Mahoning sweeps at Bubba
By JOHN BASSETTI
WARREN

LISA-ANN ISHIHARA | THE VINDICATOR -- Mahoning County All Star David Baker (5) of Poland and Trumbull County All Star Collin Bowser (8) of Mathews
When it comes to all-star games, does the best team win, especially since both squads are a compilation of the best?
At least for one night, Mahoning County had the better teams among both boys and girls at the conclusion of the ninth Frank Bubba Memorial Classic all-star basketball game at Harding’s gym on Wednesday.
Mahoning’s boys team held off Trumbull, 96-89, and Mahoning’s girls team outlasted Trumbull, 56-43.
Campbell Memorial’s Jerah’me Williams was boys MVP, while Boardman High’s Doriyon Glass was girls MVP. Williams scored 14 points.
“We were just playing and hitting 3s,” Williams said. “We all play together on weekends, so we know each other’s game,” Williams said of familiarity with his Mahoning teammates during pick-up games at Youngstown Christian, Campbell or the YMCA.
Mark Cherol was Mahoning coach, a night after piloting the White team over Red in the Al Beach Classic.
Casey Carroll also had 14 points in Mahoning’s win, which satisfied the Youngstown Christian standout because he was on the losing end (Red squad) of the Beach Classic.
“We’ve got a lot of good athletes out here, so it’s fun,” said Carroll, who also won the dunk contest.
Carroll also had a role in the game’s outcome, with a three-point play at the 3:11 mark, which stretched the Mahoning lead to 85-77.
Campbell’s Nate Hodge added 10 points for Mahoning, while Harding standout Kennis White led Trumbull with 14.
Ryan Frantz has won 3-point shooting contests three years in a row: once at Boardman and then back-to-back years at Harding.
“I’m going to miss doing these,” said Frantz, who is headed for Notre Dame College in Cleveland. Frantz made 18 3-pointers to beat out Struthers’ Nick Jacubec, who had 14. Justin Chapman (Bristol) had 10, Newton Falls’ Cody Dillon nine and Newton Falls’ Tyler Kernen eight.
Frantz also had 11 points in the boys game.
Glass had nine points for Mahoning’s girls, while Campbell’s Tashira Uceta and Struthers’ Helen-Marie Hird added eight each.
For Trumbull, Aundrea Baldridge had seven points, while Brookfield teammates Paige Wallace and Ashley Swezey added six apiece.
Howland senior Jessica Wilson won the 3-point shooting contest, beating out Mineral Ridge junior Brittney Bevilacqua in the final round, 10-9.