The Star Beacon; Ashtabula, Ohio

Mighty Morris paces Dragons
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Once Lakeside’s Arianna Morris finds the wave, she’ll ride it all the way to the shore. She might even throw in a trick or two along the way.
Heralds hammer Bison
A strong night from Nicole Gallo, along with a strategy which is unorthodox for the SS. John and Paul girls, helped them to a 53-38 victory at Beachwood on Monday night.
Mustangs make strides, but...
ORWELL — It hasn’t been a season to remember for the Grand Valley girls, as their 1-17 overall record and 0-11 Northeastern Athletic Conference slate will attest, but there have been moments when the Mustangs have put things together fairly well.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Lakeside 48, Edgewood 35
at Edgewood
Junior High Roundup: Hark! Heralds are 10-1
The SS. John and Paul combined squad knocked off Jefferson, 26-6, on Monday.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, FEB. 9
Boys Basketball
n Conneaut at Lakeside
n PV at Warren JFK
n Riverside at Edgewood (WFUN)
n Madison at Euclid
n SJP at Newbury (6:30, varsity only)
n GRA at Horizon Science Academy
n Perry at Geneva
n Grand Valley at Bloomfield
Faces in the Crowd...
In today's print edition.
Eagles fly to top seed
For the second consecutive season, the Geneva Eagles have earned the top seed at the Pymatuning Valley Division II sectional-district tournament.
ACBF HOF Class of 2010: Love and basketball
There is one thing that Jim Osborne has held sacrosanct in his basketball career as a player and a coach. The game has never been about him.
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, FEB. 8
Girls Basketball
n Lakeside at Edgewood
n PV at Bristol
n Riverside at West Geauga
n SJP at Beachwood
n Southington at Grand Valley
Wrestling
n Harvey, Riverside at Conneaut (5)
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: A look at proposed deer hunting regulations
Hunters in seven northwest Ohio counties will be given a higher deer bag limit if the proposed regulation is accepted by the Ohio Wildlife Council in April, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
ARC guns down Corry
The Amboy Rifle Club shelled visiting Corry, Pa. in both halves of their match Friday night.
A Don McCormack column: No time for Cavalier attitude
Paying a rare Sunday morning visit to the variety store...

Anything is possible
Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of appearing on The Sports Report, the radio show hosted thrice a week by Joe “Mr. Sports” Pete — aka, The King of Ashtabula County Media — on ESPN 970 WFUN.
Eagles PAC a share of crown
GENEVA — It certainly doesn’t make or break the season for the Geneva girls basketball team, but winning at least a share of the Premier Athletic Conference championship in its first season in the league is something for the Eagles to be proud of.
South rises again
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Saturday was a history-making event in Premier Athletic Conference wrestling with the first championship decided in a tournament format.
PAC Wrestling Tournament Statistics
WRESTLING
PAC TOURNAMENT
at Madison
TEAM STANDINGS
South 219, Riverside 189, Madison 170.5, Geneva 147.5, University School 115, Chardon 100.5, North 80.5, Lakeside 63.
Rebels drop Dragons
WILLOUGHBY — At halftime, Saturday night’s game between the Lakeside and South girls was competitive. The Dragons had sliced a 17-point deficit to nine and had the momentum.
Perry grapplers shipwrecked
It was a tough day for Perry on its home mats at the Chagrin Valley Conference Tournament.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Geneva 46, North 23
at Geneva
A Don McCormack column: Parks’ place on exclusive boardwalk
Bob Walters didn’t do it. Nor did Gene Gephart, Ramon Pete, Big Jim Hood, Tom Hill, David Benton nor Deora Marsh.
Grandest Dragon of them all
Emilio Parks never set out in pursuit of individual achievements or awards. He merely wanted to leave his mark upon the now-9-year-old Lakeside basketball program by being a winner.
