43
Mahoning, Trumbull split in Frank Bubba Classic
By Charles grove
HOWLAND
Putting on that jersey one last time — that’s what some of the area’s top senior basketball players got to experience at Howland High School for the Frank Bubba Classic.
Mahoning County seniors squared off against Trumbull County seniors in boys and girls contests with the Trumbull County girls winning 59-48 while the Mahoning County boys ran away with a 110-79 victory.
“It’s just a blast because there’s no pressure on this game,” said former Austintown Fitch coach Stacie Cepin, who coached the Mahoning County girls. “It’s really a great way to honor the seniors and what they’ve accomplished over their four years. It’s just fun.”
Ali Ciminero from Girard was awarded MVP of the girls game scoring 15 points in the victory while Sarah Joseph of McDonald and Tori Rappach each had nine. Mahoning County was led by Canfield’s Ashley Kaleel’s 15 points.
On the boys side, Warren Harding’s Gabe Simpson led all scorers with 28 points, taking home MVP honors while Niles’ Cameron Kane-Johnson hit five 3-pointers to finish with 19 points for Trumbull County. Mahoning County’s balanced scoring attack was paced by Canfield’s Julian Vitto’s 14 points while Boardman’s Gannon Murray, South Range’s Preston Stitt and Ursuline’s Greg Parella each had 13 points in the win.
“When I heard my name called I was so surprised,” Ciminero said. “I had no idea I would win this award. I was just shooting whatever I could put up.”
Trumbull led throughout in the girls contest, leading 32-24 at halftime and held their lead during a more physical second half when it became clear each team was giving their all for the cause.
“Once a competitor always a competitor,” Cepin said. “But it was a ton of fun.”
The event is named for Bubba, the late Warren Harding boys basketball coach, who battled cystic fibrosis most of his life. The event is sponsored by the Trumbull County Coaches Association.
Howland fans got a treat on their home court during the girls 3-point contest when Rappach went basket-for-basket with Lakeview’s Annie Pavlansky, racking up her third 3-point championship at the Frank Bubba Classic. Rappach hit 50 3-pointers during the three rounds.
“It’s my home court and I love my home court,” Rappach said with the trophy in her arms. “It just came with ease. It’s been a great four years and I think my home court helped me a lot.”
The future Mount Union guard was asked how she was so deadly from beyond the arc in both the game and the competition. Rappach said it all boiled down to practice.
“Every summer and offseason it takes a lot of practice,” Rappach said. “I just practice the same shot over and over to the point where if there is a girl in your face it doesn’t really phase you.”
The boys game looked to be the Simpson show early as the point guard tallied 11 points before any other player scored, nailing three 3-pointers in the process. But the Mahoning County players proved to be too much as the southern county outscored Trumbull County 110-68 from that point. “I was just trying to get us an early lead but obviously that didn’t hold up,” Simpson said laughing after the contest. “It was very fun. I like playing it this type of atmosphere.”
While it was obvious that many of the players hadn’t played together and found it difficult to find a rhythm with all new teammates, Parella and Stitt had no issues as the duo found each other on multiple occasions, one time with Parella driving to the hoop between his legs and finding Stitt in the corner for a 3.
“We’ve played with each other before and we’ve known each other a long time from playing together at the YMCA,” Stitt said. “I was ready for [Parella’s pass].”