Fitch uses size, balance to fend off Spartans

February 15, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

Austintown Fitch girls basketball coach Stacie Cepin has been impressed with her team’s growth this season.

Boardman coach Jeff Hammerton wishes the Falcons hadn’t spent so much time growing before the season, too.

The Falcons put four players in double figures and used their size to overcome a crummy night at the free-throw line, holding off the visiting Spartans 63-59 in an All-American Conference Red Division game on Saturday afternoon.

“The rivalry we’ve developed over the last few years has been awesome,” Cepin said. “They always bring it, we always bring it and it’s always a great game.”

Aaliyah Sadler — Fitch’s only senior — scored 14 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists as the Falcons (14-6, 7-3) won their 10th game in the last 11 outings.

Sophomore Alexis Sallee added 14 points and nine rebounds, junior Sarah Obradovich had 12 points and six rebounds and sophomore Natalie Lynn added 11 points and eight rebounds.

Trailing 49-45 early in the fourth quarter, the Falcons used an 11-0 run to take a 56-49 lead with 3:35 left. Boardman got within two, 60-58, with 26.9 seconds left but Obradovich made 3 of 4 free throws to close it out.

Fitch made 8 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter after making just 4 of 13 through the first three quarters.

“The word of the day was perseverance,” Cepin said. “A year ago we started five seniors and this team has had its ups and downs, but they’ve really grown. We had a good team all of last year but this team has started to build and build and maintain this success. It’s a whole different year and I’m enjoying it so much.”

All five Fitch starters are 5-foot-9 or taller, while Boardman has just one player over 5-7 (Anna Saxton, who is 5-9) and the Falcons took advantage, out-rebounding the Spartans 49-32.

“That’s what we talked about in the locker room,” Boardman coach Jeff Hammerton said. “A couple girls are feeling bad because they feel like they lost us the game. But there wasn’t one play that cost us this game. It’s just their height — we’ve got to figure out a way to box that team off the glass.”

Junior Krista Johnson had 14 points and 13 rebounds, Natalie Wilson had 12 points on four 3s and Jenna Vivo added nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Spartans (12-9, 4-6).

“I’m proud of this basketball team because over the past two weeks, they have found ways to win over teams that are bigger than us and maybe more talented than us,” said Hammerton, whose team was coming off wins over Howland and Warren Harding. “We’re playing with confidence. Even though they knew we were outsized, they still felt like they were going to win this game. That’s the confidence I like heading into tournament time.”

Fitch has the same kind of confidence. With five new starters, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

Consider the Falcons rebuilt.

“We had to build trust at first and after that, everything started to flow together,” Sadler said. “I had a little doubt [at the beginning of the year] but after we played the first couple of games and won a couple, it felt like we put everything together.

“Now we’re becoming a great team.”