YCS rolls over JFK for ninth straight

YOUNGSTOWN — Last season, the Youngstown Christian School boys basketball team advanced to the Division IV regional final.

While the Eagles’ goal this season is to advance farther, Coach Dolph Carroll continues to preach to his team to not look past their next opponent.

That simple reminder has been a key all season long.

Victor Shaw poured in a game-high 18 points and John Pecchia added 16 markers as the Eagles defeated Warren JFK, 61-44, on Friday at Youngstown Christian.

Shaw, who started a season ago but comes off the bench now for Carroll, said staying focused the remainder of the regular season will be a top priority.

“Coach told us that there are just three regular season games left so we need to stay focused, remember the task at hand and remain mentally and physically tough when in the game,” Shaw said.

“We’re an unselfish team that is pretty hungry right now.

“We just want to finish on a positive note and build some momentum for tournament time,” Shaw said.

Warren JFK (2-15) had the momentum at the outset as a Carl Broadbent bucket and Rob Seger triple staked the Eagles to the early 5-0 advantage barely two minutes into the game.

Pecchia’s 10-points keyed a 24-4 run for Youngstown Christian (16-1) for a 24-9 lead at the quarter,

Shaw scored 10 of his 18 points in the second frame as Youngstown Christian built a commanding 42-18 lead at intermission.

“We work hard every day in practice and with 17 games already played, we’re still looking to peak,” Pecchia said. “As long as we take it one game at a time and keep getting better, then we should be alright.

“Winning our final three games of the season will give us the momentum that we will need entering the tournament,” Pecchia said.

The second half was a stark contrast to the fast-paced first 16 minutes as JFK outscored Youngstown Christian by a 26-19 count in the two periods, scoring the last 12 points of the game.

“This group of guys is a very unselfish group at both ends of the court,” Carroll said. “They play hard and everyone distributes the ball to each and everyone on the team.

“Coaches dream of putting four or five players in double figure scoring each game,” Carroll said. ”Our unselfish ways help that become a reality for us.

“Victor [Shaw] had an excellent game for us and brought a lot of energy into the game when he was on the floor,” Carroll said. “John [Pecchia] is our glue because he has a great understanding of the game. He knows exactly what is going on around him and keeps everyone in the game.

“You just don’t find players like that very often at any level,” Carroll said. “I’m blessed to have this group of players.”

Youngstown Christian won for the ninth consecutive time since suffering their only loss of the season to Cardinal Mooney on Jan. 5.

Warren JFK committed 25 turnovers including 18 in the first half of play.

“You don’t win 16 of 17 games without doing something right. They are an excellent team with experience, skill and discipline.

“We just dug a hole by committing so many turnovers,” Warren JFK coach Brent Villella said. “You cannot give a team like Youngstown Christian that many extra possessions because they are going to take advantage of those opportunities and put points on the board.”

Broadbent had a team-high 15 points for JFK.