ALL-TIME ASHTABULA COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL SCORING LEADERS
RK. PLAYER SCHOOL YEARS POINTS
n 1. Matt Zappitelli Conneaut ’85-’88 1,454
n 2. Steve Savel PV ’05-’08 1,440
n 3. Jim Dodd Grand Valley ’55-’58 1,377
n 4. Adam Schumann Edgewood ’99-’02 1,341
n 5. Frank Zeman Deming ’52-’54 1,338
n 6. Sean Freeman PV ’87-’90 1,301
n 7. Corey Shontz PV ’05-’08 1,292
n 8. Fred Scruggs Harbor ’86-’89 1,248
n 9. Randy Linsted PV ’73-’76 1,223
n 10. Jemal Harris Harbor ’90-’93 1,214
n 11. Chuck Naso Jefferson ’54-’56 1,210
ALL-TIME ASHTABULA COUNTY BASKETBALL SCORING LEADERS
RK. PLAYER SCHOOL YEARS POINTS
n 1. Diane Davis Ashtabula ’80-’83 1,934
n 2. Haley Kapferer Jefferson ’04-’07 1,733
n 3. Jessica Olmstead Conneaut ’98-’01 1,682
n 4. Kelly Kapferer Jefferson ’97-’00 1,588
n 5. Rhea DeJesus Geneva ’99-’02 1,507
n 6. Krystal Henson Grand Valley ’96-’99 1,491
n 7. Anita Jurcenko Jefferson ’89-’92 1,468
Eagles soar — together — to big W
AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP — Grand River Academy’s Josh Hartz, like any basketball coach, wants the Eagles to give him their best. To that end, he called a players-only meeting and asked his players to find a way to give him what he’s asking for.
Now THAT'S a B-Day!
Happy birthday, N.J.!
Dragons, Parks have a grand night of it
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Sometimes, when a team, however unintentionally, focuses on individual goals, that pursuit becomes such a factor that it detracts from the team performance.
Warriors speed past Falcons
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Perhaps Edgewood boys basketball coach Kevin Andrejack had been reading the Star Beacon lately. Or maybe he he’d been doing a little scouting.
Eagles plucked at North
EASTLAKE – John Marhefka couldn’t say why. But the Geneva basketball coach could say with certainty that his boys’ effort was lacking on Friday.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Lakeside 60, South 48
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, FEB. 6
Boys Basketball
n GV at SJP (2, varsity only)
n General McLane at Conneaut (2:30, varsity only)
n Madison at Aurora (3:30)
Girls Basketball
n General McLane at Conneaut (1, varsity only)
n Edgewood at Cornerstone Christian (6)
n Lakeside at South (6)
n Maplewood at Jefferson (6)
n North at Geneva (1)
n Riverside at Chardon (6)
n SJP at Beachwood
n Grand Valley at Cardinal
Wrestling
n Lakeside, Madison, Geneva, Riverside, North at PAC Tournament at Madison (9:30, 6)
n PV, Grand Valley at EOWL Tournament (9)
Lakers sail to title... again
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Relentless is a word that pretty much describes how the Pymatuning Valley girls basketball team plays in every game, especially on the defensive side.
Home fires burn hot
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Senior Night is always a special one in any athlete’s life. That celebration took on added significance for four departing Edgewood wrestlers Thursday night.
Redskins corral Mustangs
THOMPSON – The Grand Valley girls struggled offensively all of Thursday night. And when Ledgemont started to finish its opportunities, it was able to pull away to a 56-27 home win.
PV reaches title games
Both Pymatuning Valley junior high girls basketball squads have reached the championship game of the Northeastern Athletic Conference Tournament — and both will face the same opponent — Lordstown.
Junior High Roundup: Eagles put a D in Geneva
Defense was the word for the Geneva eighth-grade girls as the Eagles played ferociously on that end of the court for the game’s final 15 seconds to hold off homestanding South, 27-26, on Wednesday, then turned around and held on at the end to withstand a Chardon flurry to record a 22-20 win Thursday.
