Hoop dreams: YCS one step from state
By Joe Scalzo
The Eagles’ basketball success is the result of 34 years’ worth of work at Youngstown Christian.
YOUNGSTOWN — Because it’s only had a football team since 2004, and because it won its first district title in any sport just a few days ago, there’s a temptation to think Youngstown Christian is a new school.
Not so.
YCS opened in 1975 due to a huge commitment from Highway Tabernacle in Austintown and has spent the last 34 years growing in enrollment, stature and influence. Its profile, however, has grown significantly over the past six years thanks to its new building (opened in 2005) and its decision to join the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2004.
After some early struggles, the athletic teams have improved steadily, culminating in the boys basketball team’s recent Division IV district title and tonight’s berth in the regional final. YCS has enjoyed success in the classroom, too, taking first place in the Ohio Academic Decathlon this week.
“God’s really blessing us,” said Eagles basketball coach Dolph Carroll, who has a 35-9 record in two years at the school. “We’ve got great kids and a great administration who deserve the credit. It’s not like it’s a new school. It’s been around 35 years and they’ve fought all the battles.
“Getting into the OHSAA was certainly a huge, huge factor in all of this. There were a lot of years where they didn’t know if the officials would show up. They didn’t even have their own gymnasium for a number of years.”
Now the Eagles are one of just two Valley teams still alive and will play No. 3-ranked Lutheran East (22-2) tonight at the Canton Fieldhouse for the chance to advance to the state semifinals.
“We’re just trying to go on and play for all the people who sacrificed to keep this school going and keep it on its purpose with God behind it,” Carroll said. “We’ve still got a long way to go to build a program. We’ve gotta do things in the younger classes and keep going.
“But I am so blessed. I came to the right team at the right place at the right time. I can’t sit here and say it’s because of me. I didn’t do anything. I’m just kind of getting the rewards.”
The unranked Eagles (21-3) defeated Warren JFK 49-46 in the regional semifinal thanks to a last-second 3-pointer from junior Caleb Yanno. They’ll need to play better tonight to advance against the Falcons, who defeated No. 2 Berlin Hiland this week after knocking off Bedford Chanel in the district final.
Two-time district player of the year William Felder, a 6-foot-6 St. Francis (Pa.) recruit, averages 24 points per game and is one of four all-district players on the Falcons’ roster. Lutheran East had six players score in double figures against Hiland.
“They’re very talented,” said Carroll. “We’ll definitely have our hands full. Our biggest problem is the athleticism they bring to the table.”
YCS is familiar with the Falcons, having played them twice last year when both were members of the East Suburban Conference. The Eagles actually won their last meeting, 73-70 last February, thanks to 18 points from John Pecchia and 15 from Olonzo Johnson.
Both players were in foul trouble against JFK — Pecchia fouled out with six minutes left — and the Eagles won due to key contributions off the bench from juniors Joe Napier, Torrell Grier and Victor Shaw.
Carroll needs his starters to play smarter — and better —tonight. Johnson, who averages 19 points per game, had just two against JFK.
“We’re not deep and we’ve got a very young bench,” Carroll said. “We have a tendency not to be the smartest cats because we play so hard.
“It’s crucial that we don’t get in foul trouble.”
Lutheran East is the highest-ranked team still alive in Div. IV and many feel the Falcons are the favorites to win the state title.
The Falcons made their only other trip to Columbus in 2005, winning the state title.
“To put it mildly, we’ve got our work cut out for us,” Carroll said.
scalzo@vindy.com