Canfield stuns West Branch at buzzer in Div. II final

March 4, 2012 at 12:10a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

Moments after handing West Branch a golden opportunity to steal a victory, the Canfield High girls basketball team rebounded with a monster play.

After Warriors freshman Melinda Trimmer made a free throw to tie Saturday’s Division II district final at Fitch High with eight seconds remaining, her second attempt bounced to Canfield senior Sarah Vrabel who quickly passed to Rachel Tinkey.

The freshman guard fired a strike down court to Sabrina Mangapora and the Cardinals’ junior hit a jump shot with 1.8 seconds remaining to give Canfield a 42-40 victory and a third trip to the Barberton regional in five seasons.

“I took off,” said Mangapora when she saw Vrabel had the ball. “I felt like, we practice [long bombs], I know what to do.

“It was a perfect pass by Rachel Tinkey — I couldn’t ask for anyone better,” said Mangapora who led the Cardinals (17-7) with 25 points, four steals and three rebounds. “I saw the defender and I knew how much time was left.”

Vrabel said watching Mangapora’s bank shot find the net to extend her varsity career was “an awesome feeling. I guess there was no doubt that we would find a way.

“I gave it to Tinkey and she gave [Mangapora] the go-ahead,” said Vrabel who made six rebounds.

Tinkey said she immediately called for the ball.

“I was looking for the outlet [pass] on the outside,” said Tinkey who scored seven points and made seven rebounds. “I saw Mango hustling ... she had her hand up calling for it. You don’t deny her the ball in that situation.

“What a clutch shot.”

West Branch coach Walt DeShields, whose Warriors lost in the district final for the second straight year, agreed.

“Sabrina Mangapora is a special player and she showed that in the last minute of the game,” said DeShields, referring to a 3-pointer that put the Cards ahead, 40-39. “What else can you say?”

Despite the late giveaway, Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky said, “Our kids kept on believing. I’m so proud of them and the effort that they had.”

Canfield avenged a two-point loss to the Warriors two months ago.

“That’s a much better West Branch team than we played on Jan. 4,” Pavlansky said.

DeShields was proud of how the Warriors (21-3) had a late chance. With 13 seconds remaining, the Cardinals were nursing a one-point lead and the Warriors had to foul them three times to get to the bonus.

Instead, Brittany Bryte stole Canfield’s in-bounds pass.

“We set up a real nice play underneath and it ended up opening up like we planned and Melinda’s [shot] just fell off the rim,” said DeShield who told his disappointed players “one play does not make a whole game.”

Trimmer led the Warriors with 14 points and Taryn Hahn netted 10,