Howland dominates on all sides

By Jim Flick

YOUNGSTOWN — Led by a strong “inside-outside” combo, the Howland girls basketball team overwhelmed Cardinal Mooney, 62-32, on Wednesday night.

Howland (4-1) held a narrow 14-12 lead after the first quarter, but pulled away in the second stanza, outscoring Mooney 16-8 to lead 30-20 at halftime.

The game became even more lopsided in the second half when the Tigers piled up 29 points, compared to only 12 for the Cardinals (1-3).

Sophomores Taylor Williams and Erika Nites each scored 18 points for Howland.

Williams dominated the inside game while Nites “did everything” outside the lane, according to Howland coach John Diehl.

Williams, the “Miss Inside” of the duo, scored her points in the paint for the Tigers, while pulling down a game-high 18 rebounds.

“An inside-outside combination like that just gives you all kinds of problems,” Mooney coach Jack Bermann said.

Nites, “Miss Outside,” tallied most of her points on mid-range jumpers.

“We’re going to have a pretty good team in a couple of years,” Diehl said.

Nites also sank Howland’s only 3-point shot of the night.

“Taylor [Williams] had a good game inside and when she does that, that changes everyone’s shot,” Diehl said.

For Nites, the game “was her best game all-around,” Diehl said. “She did everything.”

Nites was modest about her impact on the game’s outcome.

“We need to stay positive and keep playing as a team,” Nites said.

Kaylee Redon scored nine points for the Tigers, while Olivia Nicholas contributed seven points.

“I thought that in the first quarter we played well, we were doing the things we needed to do,” Bermann said. “But in the second quarter, we let it slip away

“We did a nice job, but we just didn’t finish the job,” Bermann said. “In the second half, we just let it get away.”

As Howland’s lead grew, Bermann called a timeout in the second quarter, huddled up with his team on the sidelines and tried to motivate them to keep the game close.

“I told them they have to get rebounds and produce plays,” Bermann said. “No rocket science.”

Cardinal Mooney was led by Vickie Farris and Elena Andino-Esparra, who each scored six points. Chyna Davis and Kelly Martino each added five points.