earliest. She's been cleared to practice, however, but how much she can contribute during games is unknown.
Still, the Spartans are good enough to make a state tournament run, provided they get the better of Hoover in the postseason.
It's a safe bet they'll get another chance.
scalzo@vindy.com