Blue Streaks conquer WRA
Sound defense in the first half and solid offensive play in the first half and fourth quarter carried the Madison girls basketball team to a 60-43 non-conference road victory Thursday over Western Reserve Academy.
Scholastic Statistics
WRESTLING
NON-CONFERENCE
Edgewood 46, Conneaut 24
at Edgewood
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, FEB. 5
Boys Basketball
n PV at Badger
n Jefferson at Edgewood (WFUN)
n South at Lakeside
n University at Madison
n SJP at GRA (6:30, varsity only)
n Geneva at North
n Chardon at Riverside
n Perry at Orange
n Grand Valley at Lordstown
Girls Basketball
n Fairport at Conneaut
Wrestling
n PV, Grand Valley at EOWL Tournament (6)
Swimming
n Madison at Hawken
A Warrior... a Buckeye
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The first Wednesday of February, better known as national signing day for college athletic letters of intent, is always a big thing in Ohio.
Dragons prevail in battle of wills vs. Heralds
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Coming into Wednesday night’s battle between the SS. John and Paul Heralds and Lakeside Dragons, there were not a lot of positives either Heralds coach Nick Iarocci and Dragons coach Rob Livingston, could focus on for their teams if all you did was look at won-lost records.
Johnson & Co. scalp Warriors
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Conneaut senior post Nichele Johnson knew she might be playing against the rival Edgewood Warriors for the last time. She wanted to make sure she left an impression.
Sailors, Pirates sail in OT
PERRY – With a clutch win on Wednesday night, the Perry girls remain very much alive in the race for the championship of the Chagrin Division of the Chagrin Valley Conference.
Non-senior moment
AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP — Grand River Academy boys basketball coach Josh Hartz gave seniors Brant O’Brien, Jackson Berry and Grant Miller the night off Tuesday.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Lakeside 54, SJP 35
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, FEB. 4
Girls Basketball
n Mathews at PV
n Grand Valley at Ledgemont
n Madison at Western Reserve Academy
Wrestling
n Conneaut, NDCL at Edgewood (6)
Jefferson pins tourney field
Embracing a goal that it set at the beginning of its season, Jefferson’s youth wrestling team recently won the Northcoast Conference championship at Madison High School.
A Don McCormack column: Kreider will be a Buckeye
Taking the shutters off the variety store windows for a day...

On the dotted...
Today is national signing day and while the national will keep its attention focused on the big names, some guys in these parts have made their decisions, too.
No Joshin’
CONNEAUT — With the game tied and just 5.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Conneaut boys basketball coach Tim Tallbacka was looking for the Spartans to get off a shot and maybe get a putback with a miss.
Locy’s lads lick Chardon
JEFFERSON — It’s taken the Jefferson Falcons most of the season to fit all the pieces together for a whole game, but they may have reached the pinnacle of play as a team Tuesday night against the Chardon Hilltoppers as the Falcons totally outplayed Chardon in taking a 63-51 non-conference victory at Falcon Gymnasium.
Spartan matmen corner triangular
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Conneaut was the favorite at the Lakeside triangular wrestling matches Tuesday and they didn’t disappoint as coach Matt Bidwell’s Spartans came through with wins of 51-26 over Erie Strong Vincent and a comeback 42-29 victory over the Dragons Tuesday at Lakeside Gym.
Methodical not method for Geneva at Heights
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS – The Geneva boys tried to slow down the pace against Cleveland Heights on Tuesday. But the host Tigers were able to foil the strategy a good number of times — enough to come away with a 60-39 non-conference victory.
Seeing Red
VIENNA — Following a blissful 10-0 start to the season, the Mathews Mustangs got the taste of adversity in their mouths after haymakers from Brookfield and Youngstown Christian, both in the Mustangs gym, knocked them down to 12-2. So what’s the remedy for a bit of a moral beating? Delivering a homestyle beating of your own.
Eagles clip Chardon
Geneva’s freshman girls basketball team concluded its regular season with a flourish Tuesday with a balanced scoring attack that produced a 36-28 victory over Premier Athletic Conference rival Chardon.
