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Mangapora leads Canfield over Fitch
By Jim Flick
AUSTINTOWN
Behind the dominant play of center Sabrina Mangapora, the Canfield High girls basketball team defeated Austintown Fitch, 56-45, on Thursday night.
Mangapora, a junior, scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Cardinals (9-5, 5-2 All-American Conference).
Despite scoring more than half her team’s points, Mangapora is an unselfish player and greatly appreciated by her teammates, said Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky.
“Our girls are so unselfish, that’s what makes them so much fun,” he said. “You should have seen them in there [the locker room]. They were so happy for Sabrina scoring 33.
“On a lot of teams, they’d say, ‘She scored 33, she’s a ball hog.’ Our people are so happy for her success. And Sabrina knows everyone in there helped her get the 33 points.”
Mangapora agreed, saying, “They’re all behind me, and it’s lot easier to score when the whole team wants you to.”
Pavlansky pointed out that Mangapora’s success, which is primarily in the lane, opens up shots for other players. In fact, Mangapora’s inside play is one reason the Cardinals lead the league in 3-point shooting, he added, although Canfield didn’t sink a 3-point shot Thursday.
Nine of Mangapora’s points came from free throws, a testament to her presence under the hoop. Standing 6-foot-1, she was the tallest player on the court.
Abby Baker, a junior, also scored in double figures for the Cardinals, connecting for 10 points. Freshman Rachel Tinkey contributed seven points for Canfield.
Megan Sefcik, a sophomore, scored 13 points to lead Austintown Fitch (10-6, 4-4).
Anissa Hill, a senior, added 10 points for Fitch. Sefcik and Hill each sank two 3-pointers.
Sophomores Cassie Custer and Maura Bianco tallied eight points each for the Falcons.
Canfield out-rebounded Fitch 30-28.
Mangapora “has been so tough on us,” said Fitch coach Stacie Cepin. “She’s a superstar. I have a lot respect for her. She works hard.”
However, Cepin added she’s proud of her team for not giving up and making a late run.
“They fight, they battle. I know my kids will learn from this.”
In the third quarter, Canfield built a 10-point lead. But Fitch scored the final eight points of the third quarter to pull to 36-34. Hill and Custer scored three points apiece in that run, and Sefcik sank a field goal at the buzzer.
But Canfield responded by out-scoring Fitch 13-3 to start the fourth quarter, building a 49-37 lead with only two minutes remaining.
“Our girls showed their mettle by hanging in there and getting some really good shots to start the fourth quarter,” said Pavlansky.