Hartfield’s scoring punch helps YSU

November 21, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Sophomore Hartfield

coming off biggest

game for Penguins

YOUNGSTOWN

On a team with a mission to correct some unsightly numbers this week, sophomore wing Braun Hartfield’s production has been a welcome sight.

With veteran guards Francisco Santiago battling a knee injury and returning leading scorer Cameron Morse in a slump over the first three games for Youngstown State (1-2), Hartfield has stepped in as the team’s leading scorer.

“It’s something I have to do and it’s something coach wants me to do,” Hartfield said. “It’s going to be a big part of our team this with me being a scorer or just a playmaker in general.”

After setting a career-high in scoring with 33 points last Friday during a 104-84 loss to Canisius, Hartfield is leading the squad with 20 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor.

“Braun Hartfield played so well and he had a great week of preparation. It’s probably one of the best weeks I’ve seen since I’ve got here,” YSU head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “He was in the gym early. He stayed late. He watched tape and he gets 33. He should have had 40.”

Hartfield and the Penguins will take the floor four times this week, starting tonight against Division III Westminster before a three-game tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. The trip presents another chance for a young roster to earn more Division I basketball experience.

“We’re going to need that for conference play because there’s going to be more situations where we’re travelling and playing numerous games,” Hartfield said. “We’ll try to get experience, rhythm and chemistry — and wins — that’s the important thing.”

To get those wins, some things need to be fixed. The big sticking point is defense. The Penguins gave up 100-plus points to both their D-I opponents and Canisius isn’t exactly a team with the postseason credentials of season-opener foe Kent State. The Griffins were picked to finish ninth in the 11-team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the school had its first triple double from Isaiah Reese while the Griffins shot 62 percent.

“We’re giving up a lot of points, there’s no doubt about it, but you have to look at how you’re giving up those points. Teams are shooting 62 percent from inside the paint — an extremely high number,” Calhoun said. “Most of the problem is dribble penetration and our inability to guard the ball. I’m not an excuse guy and there’s no excuses, but with the lack of bodies at the point guard position, that’s the head of the snake.”

The Penguins will get some relief in that department. Sophomore Jeremiah Ferguson — who is recovering from a broken nose — will miss tonight’s game, but will be back for the games in South Dakota. Forward Tyree Robinson — who is averaging 13 points a game — is back tonight after Calhoun benched him for the Canisius game because he was “unsatisfied” with Robinson’s academics.

Tonight’s game marks the final game of assistant coach Paul Molinari’s four-game suspension. Calhoun declined to share specific’s about the coach’s Level III NCAA violation, but is glad to have him back.

“Other than my wife and my mother, he’s probably the only person that knows me better than any person in the world,” Calhoun said. “It’s good to have him back. Any time you’re taking over a program, there’s going to be some mistakes made. I know they weren’t intentional but you live and you learn.”

YSU went against a D-III team in Franciscan last Tuesday, winning 134-46. Calhoun gave his team the order to try for 50 turnovers against the Barons. Hartfield said the team hadn’t received their checklist just yet, but offered an educated guess.

“It’s probably going to be a big emphasis on defense,” Hartfield said.

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Westminster (3-0) travels to Youngstown with nine Mahoning Valley players on the roster. Suiting up for the Titans are Cameron Kane-Johnson (Niles), Preston Stitt (South Range), Dylan O’Hara (Girard), Jon Gerace (Salem), Jarrett Vrabel (Canfield), African Grant II (Warren JFK), Justin Patterson (Salem), Anthony Ritter (South Range) and Deontay Scott (East).

Ritter is the brother of YSU walk-on Dan Ritter.