Lakers stay perfect
The Pymatuning Valley seventh-grade girls felled yet another opponent Tuesday, this one in the second round of the NAC Tournament, and it made it 16 victories in 16 outings.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Conneaut 47, Madison 46
at Garcia Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3
Boys Basketball
n Lawrence School at GRA
Girls Basketball
n Conneaut at Edgewood
n SJP at Lakeside
n Kenston at Perry
n Mentor at North
His heart taken by storm
In the months and years following the storm I witnessed the rebirth of New Orleans. An estimated 70 percent of the pre-Katrina population returned to rebuild and renew the city.
Who Dat?
Tom “Bomber” Davis, a local resident and substitute teacher for Pymatuning Schools has more than a casual fan’s interest in the upcoming Super Bowl. From September 2005, to September 2009, Tom worked in New Orleans on Hurricane Katrina environmental issues.
Excitement to spare
Professional bowler Kelly Kulick recently made history in claiming the 45th Tournament of Champions on Jan. 24.
The game after...
PERRY – Sometimes in basketball, it helps to have the mentality of a closer in baseball: Forget what happened last time, and go out and perform in the present.
Jefferson clips SJP
A balanced scoring attack, led by Laura Cole (11 points) and Rachel Moyer (10), led the Jefferson junior-varsity Falcons to a 38-12 win against visiting SS. John and Paul on Monday night at Falcon Gymnasium.
Junior High Roundup: Gabriel, Lakers prevail
Geena Gabriel exploded for 25 points to lead Pymatuning Valley past Mathews, 32-15, in the first round of the 8th-Grade Northeastern Athletic Conference Tournament at Badger.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Gilmour Academy 41, Perry 38
at Spectator Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, FEB. 2
Boys Basketball
n Madison at Conneaut
n PV at Mathews
n Lakeside at Mooney
n Chardon at Jefferson
n Edgewood at Warren JFK
n Geneva at Cleveland Heights
n Perry at Aurora
n Ledgemont at Grand Valley
n Mentor at North
Wrestling
n Conneaut, Strong Vincent at Lakeside (6)
A Don McCormack column: The plaque of girls sports — ACL
The conversation went like this Wednesday night before Chardon’s girls played basketball against Jefferson at Falcon Gymnasium.
Faces in the Crowd
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, FEB. 1
Boys Basketball
n Grand Valley at Jefferson (7:30, JV only)
Girls Basketball
n Grand Valley at Youngstown Christian
n Gilmour Academy at Perry
n SJP at Jefferson (6, JV only)
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: Bill would theaten Ohio’s deer herd
This past week, I received a communication from The U.S.Sportsmen’s alliance say that recently introduced bills in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate could threaten the future of deer hunting in Ohio.
Statement made
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Making a statement is pretty good advice for anybody in any endeavor.
Katie makes a day of it
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Saturday was Katie Collins’ day.
Girls Roundup: Hannah and her sisters conquer North
It wasn’t officially dubbed, “Hannah Francis Night,” on Saturday in Falcon Gym, but it could have been.
Mat Roundup: Pin power carries Warriors
Victories in 10 of 14 matches, including seven pins, carried Edgewood to a 54-17 non-conference wrestling victory Saturday at Grand Valley.
Butler ties it together
WILLOUGHBY HILLS — The Edgewood boys played well defensively from the beginning on Saturday night. And when they got past their first-half foul problems and Sean Butler got into his offensive rhythm, everything came together.
Furmage plays the hero
CONNEAUT — The Brookfield Warriors, fresh off an exciting battle Friday night against LaBrae that saw them come out with a win, and the Conneaut Spartans, well rested but restless after coming out on the short end of their last contest, went at it full force Saturday night for 35 minutes and 55.7 seconds.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Geneva 62, Madison 42
at Madison
Boys Roundup: Heralds work OT for win
It took some extra work to accomplish it, but SS. John’s and Paul’s boys basketball team earned its first victory Saturday by outlasting Andrews in overtime, 48-45.
