43
Sebring, YCS move on
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Columbiana's Nick MacMillan is blocked by Sebring's Zack Jackson and Dakota Wagner.
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Youngstown Christian's Anthony Walker guards Leetonias Nick Altomare.
DIVISION IV SEMIFINALS
SEBRING 50
COLUMBIANA 43
Next: Sebring vs. Lowellville, Friday, 6 p.m., at Struthers.
YCS 65
LEETONIA 56
Next: Youngstown Christian vs. Southern, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Struthers.
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
Aaron VanKirk had a game high 21 points, including 16 in the second quarter, as the Sebring Trojans fought off the Columbiana Clippers, 50-43 in boys Division IV sectional basketball tournament action at the Struthers Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
They will now meet the Lowellville Rockets for the sectional title Friday at 6 p.m.
In the nightcap, DeVaun Adams scored 15 points and Anthony Walker 14 as Youngstown Christian defeated the Leetonia Bears, 65-56.
The Eagles will now take on No. 2-seed Southern for the sectional crown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Sebring (15-6) didn’t take Columbiana’s (5-16) sub.-500 record for granted, yet couldn’t exactly solve their defensive scheme and found themselves trailing 14-12 at the quarter.
VanKirk’s output in the second frame, which included three buckets from beyond the arc, helped the Trojans forge a 31-24 advantage and a lead they would hold onto the remainder of the game.
“After my first bucket went in, I just started feeling it. The key to our success as a team is that we have other players who step up when they are needed and tonight it was a total team effort.
“Our defense crashed the boards and they were able to kick the ball out so we could run,” VanKirk said.
The Trojans defeated the Clippers at home, 53-40 on Dec. 29 with VanKirk scoring a game-high 15 points.
This was a much different looking Clippers team according to Sebring coach Steve Beshara.
“They were more committed to their pressure tonight than the first time we met,” he said. “Our goal was to keep them at 43 points or less and we achieved that goal, but to their credit they rattled and confused us on more than one occasion.
“Aaron had an excellent game and I felt that Dakota Wagner did a nice job of staying in the lane to help defend,” Beshara said.
VanKirk scored five of the first seven points in the final quarter to give Sebring a 41-34 advantage, but a bucket by the Clippers’ Luke Barker with 2:58 remaining cut the Trojans lead to 47-43.
That was the closest they would get the rest of the way.
YCS-LEETONIA
In the second game, Youngstown Christian trailed 29-27 at the intermission but outscored Leetonia, 25-14 in the third period to seize the lead for good, 52-43 heading to the final quarter.
Walker, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half, said that the Bears were ready to play.
“It was a game of momentum shifts and we were able to seize that momentum in the third quarter,” he said. “It was a physical game and everyone had to work exceptionally hard around the bucket.”
Adams said their defense had a lot to do with their offensive success after halftime.
“Our defense stepped up when we needed them to and I just tried to work everyone into the system tonight,” he said.
Eagles coach Dolph Carroll was just pleased to get out with a win.
“Survive and advance, it’s that simple. We didn’t defend exceptionally well but we’re a young team and still learning every night we hit the court,” he said.
“Anthony is a four-year letterwinner. He works hard for everything and is a factor on the court.
“As for DeVaun, his speed is incredible and he always seems to be a factor.”
The Bears closed out their season 2-18 while the Eagles climbed to within a game of the .500 mark at 9-10, having now won three of their last four outings.