Boardman frosh looking for team chemistry

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2009-10 Boardman Freshmen boys basketball team

Now in his third season as the Spartans’ ninth grade head boys’ mentor, Dan McKeown has his team off to a 3-4 start, defeating rival Austintown Fitch for their only league win (1-4 in Federal League).

Boardman has lost close league games to Lake, Canton McKinley, Massillon Perry and North Canton Hoover.

Of their seven games played to date, a variety of reasons have caused McKeown to use seven different starting lineups as he searches for much-needed chemistry and team leadership.

Leading scorer Nico DiIanni is averaging five steals and three assists per game, having hit for 24 and 18 points against Canton McKinley and Poland, respectively.

Second leading scorer, Jamar Steverson, is the team’s leading rebounder, while point guard Liam Jones, the Spartans’ top three-point shooter, is tops in assists, having dished out nearly five per fray thus far this season.

John Diamond, who hauled in 10 caroms against Fitch earlier in the year, gives a 6 point, 5 rebound effort each time out. Mike Witte, an excellent rebounder who is always around the bucket, and Michael Duda, a versatile guard/forward, are the others to keep an eye on as the season progresses.