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Boardman sweeps Harding
BOARDMAN
After a slow start initially, the Boardman High School girls basketball team ignited for a 16-point halftime lead in Saturday’s 68-42 Division I tournament victory.
“It was a great victory for us,” said Boardman head coach Jeff Hammerton whose team advances to a game against Austintown Fitch on Thursday. “They jumped on us with the first couple of buckets right away.
“And we responded,” Hammerton said. “What we did great this game versus the last two times we played them, when they were real tight games, is we moved the ball really well and that was the goal, spacing and ball movement did the job.”
Boardman beat Harding three times this season after knocking them out of the tournament last season.
“Two of the three were grinds, they were right there,” Hammerton said. “The first two games could have gone either way.
“But we kind of got up and it kind of steamrolled today and I’m really proud of my girls for keeping their foot on the gas pedal. We kept at it all game.”
After trailing 4-1, the Spartans led 15-7 after the first quarter and 31-15 at halftime.
Boardman’s productive starting five was led by senior Lauren Gabriele with 18 points and 10 rebounds, including a 10-point third quarter.
Junior Jenna Vivo added 16 points and eight rebounds. Senior Lauren Pavlansky chipped in with 15 points and sophomore Alicia Saxton tossed in 11 points and collected eight boards. Sophomore Cate Green grabbed six caroms.
“This is our last game on our home court and we really wanted to defend it,” Gabriele said. “It was really exciting, you want to go out strong.
“It’s emotional, obviously, it’s my last game at home ever and it’s such a big game and you want to go out strong and I feel we really did that.”
Gabriele shrugged off her double-double production for the contest.
“It’s all a team effort and we’re working great together,” the senior said. “Our team chemistry is there and where we’re at right now is just great.”
Vivo was also happy to have a home playoff game.
“We all came out ready to play and obviously we were all excited we had a home game,” she said. “I think that also gave an advantage to us for playing better.”
As Boardman poured on the points in the second half, they led 55-22 after three, the action on the court seemed to get a little chippier as the game went on.
“It was pretty physical,” Vivo said. “We played hard and so did Warren, it was a very physical game. I was getting frustrated a little bit but I kept my composure.”
The game contained a little controversy. In the fourth quarter, a technical foul was assessed against Harding’s Chardonnay Burke who left the court complaining about insults.
“I was a little disappointed in the situation that happened obviously, but we’ll do our research and see what happened,” Harding coach Frank Caputo said. “She heard something that I hope wasn’t correct.
“I’m not very happy with it, obviously.”
Hammerton said he doesn’t know why the technical foul was called.
“I think it was just a little frustration there,” Hammerton said. “Girls started talking to each other, I don’t know exactly what was said.
“But I think frustration boiled over a little bit,” Hammerton said. “All I know is that we tried to get girls that were involved off the floor and cooler heads prevailed. I think [the officials] did a nice job.”
Raiders junior Toni Donaldson scored a team-high 14 points while senior Kia Allen added 13.
“It was very disappointing, they beat us all three times this year,” Caputo said. “They came out on fire, they hit a lot of shots and we couldn’t match them.
“But I love this group of girls, they’re a fun group, they work hard and I thank my seniors for being here.”
Hammerton is looking forward to playing Fitch.
“Thirteen wins is great but now we go to Fitch, a team that we know very well, and they got us twice this year,” Hammerton said. “They’re not the three seed in this tournament for nothing, they’re a really good team and we’ll have to have our best game to play with them.
“It’s going to be a tough task but I love where we’re at right now, playing for a sectional championship.”