Strong start helps lift Boardman past Fitch

January 22, 2011 at 12:07a.m.

Boardman

The Boardman High boys basketball team reeled off the first 12 points of the game, then withstood a late Fitch rally as the Spartans defeated the visiting Falcons, 56-44 in a Federal League contest Friday.

Dave DiBernardi, who had just two points at halftime, finished with a team-high 15 points and six rebounds but credited coach Dan McKeown for his halftime advice with his shooting form.

“I’ve been struggling with my form the past several games so I asked coach at halftime about making any adjustments,” DiBernardi said. “We’ve been working on my form in practice and he just reminded me to be confident and stick with my shot.”

Added McKeown, “At halftime, I told Dave [DiBernardi] that he was going back to his old habits and shooting on the way down. We ran him off double screens; he hit a couple of big buckets and was able to regain his confidence.”

DiBernardi said the whole team played with intensity and kept the Falcons off the offensive glass, which was key.

“In the second half they went to a zone, I was able to find the open spot and my teammates just kept feeding me the ball,” he said. “Getting our first Federal League win is huge.”

Five points by John Fithian fueled a 12-0 run to start the game for the Spartans and after the Falcons’ Jonas Ballard hit the first of his three triples with under a minute to play, Boardman (7-6, 1-4) settled for a 12-3 lead after the first quarter of action.

Four points each by Dayne Hammond and Trae Robinson in the second period then helped the Spartans forge a 24-11 halftime margin.

It was the second time this season that Boardman has held an opponent to just three points in the opening quarter and 11 points in the first half. (The other was Poland, back on Dec. 27.)

“We want to be able to compete in the Federal League because then we know we will be able to compete with those in the state,” McKeown said. “You have to credit Austintown Fitch, however, for never giving up despite falling behind at the outset. I told coach [Jason] Baker that he has a scrappy group that plays sound, fundamental basketball. They boxed out well, kept coming at us and believe me, they are a program that is headed in the right direction,” he added.

The Falcons (3-9, 0-5), behind Ballard’s eight points, outscored the Spartans, 20-12 after intermission as they cut into the Boardman lead, making it 36-31 with eight minutes remaining.

Ballard’s third bucket from beyond the arc at 4:34 of the final period reduced the Spartans margin to 42-37, but five free throws by Robinson keyed a 14-7 game-ending run to ice the game for Boardman.

“It’s hard enough to win in this league as it is, and when you dig a hole like we did for ourselves tonight it becomes that much tougher,” Baker said. “Despite falling behind early our kids never quit. They know that they are that close to being able to close out a game, but we have to find a way to do it consistently and for 32 minutes each and every time out.

“We feel like we can compete with anyone on our schedule when we play with that consistency.”