Singing the praises of Spartans’ unsung

Boardman’s quartet of guards has gotten better as the season progressed.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BOARDMAN — They’re the “Unsung Heroes” of a state-contending girls basketball team.

The names of guards Katie Fiffick, Monica Touvelle, Emily Abraham and Doriyon Glass are rarely mentioned in the opening sentence of any media report about the Boardman High team.

But senior Courtney Schiffauer, the Spartans’ 6-foot-1 forward who was All-Ohio second team, knows the value of her teammates.

“When they do things that make the other team guard them, it opens a lot up for me so it makes my job easier,” Schiffauer said. “And it helps the team more.”

Schiffauer, who will play next fall for Michigan State, averages 19.6 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She often has the ball and looking for sophomore post player Darryce Moore (All-Ohio honorable mention) who averages 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.

During Boardman’s last four wins against North Canton Hoover, Canton McKinley, Akron Kenmore and Howland, the unheralded guards have made some key contributions.

Spartans coach Ron Moschella said their progress has been a season-long journey.

“They weren’t around for a while,” said Moschella, “and I think that they would admit that, too. The most pivotal point was when we got beat by 27 points by Hoover [Feb. 2]. I think that changed everything.”

Fiffick, a junior, has been in and out as starting point guard after playing a little last season.

“Lately, she has really solidified herself and become a player,” Moschella said. “There was a period of time where we benched her for a long time.”

Moschella said several of his players, including Fiffick, grew up after the loss to Hoover in the Federal League championship game.

“Fiffick has really played outstanding since the Hoover game,” Moschella said. “She’s really worked hard and improved on all of her skills. Her biggest thing is gaining confidence.”

Nineteen days after the Hoover loss, the Spartans upset the top-ranked Vikings, 38-37, in the district semifinal.

Fiffick’s role isn’t complicated — hold the ball as much as possible to allow Schiffauer and Moore time to get open, then guide it to them.

And if the opponent is using double teams to defend the aces, the outside shooting options are Touvelle, a sophomore, and Abraham, a junior.

“Monica has always been a fantastic 3-point shooter,” said Moschella of his third-leading scorer (8.8 points).

The Spartans sometimes practice against boys.

“We challenged the boys to try and pick on Katie, and that made her better. She’s really improved 100 percent. She’s become much better at handling the ball with confidence,” Moschella said. “I think you could say the same thing about Emily.”

Abraham, a junior, moved to Boardman after attending Canfield until last spring. Playing time with the Spartans was anything but guaranteed.

“She wasn’t [a starter] at one time, she’s worked her way into it,” said Moschella who admitted that getting used to his style of coaching has been an adjustment for Abraham.

Citing inconsistency early on, Moschella said Abraham “had to get used to getting yelled at because I’m a screamer and yeller. I think she’s gotten used to that.

“She’s also a great student and we appreciate that — she [has] a four-point [average],” Moschella said. “She’s a sweet kid and I’m trying to make her not a sweet kid on the basketball court.

“I think that’s hard for her but I think she’s learned a little.”

Moschella’s confidence in Abraham was on display during last Friday’s 43-35 overtime victory over Howland. Even though Abraham had missed all of her long-range shots, she was an option on the Spartans’ final possession in regulation.

“She missed four or five 3-pointers and I was all over her case because in practice she was 9-for-9,” Moschella said. “We set the last play up where [Schiffauer] was going to go the hole and then we kicked it to the [3-point attempt] and [Abraham] just missed it. She [often] buries that.”

Instead, the game went to overtime where Abraham made five free throws as the Spartans outscored the Tigers, 12-4.

The first player off the bench is Glass, who would be starter if not for the ACL injury to each knee she has suffered in the past two years.

“I have a lot of respect for her even coming back to basketball after tearing her ACL twice,” said Schiffauer who said she’s never suffered a major injury in her four years as a varsity starter.

Moschella estimated that Glass, who averages 6 points, has only been able to practice about 25-30 percent this season.

“I think that hurts her,” Moschella said. “You can’t develop your skills practicing for that amount of time.

“She aggravates it when she plays,” Moschella said. “Sometimes, I think she gets frustrated out there because she knows the things that she can do but she can’t get it done because of her injuries.

“She does a lot of running and [sometimes] is out of control — all of that is due to lack of practice.”

Glass was unable to play in the regional semifinal against Kenmore, but scored two baskets against Howland.

Moschella hopes that Glass will be able to strengthen her knees during track season.

“She wants to be her old self,” he said.

williams@vindy.com