Lakers tame GaREAT mile
Three Pymatuning Valley distance runners competed in the mile at the Maple Leaf Track Invitational at the GaREAT complex in Harpersfield Township on Saturday.
Eagles, Lakers, Warriors stage a thriller
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — After a hard fought 40-37 victory against Pymatuning Valley, Geneva wrestling coach Dwight Fritz was happy as can be, but he knew Edgewood was lurking just around the corner.
Madison makes it work
MADISON TOWNSHIP — It’s time for wrestling teams to be hitting their peak, with conference tournaments and sectional tournaments fast approaching.
Dragons: Half nots... halfs
CHARDON – Friday night gave onlookers a glimpse of what the Lakeside boys look like when they are playing their game, and also when they are not.
High School Wrestling Statistics
WRESTLING
NON-CONFERENCE
Madison 54, Jefferson 14
at Madison
Geneva’s Jake has what it takes
GENEVA — Make no mistake about it. Jake McMahan knows he can do the job he’s asked to do. It matters very little whether he’s played every minute of a contest or he hasn’t played at all.
Free-throw line does in PV
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Free throws are one of the easiest shots to make in the game of basketball. There’s no rush. There isn’t a defender trying to stop them. And the clock is stopped.
Mustangs lassoed
BRISTOLVILLE — The game scared Grand Valley coach Luke Strohm. The Mustangs have been accustomed to scrimmaging the Bristol Panthers over the summer and his squad dealt with what he described as issues during those matchups.
High School Basketball Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Lakeside 52, Chardon 33
at Chardon
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, JAN. 30
Boys Basketball
n Chardon at Geneva (6)
n Brookfield at Conneaut (6)
n Edgewood at Cornerstone Christian (6)
n GRA at Catholic Academy (2)
n Harvey at Riverside (6)
n Andrews at SJP (5, varsity only)
n Riverside at South (11)
Junior High Roundup: Brown, Lakers stay perfect
Kelsea Brown’s 21 points led the undefeated Pymatuning Valley Lakers to a 45-8 eighth-grade triumph Friday afternoon at Maplewood. Taylor Lewis had four points to pace the Rockets.
Mustangs stampede to W
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The time of the wrestling season has come where teams need to begin shifting their focus toward their conference tournaments and sectional competition.
Lakers brave Badger’s strong first half
KINSMAN – If you talked with Pymatuning Valley coach Jeff Compan following his team’s game at Badger on Thursday night, you would’ve thought the Lakers suffered a 23-point loss instead of a, 47-26, victory over the Braves.
Mustangs are not party poopers
LORDSTOWN – It was Lordstown coach Dave Smith’s 40th birthday. His players made sure it wasn’t spoiled by winning decisively in their NAC showdown with the Grand Valley Mustangs, 58-40.
Phoenix rise at expense of Heralds
ASHTABULA — With the weather outside being so cold again, the Phoenix arrived by bus from Willoughby, instead of coming in by air.
High School Wrestling Statistical Leaders
High School Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders
High School Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders
Roundup: Eagle frosh flatten North in PAC clash
Balanced scoring kept the Geneva freshman girls basketball team rolling along Thursday afternoon as it easily dispatched North, 33-21.
Scholastic Statistics
WRESTLING
NON-CONFERENCE
GV 58, Lakeside 18
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, JAN. 29
Boys Basketball
n Maplewood at PV
n Lakeside at Chardon
n Madison at Geneva
n Lake Ridge Academy at GRA
n Kenston at Perry
n Grand Valley at Bristol
n North at University
A Don McCormack column: Something’s fishy!
Paying another visit to the variety store...

Goin’ fishin’
Finally, after a few years of trying, we’ve lured John Barbo into casting his line with us.
