Hoover uses D to stop rivals

Boardman couldn’t
overcome Courtney Schiffauer’s foul trouble.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

NORTH CANTON — There is probably not a more fierce rivalry in girls basketball in Northeastern Ohio than the one between Boardman and North Canton Hoover.

Saturday, the latest battle between the two teams took place and the Vikings pulled out a 40-33 win to remain unbeaten in Federal League play.

Boardman (9-5, 3-2 Federal) had to play more than a quarter without top scorer senior Courtney Schiffauer, who was in early foul trouble. The Spartans also had to play for much of the second half with a lineup that consisted of three sophomores and a freshman on the floor.

“It was just another typical Boardman-Hoover basketball game,” Spartans coach Ron Moschella said. “We really like to play here and both teams have great respect for each other. It’s a great rivalry.”

Boardman tried just about everything they could come up with against the Vikings (13-1, 7-0), including taking the ball into a freeze for more than five minutes of the third quarter when they managed to take their final lead.

“The freeze was more to run time off the clock,” Moschella said. “We had Schiffauer with three fouls and Darryce [Moore} playing on a surgically repaired leg and we needed to shorten up the game if we could.”

The Spartans trailed 23-19 at halftime. Schiffauer, who picked up her third personnel foul with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter, didn’t return to the game until 5:35 was left in the third quarter. And then she stood still for more than five minutes.

Boardman scored the first two baskets of the second half, tying the game at 23 as Monica Touvelle and Doriyon Glass made the shots.

Hoover’s Kyle Baumgartner then made one of two free throws (Hoover’s only point of the quarter) with 5:24 remaining.

Schiffauer then took the ball past mid-court and stopped with 5:18 left on the clock and Moschella gave the order to hold the ball. She held it (and held it and held it), for exactly 5:02 before Moschella called timeout with 16 seconds left.

Hoover coach Paul Wackerly wasn’t surprised at the Spartans holding the ball, but thought his counterpart would look pretty bad if the Spartans didn’t score.

But Moschella set up the final shot and Schiffauer took it and made it, her final basket of the game with three seconds left and put Boardman into a 25-24 lead.

The Spartans went up by three 27-24 on a basket by Moore, who scored the final seven points for the Spartans.

Hoover answered with a three-point play by Brittany Orban to tie the game. Jessica Carpenter put the Vikings on top for keeps with a free throw 30-29 with 4:03 remaining.

The Vikings shot 11 free throws over the final three minutes and made eight of them, including the final seven in a row after the Spartans had tied the game 33-33 with two minutes left.

“We had three sophomores and a freshman out there at times today and hopefully when these kids grow up we’ll be a pretty good team,” Moschella said. It was a hard-fought game and I don’t think you’ll find two better teams anywhere around this area.”

Moore, the 6-2 sophomore, who fouled out in the final two minutes, led the Spartans with 10 points. Schiffauer had eight, but six of them came in the first five minutes of the game.

Wackerly lauded the Spartans.

“We have great respect for Ron and his program,” Wackerly said. “I don’t think you’ll find two teams that know each other as well as we do. It’s just enjoyable to play them every year no matter how many times we meet.”

mollica@vindy.com