Trumbull boys, girls sweep Al Beach Classic

March 24, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

By Brian Dzenis

Boardman

High drama isn’t usually part of end-of-the-season all-star games, but Mahoning and Trumbull county seniors squeezed two more minutes into their basketball careers.

The Trumbull boys team battled back from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter of the 46th annual Al Beach Classic to force overtime and beat Mahoning County, 97-95.

“We were just thinking about Texas A&M and March Madness,” said Niles guard Cameron Kane-Johnson, referencing the Aggies erasing a 12-point deficit in 44 seconds last week. “We said we could do it and we locked down on D and hit big shots. It was fun.”

Across the event, it was all Trumbull County. The girls team won, 59-48, and Mathews’ Bryan Oatridge and Howland’s Tori Rappach won their respective 3-point contests.

Kane-Johnson was the game’s MVP with a 19-point performance. He nailed three 3-pointers in the final two minutes of regulation and another in overtime. He added the final two free throws to give his team its final points.

Boardman’s Gannon Murray had a chance to bring his team within a point in the waning seconds of OT when he was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer, but went 0-for-3 from the line. Austintown Fitch’s Anthony Pangio got a put-back bucket, but his team ran out of time. A balanced Mahoning County side was led by Lisbon’s Austin Rutecki and Poland’s Nick Buccieri, who each scored nine points.

Trumbull County bounced back after taking a 110-79 loss in the Frank Bubba Classic on Tuesday. Many of the same players suited up Wednesday night.

“It definitely feels good. We went into this game wanting revenge.” Kane-Johnson said. “We thought last night was embarrassing.”

Trumbull’s girls carried over the momentum from a Frank Bubba win, which came by the same final score.

“I kind of lied and told myself we were undefeated and that we needed to win today to hold up the tradition of Trumbull County,” said Girard coach Andy Saxon, the Trumbull County coach.

Size carried the day against Mahoning County. Newton Falls’ Gabby Kline and Warren Harding’s Shymara Dykes were forces to be reckoned with at both ends of the floor. Kline finished with 15 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter to earn her MVP honors. Dykes added 11 points for the winning side.

“We all are just good basketball players and we all know how to play,” Kline said. “We didn’t worry about anything. We just went out and had fun.”

Struthers’ Caitlin Kane and Canfield’s Ashley Kaleel led Mahoning County with nine points each. Rappach is 2-for-2 in 3-point contests this season. Her 16 threes bested South Range’s Morgan Czopur’s 14.

In the boys 3-point contest, Oatridge opened the event with 15 triples, which wasn’t a bad number by any stretch.

Then Fitch’s Brian Beany, South Range’s Dan Ritter and Howland’s Michael Massucci all tied his mark.

“It was kind of frustrating watching these really good shooters just keep popping off,” Oatridge said. “When you’re the first one to go, you have to set the tone.”

He did just that in the second round, making seven in 30 seconds. That lead stood as both Beany and Ritter came up a triple short. Massucci was two behind Oatridge.

Some of the Bristol-Mathews rivalry showed between Oatridge and Bristol coach Craig Giesy. Even though Giesy himself was an excellent shooter as a player and his team has a great track record from shooting from outside, he offered no insight to the Mustangs’ guard.

“He doesn’t like to talk to Mathews guys,” Oatridge said with a laugh. “He didn’t give me any tips. In games, he would tell me to miss.”

All in all, it was great way to go out for the Trumbull County players.

“It’s fun to come out and play with these guys that you compete against in the season,” Kane-Johnson said. “These are some of the best guys in the area and it’s just a fun experience.”