Eagles a tall order for Warriors
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — It’s common knowledge the Geneva girls basketball team thrives with its press. And that press begins with Taylor Webb defending the inbounds pass.
Balanced Spartans prevail
EASTLAKE – While the Conneaut girls were able to get others aside from their star post involved in the scoring on Wednesday night, North was not. That was critical in the Spartans’ 55-38 road win.
Falcons flattened
JEFFERSON — The Chardon Hilltoppers girls basketball team came into Falcon Gym Wednesday night riding it best stretch of basketball over the last week or so, going against a Jefferson Falcon team which was minus two starters, one for the season.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Geneva 49, Edgewood 24
at Edgewood
Roundup: Spartans spank two
Conneaut’s wrestling team continued to show a solid rate of improvement Wednesday with a pair of non-conference victories over Grand Valley, 48-33, and Grand River Academy, 54-9.
Junior High Roundup: Braden, SJP prevail
Braden ’s eighth-grade girls basketball team remained on a positive run Wednesday with a 32-16 victory over Conneaut.
Scholastic Schedule
RSDAY, JAN. 28
Girls Basketball
n PV at Badger (6:30, varsity only)
n Andrews at SJP (5)
n Grand Valley at Lordstown (varsity only)
Wrestling
n Grand Valley, Cleveland Heights at Lakeside (6)
n Madison at Hudson Tournament (7)
Lakeside presses the issue to knock off Conneaut
CONNEAUT — Something had to give.
Geneva’s Human Torch act deep fries Edgewood
GENEVA — The Geneva boys basketball team is finally playing well, but the Eagles are after more. They have been looking for a comfortable win.
Falcons improve, but...
JEFFERSON — After having been drilled in their last two outings, the Jefferson boys needed to regroup.
Opposite ends of the spectrum
PERRY – Like the Madison boys, the Perry Pirates have had a rough year. But unlike the Blue Streaks, the Pirates have been getting better as of late.
Non-varsity/JV roundup: Mighty Mac leads Eagles to victory
Alyssa McIntyre scored 14 points and Emily O’Dell had 8 to pace the Geneva Eagles freshmen to a 39-8 win against Madison.
Geneva (11-2) will host North on Thursday.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Lakeside 71, Conneaut 51
at Garcia Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27
Girls Basketball
n Geneva at Edgewood
n Conneaut at North
n Euclid at Madison
n Chardon at Jefferson
n Mayfield at Riverside
n Perry at Chagrin Falls
Wrestling
n GRA, Grand Valley at Conneaut (5)
n Berkshire at PV (6)
In-flux Tribe still a hot ticket
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — You know that you have a franchise that’s in a transitional phase when one of its most recognizable figures is a guy that hasn’t played there in 10 years and has been retired for th
A Bob Ettinger column: Alomar focusing on present
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — When Sandy Alomar first came to Cleveland, he was a key piece in the resurgence of the Cleveland Indians.
Tribe Notebook: Tribe tour stop benefits scholarship
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — Certainly, the fans who attend the annual Cleveland Indians Press Tour are the beneficiaries of a chance to get an early look at the prospects for their team and an opportunity to stoke up the hot stove for conversation about the Tribe even before spring training begins.
Sports Editor Don McCormack's Mailbag: Winter memories anything but cold
Don,

Good morning.
In response to your request for weather stories of days gone by, I do have one for you.
Cunha assumes the position
Over the eight years she coached the Edgewood softball program, Shelley Monas built the Warriors into a powerhouse.
A Don McCormack column: Jaguars make some history
Paying another visit to the variety store...

History made
Sherry Wilber loves her daughter, the Ohio Jaguars and softball.
Mak attack leads Warriors to a W
ASHTABULA — In a game dominated by defense, there was a need for someone to step up and be an offensive force.
PV Holts on
VIENNA — Mathews’ zone pressure forced Pymatuning Valley’s girls basketball team into some awkward situations.
