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Fitch sophomores help topple Girard
Marissa Mattozzi led the Falcons with 18 points, 15 of them in the first half of the 63-35 victory.
AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Fitch High coach John Hudson knows the challenges that await the Falcons’ girls basketball team as it prepares for a tough season in the Federal League.
For the first time in his five-year career at Fitch, Hudson is encouraged about the possibility of a good campaign as the Falcons opened the season with two wins, including an impressive 61-35 victory over All-American Conference opponent Girard Thursday night.
The Falcons edged Poland in their opener on Saturday.
Fitch has an impressive trio of sophomores along with some seasoned veterans and that group jumped all over the Indians (1-2) right from the start.
Sophomore Marissa Mattozzi lit up the scoreboard in the first half as she poured in 15 of her 18 points before the break, including three 3-pointers from long range.
Erica Braxton chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds while Snowden, who led the team in scoring against Poland chipped in with six points and eight rebounds.
“It’s a good class,” said Hudson of the sophomores. “And we have a great group of seniors that are nurturing and bringing the younger players around.
“All the girls worked so hard in the summer and they just have fun playing basketball.”
Senior Sammie Rovnak helped lead the first half charge as she came off the bench to score nine of her 13 points and led a defense that forced Girard into 26 turnovers in the game.
“We had way too many turnovers,” said Girard coach Andy Saxon. “We couldn’t get the ball inside and we knew they were going to handle us baseline to baseline and we couldn’t handle the pressure.”
Hudson said that his team’s defense was the key to getting the early lead.
“Our girls came out playing great defense and that got us going,” Hudson said. “We played solid on the defensive end and it got us some easy shots and were able to get into the flow of our offense.”
Fitch used a nice mix of guard play and a strong inside game to subdue the Indians.
The Falcons outrebounded Girard 43-29.
Girard fell behind 18-10 after the first quarter and then Fitch poured it on in the second quarter as Mattozzi hit three two-point field goals and a 3-pointer to fuel a 19-8 second quarter blitz.
Girard has relied on the outside shooting of Chelsea Guerrieri and Emily Smerchansky this season, but the two guards had a tough time getting off many shots against the Falcons’ pressure defense.
Guerrieri did manage to lead the Indians with 13 points, but Smerchansky was held to just three points on three foul shots.
“I’m so proud of this team so far,” Hudson said. “We will be the smallest team in the Federal League so we will have to play this kind of game all year.”
Fitch relied on its pressure defense and an inside-out offensive attack that enabled eight players to score.
The Falcons will get their first real test on Saturday when Canton McKinley, a perennial power in the Federal League, comes to Fitch for a 2 p.m tipoff.