Canfield duo named Al Beach Classic MVPs


By STEVE WILAJ

sports@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

In a Boardman High gymnasium loaded with the area’s top high school basketball talent on Wednesday, a couple of Canfield Cardinals shined the brightest.

Canfield’s Rachel Tinkey and Mike Yourstowsky both earned a Most Valuable Player award as each of their Mahoning County teams picked up a victory in the 45th annual Al Beach Classic, presented by the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association.

Tinkey scored a game-high 14 points in the girls all-star showcase as Mahoning County defeated Trumbull County, 73-66. The Mahoning County boys then downed Trumbull County, 100-65, in the second game of the night as Yourstowsky notched a game-high 19 points.

“These past few days playing both of these games was so much fun,” Yourstowsky said. “It just feels great to play in these games and represent Canfield and Mahoning County.”

Ursuline’s Mark Hughes added 13 points for Mahoning County, while Austintown Fitch’s Jake Bullen scored 11 and Ray Phifer of Struthers notched 10. In all, Mahoning County shot 41 of 88 from the field. It reached triple-digits when Bullen drained a 3 on the game’s final possession.

“At the end, when our first five went back in there, we said we wanted to get to 100,” said Yourstowsky, who made three 3-pointers in the second half. “So we tried trapping a little in the full court and chucked up 3’s. Luckily, I got hot there at the end.

“But it was a lot of fun coming out here with all these guys. I’ve played with a lot of them at the YMCA and Creekside Fitness, so it’s a good time to come out here.”

Warren Harding’s Jarelle Johnson earned the MVP award for Trumbull County. He paced the team with 10 points. Harding teammate Shondell Jackson added nine points, while Newton Falls’ Adam Czerniak and Brookfield’s Seth Wallace each scored eight.

“It’s just great to be around great players and have a good time,” said West Branch coach Lou Sellaroli, who coached Mahoning Valley. “We had good quality guys that you try to get in and get everybody some playing time.”

Cardinal Mooney’s Jaclyn Yankle and Austintown’s Aaliyah Sadler both scored 12 points for the victorious Mahoning County girls squad. But it was Tinkey who got hot in the second half as she scored 12 of her 14 points in the final 18 minutes.

“I just tried to get into a little bit of a rhythm,” Tinkey said. “The pace was moving really good and I had great players surrounding me that were able to me the ball.

“This year’s senior class is one of the best that I’ve been around and been able to compete against. So it’s just an incredible honor to play with these girls, let alone to be able to play well.”

Trumbull County MVP Jessica Vormelker of Grand Valley led the way with 11 points. Pymatuning Valley’s Kelsea Brown also scored 10 points, while Hubbard’s Emily Manion added nine.

“As a coach, it’s just great to get to know some of the other girls on the teams that you played against all year,” said West Branch coach Walt Deshields, who coached Mahoning County. “It’s just a lot of quality young ladies and that’s why they’re here.”

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