43
Rockets rout Mineral Ridge
By Brooke Meenachan
LOWELLVILLE
The Lowellville boys basketball team didn’t have any trouble finding the basket in their 93-46 win over Mineral Ridge Friday night.
The Rockets (10-10, 5-4 ITCL) connected with the hoop 34 times, 10 of which were 3-pointers, and went 15-16 from the line.
“When you make shots, the game is more enjoyable and you don’t think about the negativity. I feel it gives us more confidence on defense and with one another,” Rockets junior Alex Mamula said. “When we make our shots, we are a dangerous team and the more shots we make, the more energy we build up.”
While the Rockets led most of the game, they trailed 18-16 after the first quarter. The Rams (1-17, 1-8) hit four 3-pointers in the first eight minutes.
“We knew eventually those three’s they were shooting weren’t going to fall all game,” Lowellville coach Matt Olson said. “As coaches, we told them to stay with it, eventually percentages are going to take over.”
The Rockets went on a 10-2 run to start the second quarter and led 42-37 at the half.
Lowellville had four players in double figures.
Senior Jon Chiclowe led the offense with 23 points, Mamula score 20, Jake Rotz added 14 and Matt Hvisdak put up 10.
“Our shooters were spotting up and the ball was going in. Anytime that happens, it’s a lot easier to coach,” Olson said.
Christian DiRando led Mineral Ridge with 16 points and Jordan Zupko added 14.
The Lowellville boys aren’t the only group that can put up big numbers.
Amanda Nero, a 2005 Lowellville graduate, recorded 1,936 points in her four years as a Rocket and her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Lowellville honored the former standout by retiring her jersey number during halftime of Friday night’s game.
“It’s really cool and exciting. I was happy when I got the call that they wanted to do this,” Nero said. “It’s so shocking to know that I’ve been out of school for this long, but it’s an honor.”
Nero was a four-year starter for Lowellville. She averaged 19.5 points per game and 25 points during her senior year. She also helped lead the Rockets to two Inter-County League titles and two Division IV district championships.
The Lowellville boys are hoping to imitate her play come tournament time.
“We hope to win it all,” Mamula said. “I believe we are one of the top three hardest working teams in the state, no doubt. The amount of time and effort we put in is what motivates us.”
Olson has no doubt his guys can make that happen. “If we keep this momentum going, we’ll make a good run,” he said.
Manula said the team spark makes games a lot more enjoyable.
“It allows us to understand each other without having to think about what we’re doing, Mamula said. “The chemistry adds to the ‘family’ of the team and brings us closer which allows us to have fun while we play.”