Boardman stays cool to seal 62-57 triumph

By Jon Moffett

Three of the Explorers’ seven losses have been by one point, the coach said .

BOARDMAN — Head coach Jim Goske and his Boardman High boys basketball team could only watch with anticipation as senior J.T. Moore stepped up to the free throw line to seal a victory for the home team.

Having been up by double-digits at one point in Tuesday’s game, the Spartans (5-5) found themselves fighting to hold onto a three-point lead against Hudson High with time winding down.

Moore approached the free throw line as his four teammates stood at the other end of the court to guard a long pass by the Explorers.

Moore sank both free throws and put the Spartans up by five with less than a second remaining, sealing a 62-57 victory.

For Moore, the last two of his 11 points were the most rewarding.

“I was thinking, ‘Wow, this game has changed,’” he said. “I just wanted to make those two [free throws] for my team.”

The Explorers (1-7) could only watch in disappointment as time ran out on their gutty comeback.

Trailing by 11 at the start of the third quarter, Hudson was able to bring the score within three. But as the clock ticked down,

“They’re tremendous young men and there’s not quit in them,” Hudson coach Jeff Brink said. “That goes to senior leadership and we’re fortunate to have a good group of kids, especially seniors, that I’ve been around in my 22 years of coaching.”

Hudson had to explore the depths of its bench early on.

Two starters were called for two fouls midway through the first.

Seniors Richie Piekarski and Jeff Piazza spent much of the first half on the bench and watched as their team fell behind by eight points at the half.

Brink said having those key players out of action set the team back.

“The most crucial one was Richie Piekarski,” he said. “Richie was all Northeast Ohio last year and is one of the best players in the Cleveland area.

“And when he got the second one real quick, we felt pretty fortunate to keep the game in single-digits with him sitting on the pine the whole half.”

Goske gave credit to the Explorers for hanging tough and breathed a sigh of relief his team walked out of the gym victorious.

“That’s a credit to those kids,” he said. “They’re scrappy, they always play hard and they never quit.”

Hudson had a tough time finding the basket in the first half. The Explorers posted only nine points in the first two quarters.

But a strong finish brought the Explorers within reach. Brink said his team has lost three games by one point or fewer and hopes each game acts as a leaning experience for the squad.

Goske said he also hopes the way the game ended works as a learning experience for the Spartans.

“We haven’t really been in a lot of games like that this year where we’ve had to maintain a close lead at the end, so hopefully it does two things,” he said. Hopefully we’re in that situation a few more times and hopefully we learn from it and get better at it.”

The Explorers were guided by senior Jake Brandy, who had 22.

Boardman spread the ball around and had four shooters in the double-digits. Junior Dave DiBernardi led the team with 14.

Behind him were Moore, senior Kevin Johnson and junior Trae Robinson, who each had 10.

The Spartans will travel to Massillon on Friday for a game against Jackson. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

jmoffett@vindy.com