Grand Valley survives Champion

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A.J. Henson scored 27 points and Grand Valley held off a determined comeback by Champion to defeat the Flashes 64-56 on Monday afternoon.

The Mustangs’ victory was the opener of the Lariccia Family Basketball Series at the Covelli Centre.

Champion trailed by as many as 17 points early in the second half, but closed to within one, 53-52, on a pair of free throws by Wes Weber with 3:21 remaining in the game.

But the Flashes went scoreless from the field until the final 10 seconds, while the Mustangs (9-1) went on an 11-0 run to regain control.

Ross Farmer led Champion with 22 points, while Weber added 12.

Mitchell Lake added 13 points and Stanley Sirrine scored 11 for the Mustangs.

Grand Valley went on a 14-4 run spanning the first and second periods to take a 28-11 lead. Henson had half of the Mustangs’ points in that span.

Champion (2-9) led 5-2 early before the Mustangs took the lead for good. Sirrine’s three-point play highlighted a 12-3 run for Grand Valley to give the Northeast Athletic Conference school a 14-8 lead.

After a free throw by Champion, the Mustangs scored 14 of the next 18 points to their largest lead of the first half, 28-11, with 3:36 remaining in the second quarter.

The Flashes gave a quick preview of their second-half rally, though, scoring eight quick points to close to 28-19 with 1:53 to go.

Grand Valley led 35-22 at halftime, and opened the second half on a 7-3 run to take a 17-point lead, 42-25, with 5:28 to go in the third period.

It was 48-31 with 2:02 remaining, before the Flashes scored the final six points of the quarter. Champion then opened the final period with a 13-3 run, making it 51-50 with 4:15 left.