Howland advances to meet Boardman in regional final

The Tigers, behind Alexa Williams, turned back
Mayfield 49-42.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

CANTON — Once Howland senior post player Alexa Williams got rolling, her Tigers were unstoppable and delivered something Coach John Diehl hasn’t experienced since he began coaching girls.

“I’m the coach that can’t win a regional game,” said Diehl who had guided the Tigers to two previous Division II regional appearances and one in Div. I. “Now the monkey is off my back as a girls coach.”

After jumping out to a 27-16 halftime lead against Mayfield (19-5), Diehl’s Tigers nursed a 10-point lead most of the rest of the way in Wednesday’s 49-42 victory in the regional semifinal at the Canton Civic Center.

Friday at 7:30 p.m., the Tigers will play Boardman (18-7) for the title, meaning that at least one Mahoning Valley team will be playing in Columbus next week.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Williams after she scored 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. “I never expected to be here, so it’s great.”

About Diehl, Williams said, We love him to death, so this is for him.”

The Wildcats had no answer for Williams, especially in the first half when she scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Most of her scoring (14 points) came from the free-throw line.

Diehl suggested his team had early jitters, but Williams said, “This team doesn’t seem to get nervous.”

Diehl credited point guard Abby Nicholas and Megan Long for a strong start.

“[Wildcats leader] Hope Mancini was averaging 24 points per game. Megan just did a standout job defensively,” Diehl said. “I told my girls that if we held her to under 15 we had a good shot to win.”

Mancini finished with 11 points. Post player Lauren Gatto led the Wildcats with 17 points, with 12 of them coming down the stretch.

“I think we really frustrated them and made them change their game plan when Mancini wasn’t getting her points,” Diehl said. “She is their offense.”

Of Nicholas who scored 10 points, Diehl said, “That was definitely the best game that Abby Nicholas has played this season.

“A couple of my key girls came out a bit nervous at the start, but Abby and Megan came out and played well,” Diehl said. “We ran our offense very well, I thought they were getting a little tired [in the second quarter] but they didn’t look tired in the end.”

Kelly Barzak contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and a block.

Diehl said the last time the Tigers played Boardman was in the 2003 Division I district at Alliance.

“We lost,” said Diehl, adding that containing Courtney Schiffauer will be the key to advancing to a state berth.

“We’ve definitely got to stop her. We’re going to have our hands full but it should be a good game,” Diehl said.

williams@vindy.com