Boardman’s defense too strong for Perry, 52-31

By Chuck Housteau

ALLIANCE — Boardman’s Darryce Moore is playing in the Division I district tournament with a sense of urgency.

Before heading to Ohio State to continue her basketball career, Moore would like to atone for a state semifinal loss in her sophomore season by getting back to Columbus a little early for another run at a state championship.

Moore led the Spartans (18-5) to an impressive 52-31 victory over Massillon Perry on Thursday night to earn a date with Massillon next Wednesday in a district semifinal.

The senior post player scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Boardman.

“She makes me a good basketball coach,” said Boardman coach Ron Moschella. “She’s a great player.”

Moore vividly remembers the 62-42 loss to West Chester Lakota in the state semifinals in 2008.

Only a sophomore, Moore fouled out of the contest after scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds.

Moore said she knows this is her last chance at Boardman to get a championship.

“It would be amazing,” she said of closing out her career as a Spartan with a state title. “I am working so hard and so are all my teammates to try to get back and make that happen.

“I think we have a really great chance.”

If Boardman plays as well as they did against the Panthers, those aspirations could come true.

If anything, Boardman’s defense can take it a long way.

The Spartans limited Perry to seven, five and seven points in the first three quarters and were never seriously challenged.

Boardman had defeated the Panthers twice this season, 46-34 and 47-33, but this time was much easier, according to Moschella.

“I was really impressed how we played defense tonight,” Moschella said. “We were focused on defense. I thought we did a good job on posting up number 22 [Perry’s leading scorer Tiffany Adkins].”

The Spartans kept Adkins in check by harassing her with Doriyon Glass and several others.

Adkins did get 18 points but got little else from her teammates.

“We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket,” said Perry coach Mark Randulic. “We struggled from the start. We knew we had to play a perfect game to beat Boardman but it is what it is.”

Boardman had too much inside game from Moore and plenty of strong shooting from 3-point land from Brooke Meenachan and YSU recruit Monica Touvelle.

Meenachan drilled 3 three-pointers, all in the first half, for nine points, while Touvelle was 3 of 4 from long range for 15 points.

“I thought we played a strong game tonight,” Moore said. “I think we kicked it up even more in the second half.”