Shooting blanks
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The Lakeside Dragons battled the visiting Mooney Cardinals on even terms for the first period and a half Monday night at Lakeside Gymnasium, but it takes a full 32 minutes of consistency on both ends of the floor to win a basketball game.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Edgewood 44,
SS. John and Paul 15
at Mahoney Gymnasium
GV hangs with Skins
The Grand Valley girsl basketball team hung tough for three quarters, but well outscored by 12 over the final eight minutes in succumbing to Ledgemont, 57-45, in Northeastern Athletic Conference action at Grand Valley.
Heralds KO Bulldogs
The SS. John and Paul seventh/eighth-grade girls improved to 6-1 on the season with a 25-20 win over Braden on Monday.
B-ball action tips off in Geneva
CBC Construction, Ashtabula Builders and Phil’s Catering emerged victorious in first-week action of the Geneva Basketball League.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, JAN. 26
Boys Basketball
n Lakeside at Conneaut
n Bristol at PV
n Edgewood at Geneva
n Madison at Perry
n Howland at Jefferson
n GRA at Erie First Christian
n Riverside at West Geauga
n Grand Valley at Southington
n Richmond Heights at SJP (6:30, varsity only)
n Normandy at North
Wrestling
n Jefferson, Cardinal at Lakeside (6)
A Don McCormack column: Press tour has come a long way
On Tuesday at high noon, Joe “Mr. Sports” Pete — aka, The King of Ashtabula County Media, and his cohorts at ESPN 970 WFUN will bring the 2009 Indians Press Tour to Ashtabula County for its annual stop.
A Don McCormack column: Dreslinski’s legacy lives on at Hofstra
Paying a Monday morning visit to the variety store...

A silver celebration
Last spring, Pam Dreslinski was named to the all-time Ashtabula County high school softball team compiled by yours truly.
Faces in the Crowd...
See Pages C7 and C8 of today's print edition.
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, JAN. 25
Girls Basketball
n Edgewood at SJP
n PV at Mathews
n Mooney at Lakeside
n Ledgemont at Grand Valley
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: No CWD found in Ohio deer
For the eighth straight year, testing of Ohio's deer herd has found no evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a degenerative brain disease that affects elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.
ARC halves match at Lawrence Park
The Amboy Rifle Club almost bagged a sweep in its match at Lawrence Park, Pa. on Friday but ended up settling for a split.
The locals dropped the actual, 1,875-1,861, but romped in the handicap, 29-9.
Eagles bash Beavers
GENEVA — Smart guard play on offense and strong defense early cleared the way for the Geneva girls basketball team to lower its hammers against Riverside on Saturday night.
HANGIN’ 10
Saturday night’s PAC win against visiting Riverside gave coach Nancy Barbo’s Geneva Eagles 10 wins on the season, making it 12 straight seasons with 10 wins or more. Prior to Barbo’s arrival in the 1996-97 season, Geneva had reached the 10-win mark just once in the previous 9 seasons:
A silver and a bronze...
GENEVA — It’s a bus ride of roughly two hours from south of Akron to Geneva High School, so the Manchester wrestling squad must have been pretty confident of itself to embark on such an adventure Saturday morning.
Mat Roundup: Lakers perfect 5-0 at GV Duals
The Grand Valley Duals tournament Saturday turned out to be a battle of traditional rivals as Pymatuning Valley and Grand Valley had another big confrontation, with the Lakers gaining the upper hand in the meeting of the two teams, 46-28.
High School Wrestling Statistics
TOM KOEHLER DUALS
at Geneva
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Manchester 67, Conneaut 0
South holds off Madison
WILLOUGHBY – Though Saturday afternoon’s game wasn’t decided until host South put together a 10-0 run in the final two minutes, Madison coach Mike Smith thought the key part of the contest came much earlier.
Falcons’ trek into Lions’ den doesn’t end well
PEPPER PIKE – The Orange Lions flashed their claws at the Jefferson boys early and often on Saturday night, and thus set the tone for the entire ballgame.
