Moschella, Schiffauer trying again

By Tom Williams

The Boardman girls coach and his four-year starter made their first state trip three years ago.

Over the past four seasons, Boardman’s Ron Moschella and Courtney Schiffauer have generated plenty of basketball memories.

In their final weekend together as coach and player, Moschella and Schiffauer will add a new experience to their resumes tonight at 6 when the Spartans (19-7) play West Chester Lakota West (25-1) in the Division I state semifinals in Columbus.

In 28 years as Boardman’s girls basketball coach, Moschella has one other Columbus court memory. That came three years ago when Schiffauer was a freshman starter.

The difference from that trip to tonight’s game is location. On March 11, 2005, the Spartans played Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame in the Division I state semifinal at Ohio State University’s St. John Arena. Because Ohio State was playing host to the Big 10 women’s tournament at the Schottenstein Center’s Value City Arena, the girls state finals were played in the Buckeyes’ former arena.

This year’s finals are at the newer, more spacious Value Center Arena.

“I don’t know if she realizes all the history there,” said Moschella of St. John Arena, tossing out former Buckeyes John Havlicek, Bobby Knight and Fred Taylor.

Schiffauer quickly said she knows of Knight and has heard of Taylor.

“Now we’re playing in the new facility which we are looking forward to,” Moschella said. “Courtney as the unique opportunity to [play] at both.”

Asked what he most remembers for the pregame of the 2005 state semifinal, Moschella doesn’t hesitate.

“Seeing all our people there, I think that was the most striking thing,” said Moschella (529-129). ”We didn’t expect that many people in the stands from Boardman because it’s such a long drive. So seeing our community support the team sort of got to me.”

Schiffauer was impressed with the “big facility and seeing all those people there. It was huge.

“I walk in there and went ‘Oh my God.’ I was only a freshman.”

Could she find her parents?

“I had no idea where they were.”

In the Spartans’ 49-37 loss to Mt. Notre Dame, Schiffauer recorded four points and a rebound.

Now she’s a senior trying to advance Boardman to its first state title game.

It won’t be easy. Lakota West boasts Amber Gray, this year’s Ms. Basketball.

Moschella, who has one of his youngest starting lineups, said his players had to do some growing up this season.

“I think they’ve taken a little bit of responsibility off of her,” Moschella said. “They know their role a little better.

“But the reason why we’re here right now is that Courtney has always been consistent. She’s always been there.”

After last Friday’s 43-35 victory over Howland in the regional final in Canton, Schiffauer said Canfield’s Kate Popovec sent her a congratulatory text message.

What impressed Schiffauer was that Popovec did it not long after the her team was defeated in its Div. II regional final.

Asked if she would have done the same thing if the results had been reversed, Schiffauer said she wants to believe she would have.

“I’m not sure if it would have been that night,” Schiffauer said.

“That says so much about [Popovec],” Moschella said.

Starting with Schiffauer (6-foot-1 forward, 19.6 points per game, 8.8 rebounds) will be sophomore post player Darryce Moore (6-2, 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds).

Guarding the perimeter will be juniors Katie Fiffick and Emily Abraham, and sophomore Monica Touvelle (8.4 points). First off the bench should be sophomore guard Doriyon Glass (5.9 points).

Leadership has been on Schiffauer’s shoulders for about three seasons. She says it hasn’t been easy.

At the Pickerington tournament in December, Schiffauer, who has a scholarship to Michigan State, was so frustrated that she made a phone call to Jessie Moore, one of the leaders of the 2005 team.

Moore told her to sit them down and make it clear what the Spartans needed to do.

“There was some crying because this was an intense conversation,” Schiffauer said.

And the Spartans lost the next day, Moschella said with a laugh.

They’ve only lost three times since — twice to Federal League rival North Canton Hoover and once to nationally-ranked Lexington (Ky.) at Berlin’s Classic in the Country.

The biggest victory came against Hoover Feb. 19 in Alliance, when the Spartans jumped out to a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on for a 38-37 win in the district semifinals.

williams@vindy.com