Some 12th grade players were rewarded with start

By Tom Williams

Boardman’s Darryce Moore scored her 1,000th career point midway through the second quarter.

BOARDMAN — For Senior Night, Boardman High girls basketball coach Ron Moschella rewarded some of his 12th grade players with a rare start.

The move paid dividends for the Spartans who jumped out to an 8-0 lead against Warren Harding while juniors Darryce Moore and Monica Touvelle watched from the bench.

Once the juniors entered, the Spartans pounced for a 10-0 run and 22-6 edge en route to a 67-38 victory Monday.

“It’s a night we celebrate,” said Moschella of the senior start.

The seniors’ final regular-season game wasn’t the only celebration. Midway through the second quarter, Moore scored her 1,000th career point on her first basket.

Moore, who finished with 16 points for 1,012 overall, needed a few attempts to get rolling. She missed her first two shots plus two free throws before sinking two from the foul line.

Moments later, Touvelle hit her with a pass underneath where she score her milestone points.

Moore admitted she felt a little relief.

“Before the game, Coach Moschella told me that I was four points away,” Moore said. “I didn’t know — I thought I was like 20 away. So I was nervous — I was so excited that I was all over the place.”

Asked if it was difficult to sit for a quarter, Moore replied, “Not really. It wasn’t really hard because I liked watching them play. We’re all a team.”

Rebecca Bartlett and Courtney Gratz started with regulars Samara Sutton, Emily Abraham and Erin Brown. Midway through the first quarter, senior point guard Katie Fiffick made her first appearance.

“Rebecca Bartlett and Courtney Gratz haven’t played a lot, but they got in there and played like veterans,” Moschella said. “I was wondering how they would do.”

Abraham’s 3-pointer to open the game was followed by a basket by Bartlett and Sutton’s 3-pointer.

“They came out with a lot of enthusiasm,” Moschella said. “It shows a lot of character by seniors who have stayed in the program but who haven’t played that much. That’s a thrill for me to see them have some success.”

Ahead 12-6, Moschella sent Touvelle and Moore into the game. Touvelle almost instantly made the first of her six 3-pointers, easing a little pressure off of Moore.

“She’s tough to handle down low,” said Moschella of Moore who scored six points in the second quarter and eight in the third. She also had seven rebounds.

Late baskets by Harding’s Kourtney Williams and Aundrea Baldridge kept the Raiders (16-3) within striking distance at halftime — 24-13.

But three rapid 3-pointers by Touvelle in the opening minutes of the second half helped give the Spartans a 34-18 advantage.

Touvelle, who finished with 20 points, admitted feeling “a little antsy when we first came out. But our seniors did so well that I wasn’t worried.”

Touvelle matched her season high for 3-pointers.

“But in my freshman year, I had nine against Warren Harding,” she said of her career best.

Brown led the starters with six points while Abraham had five and Bartlett four. Gratz made six rebounds while Sutton had three rebounds and four steals.

Baldridge led the Raiders with 13 points, two steals, two rebounds and a block. Williams had eight rebounds, a block and two steals.

Boardman’s next game is Monday at 6 p.m. against Louisville in the Division I district tournament at Alliance High.

The Raiders close the regular season on Thursday against Ursuline with first place in the Steel Valley Conference at stake. Their first tournament game is Saturday at 3 p.m. against Mayfield Heights in the Div. I district at Solon High.

williams@vindy.com