43
Tournament basketball returns to Covelli Centre
YOUNGSTOWN
Three state-ranked teams are scheduled in the Lariccia Family High School Basketball Series at the Covelli Centre on Monday.
Grand Valley is paired with Champion, McDonald takes on Columbiana, and Struthers is slated against Liberty in the Martin Luther King Day tripleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
Also on tap Monday starting at 2 p.m. will be a pair of games among parochial league teams.
The series was started by the late John Kovach, a Vindicator sports writer; philanthropist Tony Lariccia; and other sponsors.
Kovach spearheaded the effort to bring the high school talent to the downtown arena. One of the highlights on Monday will be the presentation of the John Kovach Sportsmanship Award.
Lariccia, a Struthers High and Youngstown State graduate and stockbroker from Boardman, provided a $5,000 grant for seed money to launch the series.
Returning sponsors are the Lariccia family, Panera Bread and Wendy’s restaurants, which sponsor the tickets with coupons.
Eric Ryan, the Covelli Centre’s executive director, said that there’s a bittersweet taste to this year’s event.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide such an amazing opportunity for kids from all over the area to play in an arena,” Ryan said. “However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that this year we are missing one of the founding members of this project, John Kovach. He played an integral role in establishing this series and really put his heart and soul into the games; hopefully we can honor his memory and continue this great tradition at the Covelli Centre.”
Struthers (8-1), ranked 13th in Division II, has a special link with the Covelli Centre since Jordan Ryan, a 6-foot-5 senior, is the son of the Covelli Centre executive director.
“I grew up with Eric, so we’ve been friends forever,” said Struthers coach Joe Savko, who was a senior when Eric Ryan was in the eighth grade. “I was a few years ahead head of him,” said Savko, a 1988 Struthers High graduate. “He wasn’t a bad player at Struthers, either,” Savko said of Eric Ryan, who graduated in 1992.
Playing downtown is good for the kids, Savko said.
“A lot of them won’t get to play in college or not in an arena like this,” said Savko. “Plus, it’s good for the fans to support their children and their communities. It’s also good for Youngstown for people to come and visit downtown.”
Struthers is led by senior Nate Jacubec, who is averaging 20 points per game. He needs five points on Monday to reach 1,000 for his career.
Adam Ryczaj is averaging 12 points and 12 rebounds per game, while Jake Jacubec, a junior, is scoring 14 points per game and five assists.
McDonald (8-0), which is ranked 14th in Div. IV, has played at Covelli the last three years.
Coach Jeff Rasile said the games are special.
“It’s good for local basketball to play at a nice location and I think our kids enjoy it. It’s a different atmosphere.”
The Blue Devils don’t play in many gyms the size of Covelli or where the stands are behind the hoops.
“Monday’s venue gives us the feel of the Canton Fieldhouse, so, if we make another tournament run, our kids will have experienced that,” said Rasile.
McDonald played at the Canton Fieldhouse last year when the Blue Devils appeared in a regional semifinal against Shadyside.
McDonald is led by seniors Matthias Tayala and Nick Rota, both of whom are averaging 20 points per game.
Grand Valley (8-0) will be playing at the Covelli Centre for the first time, adding an Ashtabula County flavor to the mix.
The Mustangs are ranked 9th in Div. III.
Top players include junior point guard A.J. Henson, who is averaging 20.6 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals per game.
Adam Moodt is averaging 14 points per game and Mitchell Lake adds 11 points and 10 rebounds per game.