Girls basketball teams open tournament play

By Tom Williams

Federal League rivals Boardman and North Canton Hoover have played each other nine straight years at the Division I girls district basketball tournament.

Five times, the Vikings have eliminated the Spartans (from 2002-04 and 2006-07). Four times, the Spartans won (2000-01, 2005 and 2008). Three times, the winner of the game advanced to the state final four. In 2002, the Vikings won the state title. In 2005 and last March, the Spartans were state semifinalists.

For Boardman and Hoover to play again this year, there will need to be a major upset at the Alliance district. That’s because Canton McKinley (16-3), the Federal League champion, is the team to beat.

The Spartans (13-7, 6-4) finished third in the Federal League this season, trailing second-place Lake (15-4, 7-3) and McKinley. Hoover (8-12, 5-5) tied for fifth place with Perry.

Because they are on opposite sides of the bracket, Boardman can meet Hoover only in the district final.

“Our goal is to win the district,” said Boardman coach Ron Moschella, whose 2008 team was one of three in Valley to play for a regional championship.

In the regional final last March, the Spartans defeated Howland to earn their second state trip in four seasons. In the Div. II regional final, Canfield lost to Hathaway Brown.

Asked if there is pressure that comes from being a state qualifier, Moschella said, “I don’t know if you call it pressure [but] it gives me more determination.

“It’s tournament time and we’ve really got to get working,” Moschella said. “We’ve lost some games that we shouldn’t have lost.”

Howland (20-0, 8-0 All-American Conference) has the Valley’s best team but Coach John Diel is taking nothing for granted.

“You have to be really lucky to get there,” said Diel of the regional.

Howland has the second seed in the Solon bracket while Twinsburg has the top spot. “The teams are better,” Diehl said. “It will be a real tough time for us to get back.”

Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said the Cardinals (12-8, 5-3 AAC) have a shot at another district title.

“We have every opportunity to get back,” Pavlansky said. “We split with Salem. Hopefully we will be playing our best basketball at this time of the year.”

Div. III teams will play at Mineral Ridge High, with United (18-1), Crestview (16-3) and Ursuline (11-7) strong contenders.

In the Div. IV bracket at Hubbard, Lowellville (16-4, 14-0 Inter Tri-County League Tier Two) is the most fascinating team to watch. The Rockets often start a junior, a sophomore and three freshmen.

League rivals Western Reserve (13-6) and McDonald (13-7) are anxious for another try against the Rockets.

williams@vindy.com

XCorrespondent Paul Trgovac contributed to this story.