NET POSITIVES

Putting a wrap on ’09-10 season

My colleague, Tom Williams, recently went through a very difficult stretch in his life — he gave up ice cream and chocolate for Lent.

Aside from two cupcake-related relapses, he made it through.

(Tom is Methodist, whereas I am a non-Lent-practicing Protestant and was under no obligation to give up anything. I gave up broccoli anyway, which brought me so much closer to Jesus, I’ve continued it indefinitely.)

Anyway, Tom deserves a reward, which is why I’ve invited him to be part of my prestigious end-of-the-year column. Because of the long run by Mooney and Ursuline’s football teams, Kelly Pavlik’s December fight, February’s signing day, YSU’s home basketball games and a host of other things, I only made it to 20 high school basketball games this winter, which is half my normal amount.

Since Tom covered about 25, I figured that gave us one solid sports writer.

Here are our basketball highlights, with a little swimming and track mixed in.

Williams’ five favorite players to watch: Youngstown Christian senior Casey Carroll. Not only can he rebound, but he can make shots from anywhere on the court. East senior Briana Dawson. She wasn’t afraid to drive to the basket against anyone, including eventual state champion Canton McKinley. Struthers senior Dana Mathews. In the biggest game of her life, she scored 38 points against Salem to earn a regional trip. Poland senior David Baker. His consistency at both ends of the court was impressive. Salem senior Amy Scullion. Ohio State is getting a gem.

Williams’ favorite players to interview: East Palestine senior Austin Cope, for being willing to share about football season’s end, basketball and growing up with Team USA hockey player J.T. Miller. Canfield senior Jillian Halfhill, for sharing how much beating Boardman in Boardman meant to snap a six-year streak. Mathews, especially for sharing how the Wildcats had dedicated their season to the memory of scorekeeper Doris Lancy. Boardman senior Monica Touvelle, for sharing about how Doriyon Glass’ return after ACL surgeries inspired the Spartans. Newton Falls senior Brian Sole, for sharing how much Coach Roy Sembach’s 300th win in the regional semifinals meant to the seniors.

My five favorite to watch: Boardman senior J.T. Moore. He fouled out at the end of a forgettable sectional semifinal game and acted like he just lost a state title. Win or lose, that guy always cared. Struthers junior Adam Ryczaj. Reminds me of a 6-foot-1 Kevin McHale. Has a lot of dips and flips and hooks and other sneaky little post moves. Harding sophomore Shaheed Davis, a 6-foot-7 forward capable of blocking a layup from half-court. Struthers senior Helen-Marie Hird. Always, always plays hard. Scullion. Great teammate and the second-best female athlete I’ve ever covered. (Boardman’s Amber Bland is first and Girard’s Cachet Murray is third.)

My five favorite to interview: Poland senior Luke Wollet, who gives honest answers to tough questions. I like people like that. Mooney senior swimmer Nick Boniface, who doesn’t take himself too seriously. I like people like that. Canfield senior thrower Dustin Brode, even if it’s frustrating to interview someone who gets bummed out even after winning indoor state titles. Canfield senior swimmer Garrett Trebilcock, even if it’s frustrating to interview someone who gets bummed out after finishing in the top four in three state events. Boardman senior Darryce Moore, who fought back tears as she talked about what Boardman basketball meant to her the past four years. (I have a soft spot in my heart for athletes who talk to me after tournament losses.)

Other highlights: Poland-Canfield I & II, East’s cheerleaders, interviews with Lowellville High girls coach Tony Matisi, watching Boardman girls coach Ron Moschella (or, as I call him, the “Cologne Ranger”) on the sideline and watching the East High boys go toe-to-toe with Canton McKinley in a crisply played sectional opener.

My biggest downer was going to the Ursuline-Regina girls game and being told they weren’t selling pepperoni rolls. That’s like going to watch Pavarotti and being told he won’t sing. Or seeing Ben Roethlisberger in a club and ... [Editor’s note: Our legal department will not allow Joe to finish this sentence].

And, finally, the five quotes I loved the most:

Mooney boys coach Chris Kohl, on what he would have done if a crucial call had gone against his team in the final seconds of a win over Ashtabula Lakeside: “I’d have had a heart attack. I would have been dead on the floor.”

Boniface, on shaving his legs for the postseason: “Growing up, it was an insult to shave your legs, but it was cool as soon as Michael Phelps did it and made swimming an actual sport.”

Wollet, on his frantic style of play: “I can’t play a slow, half-court game. I’m not a good basketball player. I just kind of run around like an idiot and try to find the ball.”

Moschella, on beating North Canton Hoover: “I think there is a mutual respect between both teams. I don’t know about the fans. They’ve [walloped] us a lot and we did it to them for a change, and we’re happy about that.”

After Canton McKinley narrowly defeated East 58-52 in that sectional opener, I asked Bulldogs coach Greg Malone whether his players may have overlooked the Panthers.

“If I knew what went on in the teenage mind, I wouldn’t be here in the midst of all this snow,” he said.

Joe Scalzo and Tom Williams cover high school sports for The Vindicator. Write to them at scalzo@vindy.com and williams@vindy.com.