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Lowellville’s young team is too much for McDonald
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Lindsay Repp of McDonald drives past Chelsie Marrie of Lowellville during 1-8-09 game.
Ninth graders helped the Rockets remain unbeaten in the league with a 53-48 win.
BY TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
McDONALD — The youngest girls basketball team in the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two sits alone atop the standings.
Lowellville High’s lineup, which relies on three freshmen, two sophomores, a junior and a senior, displayed maturity down the stretch in Thursday’s first-place showdown against McDonald.
After the Blue Devils erased a nine-point deficit in the second half and took a 46-44 lead with about three minutes to go, the Rockets posted a 9-0 run to win 53-48 on the Devils’ court.
“This is huge for us,” said junior Jamie Hynes said after Lowellville improved to 6-3, 5-0. “We were both undefeated in the league.”
Trailing 46-44, Lowellville freshman Taylor Hvisdak tied the game with a layup. Classmate Ashley Moore put the Rockets ahead for keeps with two free throws. Another ninth grader, Emily Carlson, made the Rockets’ next basket while Hvisdak and Hynes added free throws to seal the victory.
“For [senior] Chelsea [Marrie] and I, this is huge because we were both here last year and the year before ... with the last second shots and the tears,” Hynes said. “We lost to McDonald both times last year.
“And I think the freshmen are getting the gist [of the rivalry]. They are definitely just as excited to [challenge] for the league [title] as we are.”
Lowellville coach Tony Matisi said the strong start was crucial.
“We needed the lead we had,” Matisi said, “because I knew coming down the stretch that [opponents’] experience has been hurting us all year.
“Our last two games have come down to the wire and I’m hoping it will build a ton of confidence,” Matisi said. “They’re my ‘Diaper Dandies’ — they keep it lively.”
The Blue Devils (7-2, 4-1) lost for the first time at home in two seasons.
“We didn’t have the best first half, but that was a tribute to Lowellville,” McDonald coach Rob Hilbun said. “They are young but very good basketball players.”
Veteran leadership from junior Joh’Vonnie Mosley and senior Lindsay Repp propelled the Blue Devils back into the game.
Mosley scored 10 points in the third quarter and pulled down seven of her 18 rebounds in the fourth quarter to help put the Blue Devils ahead.
Repp’s aggressiveness was a factor as she picked up her third and fourth personal fouls in the third quarter.
After scoring six points in the fourth quarter, Repp fouled out with 3:06 to go.
“Lindsay knows one speed — 100 miles per hour,” Hilbun said. “She’s a playmaker and I know her heart is in the right place.”
Mosley finished with 19 points, Repp with 14 and Callie Garland with 10.
Moore led the Rockets with 14 points, followed by Hynes with 12 and Hvisdak with 11.
“Ashley Moore has just been a stud all year. She had 19 rebounds last game,” said Matisi referring to Monday’s two-point win over Leetonia. “She just does things so quietly.
“All-around, she’s probably [our] best player on the floor,” Matisi said. “She’s so smart rebounding and defensively. I put her on Mosely, who has plenty of experience. [Moore] made her mistakes, but I was counting on that hustle that she had.”
Hilbun is anxious to see how his squad reacts.
“Now it’s going to be about how to handle it,” Hilbun said. “Sometimes adversity shows what character this team has. They’re going to bounce back. It hurts, but our season has just started.”
williams@vindy.com