Thursday, January 21, 2010
Photo
GAME ACTION: Boardman’s Doriyon Glass (33), above, goes for the rebound before it goes out of bounds against Uniontown Lake during Wednesday’s game. The Spartans defeated Federal League rival Uniontown Lake 65-37.
Photo
GAME ACTION: Boardman’s Brooke Meenachan (21) looks to pass while Lake’s Jordan Jackson defends. The Spartans defeated Federal League rival Uniontown Lake 65-37.
Photo
Boardman Darryce Moore (44) gets a shot past the Lady Blue Streaks.
Doriyon Glass scored 19 points in Boardman’s 65-37 win over Lake.
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN — Frustrated after Monday’s 55-51 loss to Dresden Tri-Valley in Berlin, the Boardman High girls basketball team wasted no time getting back to its winning ways.
Against Federal League rival Uniontown Lake on Wednesday, the Spartans (9-2, 5-0 Federal) needed about three minutes to race to a 12-0 lead before cruising to a 65-37 victory.
“Coming off a loss, we were determined all the way through,” said senior Doriyon Glass who led the Spartans with 19 points, four rebounds and two steals. “He [Coach Ron Moschella] teaches us to play all the way through the game.
“We never stop, we never give up whether we’re up by 20 or down by 20,” Glass said. “A game like this reminds us that you can never become complacent. We’re not going to get better just because we’re up.”
With the luxury of a big lead most of the contest, Moschella still found things that need improved.
“We were trying to do different things, trying to play different defenses,” Moschella said. “We were [calling out] defenses on the run, trying to get them used to it. Of course, they didn’t ... but I was tickled pink that we played as well as we did coming off a loss.”
Glass made a layup to open the scoring, After senior Monica Touvelle hit her first of four 3-pointers, classmate Darryce Moore scored her first basket from underneath.
Free throws by Moore and Touvelle plus another Glass bucket had the Spartans in full control.
Touvelle agreed the close loss two days earlier inspired the Spartans “to focus on what we did bad. Coach told us to come out and play your best. That’s what we did the whole game.”
With 60 percent of their regular season complete, the Spartans are in position to clinch the top seed for the Federal League and Division I district tournaments.
For Touvelle, getting to play with Glass who is back on the court after three serious knee injuries is special.
“I was extremely happy when she told me was going to come out this year because I love playing with her and Ryce,” said Touvelle, a Youngstown State recruit. “She really knows how to control the team and decide the tempo. She’s really a true leader.”
In the second quarter, Blue Streaks (5-8, 2-3) freshman McKenna Stephens made two free throws to slice Boardman’s led to 23-14. That was the last time the lead was fewer than double digits the Spartans posted a 12-5 run for a 35-19 edge at halftime.
“I think we handled their pressure and did what we wanted to do,” said Touvelle, citing turnovers against Tri-Valley as a problem.
After so much time loss to recovery, Glass doesn’t mind Moschella’s sideline encouragements.
“The public thinks that he’s just yelling, but he’s actually making us better,” Glass said. “Even when we’re up a lot, he’s pointing out the little things that will help us in the big games, things that we need to know.”
Touvelle finished with 14 points while Moore, an Ohio State recruit, scored 13.
For the Blue Streaks, Stephens scored 14 points while sophomore Macy Byrd netted 10.
Glass appreciates a winning season after working so hard to return.
“It feels good and I’m happy,” Glass said. “I just having fun.
“Last year when I didn’t play, I was down for a while. It was my [third ACL injury] but I was dealing with it.
“This year is just so much more fun, just playing basketball,” Glass said. “It just makes school and everything so much better.”
williams@vindy.com