Youngstown Christian, Springfield advance

Brandon Goist scored
20 points for the Tigers.

By RYAN JONES

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

STRUTHERS — Even though the Springfield High boys basketball team had a 23-18 advantage at halftime, they had converted only 9-of-27 shots from the field.

One couldn’t help but think that the Tigers were feeling the effects of losing to Poland in the same gym three nights ago.

Springfield coach Grant Spaite said he had no idea if the Poland game affected his team’s play, but he thought it helped prepare his team for Leetonia’s pressure.

Springfield found its rhythm and erupted for 49 second-half points en route to a 72-52 Division IV sectional semifinal victory over Leetonia at the Struthers Fieldhouse.

“We moved the ball better and got some good looks in the second half,” Spaite said of his team’s effort. “Nate Schuler made some nice passes against their pressure. Senior Brandon Goist was another player who stepped up for us.”

Goist, who went 0-for-5 from the floor in the first half, scored all 20 of his points [6-of-6 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line] after intermission. The 5-foot-7 point guard also dished out a game-high nine assists.

“I just shot the ball,” Goist said of his second half performance. “Usually when I shoot it doesn’t go in. I might have missed one or two shots, but I don’t know. We didn’t want to let this one slip away because we want to make a run in the tournament.”

Leetonia held a 13-8 advantage after the first period, but was outscored 15-5 in the second quarter.

Leeonia coach Jay Airhart said he thought his team had a terrific week of practice and was well prepared.

“I thought Springfield was going to be a good match-up for us and I thought we knew our game plan,” Airhart said. “But we didn’t execute.

“We got a lot of looks early and missed some easy ones inside,” Airhart said. “I thought we should have had a lead at the half.”

Airhart said the inside presence of Schuler (eight points and nine rebounds) and Todd Kibby (20 points and eight rebounds) hurt the Bears on both ends of the floor.

“For a good part of the game, they man-handled us inside,” Airhart said. “We spent a lot of time over the past week planning for them. Our effort was good, but the results weren’t.”

Springfield’s Joe Musial kept the Tigers in the game for much of the first half. Musial scored all 11 of his points in the first-half, including three from downtown.

Josh Selway led the Bears with 17 points and four assists.

Youngstown Christian 69,
Lowellville 62

In the other contest, Lowellville held a 25-23 halftime lead before bowing out to Youngstown Christian, 69-62.

The Eagles led a balanced offensive charge that put four players in double figures. Victor Shaw, David Colbert, John Pecchia and Olozno Johnson scored 18, 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively.

“Our best play all year has been predicated on us playing as a team,” Youngstown Christian coach Dolph Carroll said. “Were not very good individually, but we’re pretty tough when we play together. Lowellville played terrific and we had an awful first half. I was proud of what we did in the third and fourth quarters.”

The Eagles turned up their full court pressure in the second half that led to 14 Lowellville turnovers.

“We knew they were going to press,” Lowellville coach Mike Mangine said. “We panicked a bit for a stretch in the second half.

“This was the first time this year that we were really hurt by full court pressure,” Mangine said. “It’s been tough for our team without senior Zach Matisi [lost to a foot injury three games ago] and Anthony Schiraldi [broken nose] who started 17 games at point guard this year, but I pleased with out effort. I thought our defense was pretty good and we shot 55 percent from the field.”

Mauro Amendola scored 24 points including four 3-pointers for the Rockets.