Spartans again fall to Federal champs

Hoover cruised to a 69-42 triumph over Boardman.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

ALLIANCE — Although his team had already clinched the Federal League title before Saturday’s game, and although most observers were already looking a few weeks ahead, Hoover High girls basketball coach Paul Wackerly didn’t want his team to miss the moment.

“The Federal League title is a nice honor,” he said after his team’s 69-42 victory over Boardman in the league tournament’s championship game at Alliance High School. “Sometimes I think we take it for granted.”

If so, it didn’t keep the Vikings from celebrating in the locker room.

“They’re excited in there,” he said. “They were singing some songs.”

Which ones?

“I don’t know. New ones,” he said. “It wasn’t [Bob] Seger, it wasn’t the [Rolling] Stones and it wasn’t the Boss [Bruce Springsteen].”

About 100 yards away, Boardman’s boss, Ron Moschella, was left shaking his head after his sixth straight loss to the Vikings. Hoover is 12-7 against Boardman since the 1999-2000 season.

“They beat us in every phase of the game,” Moschella said. “Rebounding, defense, offense ... you name it.”

Because there wasn’t anything on the line — Hoover’s two-game edge in the conference standings had already clinched the league title — and because the teams are expected to meet again in the district semifinals, Saturday’s game lacked the passion and drama observers have come to expect from the rivalry.

Both coaches avoided showing the other too much, realizing the next meeting will matter more.

Case in point: After Boardman sophomore Darryce Moore picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, Moschella sat her on the bench throughout the second and third quarters.

Moschella insisted the move wasn’t tactical — “It was more a personal thing,” he said, adding, “she needs to learn a lesson” — but it’s hard to believe he would have done the same thing in a tournament game.

“We did some things we wouldn’t normally do and I’m sure they did things they wouldn’t normally do,” Wackerly said.

When asked if Moore’s benching was one of them, Wackerly broke into a wide grin and said, “I can’t answer that.”

Senior forward Brittany Orban, a Northwestern recruit, led the eighth-ranked Vikings (18-2, 10-0) with 26 points and eight rebounds. Senior center Kyle Baumgartner, an Akron recruit, added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jessica Carpenter had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.

For Boardman (13-7, 7-3), senior Courtney Schiffauer (Michigan State) had 21 points and nine rebounds while Moore finished with eight points and five rebounds.

“They were better than us,” Moschella said.

When asked if he expects more energy in the next meeting, Moschella said, “I would hope so. I think there’s a lot of room to play better after getting beat by 30.”

scalzo@vindy.com