Third Holiday Classic features seven games Saturday at Chevrolet Centre

By Greg Gulas

YOUNGSTOWN – The third Youngstown-Warren Holiday High School Basketball Classic returns to the Chevrolet Centre Saturday with seven games scheduled, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The first game will match East (1-2) against Brookfield in a girls game. The boys tip off at noon when Campbell Memorial (1-0) plays Mooney (0-1).

“This is a great opportunity for everyone to showcase their teams to area fans. We played at the Chevy Centre last season and I must admit that the atmosphere is quite electric,” said Campbell coach Brian Danilov.

The other girls game, scheduled for 10:15 a.m., will match Chaney (2-0) against Fitch (2-1).

“We have some experience as we start three juniors and two sophomores,” said East girls coach Tanisha Franklin. “The key, however, is that each player knows her role. Bethany Hines, Rashayla Taylor and Brianna Dawson are the juniors that we are counting on while Lisa Oliver and Chelsea Bennett, both sophomores, contribute as well.”

Chaney coach Allen Thorne is looking forward to the game.

“We love to run the floor and this has been a great start to our season,” he said. “If the truth be told, however, it is our defense that has been the key to those first two victories. Our offense goes as our defense goes.

”Fitch will be a real test for us because we will be without the services of two starters; Alyssa Sykes and Shaquilla Lawson who will be taking their ACT’s.”

Fitch will try to come back from its lone loss of the year, to Canton McKinley, after a 2-0 start.

“Chaney always plays us tough and this year it shouldn’t be any different,” said Fitch coach John Hudson. “They are big, very athletic and if we expect to win then we had better take care of the ball and make the most of our opportunities.”

Danilov said his squad always looks forward to the game with Mooney.

“We’re young, just searching for an identity as we rotate as many as 11 players throughout the course of a game,” he said. “Three sophomores we count on, though, include Claxton LeBron, Lester Hughes and John Sikora while two juniors, Jerahme Williams and Nate Hodge are also key contributors to our success.”

At 2 p.m., Ursuline will open its season against Sharon.

“We scheduled our opener later than most teams, and especially at the Chevy Centre in anticipation of the football players that we would be without due to their playoff success,” said Ursuline coach Keith Gunther.

LaVance Turnage, Dale Peterman, Dominick Cole and Jamel Turner are expected to start for the Irish, with either Dakota Trosky or Reggie Revere being the fifth starter.

Sharon is 2-2.

“We know very little about Ursuline but anticipate a defensive battle,” said Tigers coach Matt Kifer. “We’re young and the key to our success is plain and simple; when we shoot well we put ourselves in a position to win.

At 4 p.m. East (1-1) will meet Canfield.

“We’re a little taller than East and I feel we are a good transition team,” said Canfield coach John Cullen. “We hang our hat on our defense and that creates a lot of turnovers for us.”

Mark Cherol of East is looking for consistency.

“When we play four quarters of ball we can hang with anyone in the area,” he said. “This team has had moments when they looked brilliant together, and times when they were careless with the ball.”

In the 6 p.m. matchup Chaney (0-1) will play Fitch (0-2).

Chaney’s Dominique Brown, a junior, is a player to watch despite the fact is starting just his second game since his 8th grade year.

“We like to force the tempo but need to make good decisions in transition. When we run our half-court offense we can be a good team with the athletes that we have,” said Cowboys coach John Marsh.

“We’re an athletic team that likes to run. We try to force the tempo of the game,” Falcons coach Roger Day said.

In the nightcap at 8 p.m., Warren Harding (2-0) will meet Farrell (1-1).

“We have the potential to be a very good program, but potential can be a very scary word,” said Harding coach Steve Arnold. “Our expectation is to get to Columbus but if that is to happen then we have to count on three players to continue to score in double figures.”