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Local teams set for Holiday Basketball Classic
By Greg Gulas
Youngstown
The 6th-Annual Youngstown-Warren Holiday High School Basketball Classic will take place Saturday with seven games on tap throughout the day at the Covelli Centre.
A total of 14 teams, including four girl’s squads will compete starting at 8:30 a.m.
“It’s an exciting time for the kids and a great opportunity for their respective programs to be able to play at a venue like the Covelli Centre,” said tournament director Ed Matey. “Local Attorney Paul Dutton came up with the idea of hosting an event of this magnitude half a dozen years ago. It was his law firm, Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, Ltd., that was instrumental in helping to raise the necessary funds and sponsorships that have kept us going.
“All of the teams from that initial event remain with us today and it just seems to get bigger and better each year,” he added. “When it is all said and done, between 4,000 and 5,000 fans will have attended the event.”
The Chaney High girls will square off against Springfield Local in the first game, looking for their first win after consecutive losses to start the season.
“We’ve scouted Springfield Local and feel that we are bigger in the post, but the game could come down to the play of the guards,” coach Bernard Bolha said. “They will need to make good decisions when in control of the ball.”
The East High Panthers girl’s will then take on the Ursuline Fighting Irish at 10:15 a.m.
“Having played in every classic, we feel like we are very familiar with the facility,” said East coach Tanisha Franklin. “Our team is absolutely excited to be playing once again at the Covelli Centre. We’re a balanced team and right now the play of senior forward Lisa Monet is leading us both at the offensive and defensive ends of the court.”
Ursuline coach Sean Durkin realizes that his team will be in for a tough battle.
“We all agree that depth perception can pose a problem with an initial adjustment period needed when shooting the ball,” he said. “It still remains a great experience for our players to be playing in such a big time arena.”
At noon, Chaney High (0-1) will open boys play against Austintown Fitch.
“As a team we really look forward to playing at the Covelli Center. The reverse side of that, however, is that we haven’t played our best the past two seasons at the facility, Chaney’s Josh Marsh said. “That is why it would be nice to pick up our first win of the season there.”
In the 2:00 p.m. contest, the East Panthers will meet East Liverpool; the former also looking for their first win after suffering a season opening loss to Cardinal Mooney.
“I really haven’t fared well in the tournament, dating back to my days as coach at Woodrow Wilson. In fact, I’m still looking for my first win there as a coach,” said East’s Mark Cherol. “The kids get a big-time feeling when they run onto the court and everything about the event is just top-notch.”
The Campbell Memorial Red Devils, who are off to a 2-0 start and are coming off a thrilling, 48-47 win over Boardman this past Tuesday, will take on the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals at 6 p.m.
Doors will open at 8 a.m. Season passes for schools will not be honored at the gate.