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Wild and Woolley: Canfield senior steals momentum from Boardman in OT
Canfield senior scores 25, makes game-changing steal
By MIKE MCLAIN
BOARDMAN
With one timeout early in the third quarter, Boardman Spartans basketball coach Pat Birch was able to change the complexion of a game against the Canfield Cardinals.
With one steal in overtime, Cardinals senior Spencer Woolley changed it back for good in favor of Canfield.
The Spartans opened overtime with a 3-point shot by Ryan Archey. Ethan Kalina of the Cardinals scored the next five points with a pair of free throws and a three-point play.
Moments later Woolley smartly read a pass and forced a steal. He drove in for a layup that gave the Cardinals a four-point lead. Woolley added two more free throws in the waning seconds as Canfield won the All-American Conference Red Tier game, 64-58, Tuesday night.
“I was trying to stay in the middle of the lane,” said Woolley, who scored a game-high 25 points. “I went for the play and took a risk, knowing if I didn’t get the play I’d get in trouble with my coaches, so I went all out for it.”
There were several changes in momentum, but none was more noticeable than what happened after Birch called a timeout in the third quarter. The Cardinals (5-0 and 3-0 in the tier) had stretched a 28-21 halftime lead to 33-21 on five unanswered points by Woolley. Sensing the game slipping away, Birch had to spark some life into the Spartans.
“I think we became the aggressor in that third quarter,” Birch said. “We started to go after them a little bit, and I think it showed on the scoreboard and we got ourselves back into the game. We hit that 3 to start overtime and got all the momentum, but they got to the foul line and we didn’t score the rest of the quarter.”
The Spartans (3-2, 1-1) scored 17 of the final 25 points of the third period to trail, 41-38. Woolley opened the fourth quarter with a fielder. Holden Lipke and JaJuantae Young then both made one free throw. Che Trevena of Boardman tied the score at 43 with a layup after a steal.
Canfield regained the lead and led 51-47 on a 3-point shot by Ian McGraw. Boardman tied the score at 51 on a driving layup by Mike Melewski and a drive right of the lane by Trevena.
The score was tied at 53 and 55 before heading to overtime.
“We had a 13-point lead that we gave up in regulation play,” Cardinals coach Todd Muckleroy said. “I have a lot of respect for Boardman. They’re not going to give up without a fight, and they came back.”
This was the second road overtime game the Cardinals have won. Muckleroy feels an overtime win over Howland was a primer for this game.
“I really think that came into play,” Muckleroy said. “Our guys really grew up. They [the Spartans] hit a 3 right off the bat. It would have been easy to hang our heads. I was happy with the way they came back.”
Zach Tinkey scored 14 points for the Cardinals, who led 13-11 after the first period.
Lipke led the Spartans with 19 points. Trevena had 13 and Archey finished with 10.