Hoover’s Elder triggers victory over Boardman

The Vikings took charge down the stretch in
a 58-54 win.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BOARDMAN — The Boardman Spartans had many things going against them in Friday’s Federal League basketball game against North Canton Hoover, but the two biggest enemies were one crucial turnover and J.D. Elder’s late-scoring flurry.

With Hoover leading, 54-52, thanks to Elder’s goal with about a minute remaining in the game, Boardman managed to penetrate the ball inside in a bid to tie the score. But instead, the Spartans turned over the ball with 30 seconds left and blew a golden opportunity.

Then Elder, who seconds earlier sank a foul shot to put the Vikings ahead, 52-47, proceeded to go on a 4-for-4 scoring spree at the foul line in the waning seconds to wind up with his team’s final seven points and a game-high 21 overall to seal a 58-54 victory.

“Elder took over,” said coach Randy Montgomery of Hoover (9-3, 4-1 FL), noting that the Vikings spread out the offense late in the game to give Elder room to penetrate to the hoop.

“We ran the corners and spread out the offense a bit,” Montgomery said. “We got the ball into [Elder’s] hands. We wanted to slow it down. When you spread out the ball, [the opposing team doesn’t] guard everyone. You also get a chance to rest and stay out of foul trouble and get a breather. You have more open floor to move the ball through, and Elder was able to do that.”

Matt Wakulchik added 14 points and Jared Purrini 12 with five steals to reinforce Hoover, while Corey Veldhuizen grabbed eight rebounds.

Purrini made some nice drives to the hoop.

“Purrini was doing a nice job,” said Montgomery, whose Vikings remained in second place in the Federal League, one game back of Massillon Perry (5-0).

Coach Jim Goske of Boardman (6-6, 1-4) said that crucial turnover and Elder’s late scoring finished off his team, which was plagued by turnovers and poor rebounding.

“Hoover did a nice job with a box-in-one defense on that possession and we made a turnover,” said Goske, noting that turnovers have hampered his team all season. “It is ironic that we talked about preventing turnovers coming into this game, and then at the end we get a turnover that helps us to lose. Turnovers have been one of our weak spots all year.”

Goske lauded Elder, who also fired in three 3-point goals and had six assists.

“Elder’s a great player, one of the best in the Federal League. He was a big difference in the game. He’s their go-to guy,” Goske said.

J.T. Moore added 14 points and five rebounds and Eric Soller nine points to aid Boardman, which was able to make a game of it behind Ryan Pesta’s long-range shooting.

Pesta connected on five 3-point goals and finished with a team-high 19 points, and certainly impressed the crowd and Montgomery.

“Pesta made some big shots whenever they needed them. He kept them within striking distance,” said Montgomery.

Hoover enjoyed a 49-41 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Boardman managed to regroup behind Pesta, Soller, Devron Martin and Frank Curtis to tie the score at 52-52 on Pesta’s two foul shots with 2:28 left, before Elder took control of the Hoover offense and the game.

Martin sank a goal with 11.3 seconds left to pull Boardman within 56-54, but then Elder made his final two foul shots at 10.2 seconds to clinch the win.

Goske said Hoover’s defense and rebounding hurt his team’s chances.

“We had 11 turnovers in the first half. Their pressure bothered us in the first half,” Goske said. “We gave up 15 offensive rebounds. That really killed us. We are bigger than them but they out-rebounded us and that was a huge difference.”

Hoover had a 24-16 rebounding advantage. Boardman had 14 turnovers to the Vikings’ 12.

Montgomery said his team rebounded well, especially when Boardman was shooting.

“We rebounded a lot better in the second half,” Montgomery said. “[The other team] can’t get second shots doing that. We gave up seven offensive rebounds in the first half, but only one in the second half.”

kovach@vindy.com