Boardman girls thump Ursuline, 71-31

Darryce Moore had 23 points and Courtney Schiffauer added 22 for the Spartans.

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BOARDMAN — Ron Moschella spends most of a game’s entire 32 minutes yelling and screaming at his players — and talking to himself.

In that span, he attempts to mold a message.

Friday night’s home game against Ursuline was no different.

It wasn’t getting through in the first 16 minutes, so he had to deliver it at halftime.

Maybe those “quiet” moments in the locker room work best.

“Not only did we have to re-adjust at halftime, but we wanted to play harder in the second half,” said Moschella, whose team won easily, 71-31.

“I thought Ursuline out-hustled us in the first half, going after rebounds and loose balls. In the second half, we played more like a Boardman basketball team. We got after it and played better defense. I tried to get the message to them. I play 10 kids and they’re getting the message.”

Sophomore Darryce Moore had 23 points and senior Courtney Schiffauer added 22 to lead the Spartans (8-4), who were joined by Doriyon Glass, another sophomore playing for the first time this season following knee injury rehabilitation.

“We’re happy she was back,” Moschella said of Glass who had seven points and five steals. “She does so many things besides scoring — like making a lot of plays. I’m really impressed with her.”

The coach was also complimentary of Schiffauer and Moore, who had 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

“Darryce got position under the hoop where she drop steps, but she also makes jump shots and does a lot a nice things.”

Another player wiping a frown off the coach’s face and replacing it with a smile was Monica Touvelle and her spurt of eight late points off the bench in the game’s final three minutes.

Moschella, however, wants his guard play to improve.

With Schiffauer, Moore, junior Erin Brown and freshman Kayleigh Lipke in the starting lineup, Boardman is an imposing lot. Katie Fiffick was the fifth starter.

Boardman’s size and Ursuline’s quickness were the opposing strengths, although the Spartans managed to force more turnovers with their full-court press.

Moschella was impressed with Ursuline’s comportment despite losing.

“I sensed that they didn’t like losing, but, at the same time, they were very gracious.”

The 6-1 Schiffauer was covered by a much-shorter Jasmine Brown and Moore proved to be a handful for her defensive counterpart as the Spartans never trailed after Moore made the game’s first two baskets. They were followed by Lipke’s 15-foot jumper before Victoria Miles made a free throw for the Irish (5-5).

Jaleesa Beverly led Ursuline with 10 points, while Brown finished with eight.

Sean Durkin was asked if the 71 points scored against his team or the 31 made by his squad hurt more.

“What hurts is seeing the effort we put forth in the second half,” the Ursuline coach said. “Even though we were down only 11 at the half, I thought we played pretty well. We realize how good Boardman is and how they’re in a different league than we are, but we expected to come out and battle in the second half and I don’t think we did that.”

If his girls had a letdown or felt tired, Durkin didn’t want it used as an excuse.

“We just need to be a little tougher mentally than we are right now. We’re young and we realize that, but that excuse is kind of getting old. We expected to be a little more competitive in the second half. We need to grow up as a group.”