Harding’s pressure too much for Fitch

By John Bassetti

AUSTINTOWN — Warren Harding’s girls basketball team entered the Fitch High gym to see all the Federal League banners hanging — schools like Lake, McKinley, Hoover, Boardman, Fitch, Perry, Jackson and GlenOak.

Surrounded by trappings of a league Harding isn’t part of may have made the Raiders play harder than usual.

It didn’t take long to manifest itself as P.J. Notar’s unbeaten team took a big lead early en route to a 59-37 victory.

“It’s nice to be 6-0,” said Notar, whose team hasn’t started that well for a while.

“We usually play Howland first and start 5-1,” said Notar, who coached Harding from 1995-2001 before returning to the bench for the 2006-07 season.

“We’re a team that puts some points on the board and plays defense,” said Notar, whose girls pride themselves on pressure defense.

“That’s where our offense comes — by turnovers and getting the ball and scoring,” Notar said of Harding’s strength.

Fitch committed 16 turnovers in the first half.

Senior Jasmine Kirkland had game-highs of 12 points and 10 rebounds for Harding, which enjoyed a 30-7 halftime lead.

“What you saw tonight has been routine in most games,” Notar said of the Raiders’ six performances, including a seven-point win over Howland.

“We know what we have to do to set the tone and take the air right out of the other team’s bubble. The girls are well-disciplined; they listen and understand what the goal is. They go out and try to reach their potential.”

Anita Brown added 11 points and nine rebounds for the winners, who made 24 of 45 goals.

Complementing the good shooting was Harding’s teamwork, a necessary element in success.

Fitch (2-6) came to life in the second half, but never got closer than 16 points after Marissa Mattozzi, Alexa Lynn and Anissa Hill had successive baskets.

Brown made two technical foul shots and a free throw at 3:32 to put the game out of reach for a final time.

Filling in for Fitch coach Stacie Cepin was assistant coach Derryck Van Cobb.

“We didn’t execute our game plan,” said Van Cobb, “The girls were in the wrong place making wrong reads, which led to so many turnovers. Harding wants to create chaos and that’s what they did.”

Van Cobb also filled in for Cepin for the North Canton Hoover game.

“We haven’t put four quarters together,” said Cobb. “We never come out focused, ready to play. We’ve had bad first quarters out of the gate, even in the games we won.”

Fitch’s wins have been over Girard and Chaney, while losses have come at the hands of Poland, Massillon Jackson, Canton McKinley, Boardman and North Canton Hoover.

Cepin, the Falcons’ first-year coach, had surgery and won’t return to the bench until January.

Mattozzi, a junior, finished with 10 points, while senior Te’Ann Smith added nine. Although she drew the technical late in the game, the play of Byanca Henderson gave the Falcons the aggressiveness they lacked in the first half.

“We dug too deep of a hole,” Van Cobb said of the first half deficit.

Fitch’s totals included 15 goals and 3 of 4 free throws.

bassetti@vindy.com