Basketball Roundup: Warriors withstand long-range assault
It was raining 3-pointers Saturday night at Madison, but somehow the Edgewood boys basketball team weathered the storm.
High School Basketball Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Geneva 74, Riverside 28
at Geneva
Everything but the win
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Just because the ball used for basketball is round doesn’t mean it won’t bounce crazily sometimes. And it’s almost always a good thing to have it in the hands of someone who’s used to doing something special with it.
Geneva works hard for W
GENEVA — It all comes down to hustle and execution.
Spartans hammer Heralds
CONNEAUT — The Conneaut Spartans had a tough act to follow in the nightcap of their girl-boydoubleheader with the SS. John and Paul Heralds in Garcia Gymnasium on Friday night after the ladies’ demolition of the Heralds in the opener. But they opened a quick 15-0 lead and rolled to a past the Heralds, 86-20.
Blue Streaks come up just short
WILLOUGHBY – At least recently, the Madison and South boys seem to play each other evenl
Spartans’ intensity does in Heralds
CONNEAUT — Conneaut girls basketball coach Tony Pasanen was preching about intensity to his team prior to hosting SS. John and Paul on Friday night.
Falcons fell Warriors; Holmes hits milestone
Hot shooting, a balanced scoring attack and suffocating defense were on display as Jefferson made it nine wins in its last 11 games — and, in the process, set another milestone for legendary coach Rod Holmes — with a 65-31 win at Edgewood on Friday night.
Roundup: Mustangs, Falcons knocked off
Rugged going in the first and fourth quarters was too much for the Grand Valley boys to overcome in a 71-64 loss to Bloomfield in Northeastern Athletic Conference basketball action Friday night.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
University 51, Lakeside 49 4OT
at Lakeside GymnasiumBOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
University 51, Lakeside 49 4OT
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, JAN. 23
Boys Basketball
n Edgewood at Madison (5, JV)
n Jefferson at Orange (6)
Girls Basketball
n Madison at South (1)
n Riverside at Geneva (6)
n Orange at Perry (6)
Wrestling
n Edgewood at Massillon Tuslaw (9)
n Conneaut, Jefferson at T.K. Geneva Duals (9)
n PV, Berkshire, Brooklyn, Chagrin Falls, Hawken at Grand Valley (9)
n Lakeside at West Virginia Duals (TBA)
n Perry at Toledo Waite (10)
A Don McCormack column: Honors just keep coming for Bragga
Paying another visit to the variety store...

High honor
Matt Bragga and his Tennessee Tech University baseball program continue to be in the news... in a good way, of course.
Lakers sink Rockets
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Not too many basketball fans in this area are unaware by now that Pymatuning Valley girls teams play defense first and foremost, coming at opponents with speed, agility, court awareness, and numbers off the bench that do the same thing.
Roundup: Mustangs edged at Bristol
Strong first and third quarters seemed to have the Grand Valley girls basketball team in position for its first win, but chilly second and third quarters and poor foul shooting proved the Mustangs’ undoing in a 40-36 Northeastern Athletic Conference loss Thursday to Bristol.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NAC
PV 67, Maplewood 29
at PV
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, JAN. 22
Boys Basketball
n SJP at Conneaut (7:30, varsity only)
n Southington at PV
n University at Lakeside (WFUN)
n Madison at South
n Riverside at Geneva
n Jefferson at Youngstown Christian
n GRA at Summit Academy
n West Geauga at Perry
n Bloomfield at Grand Valley
n Chardon at North
Girls Basketball
n SJP at Conneaut (4:30, JV)
n Jefferson at Edgewood
n North at Chardon
Wrestling
n Lakeside at West Virginia Duals (TBA)
n Perry at Waite (4)
A Don McCormack column: The Good Ship Laker sailing along
Taking the shutters off the variety store windows for a day...

Proud PV papa
It’s been a great winter — again — for the Pymatuning Valley Lakers girls basketball program.
Falcons ‘get it done’
JEFFERSON — The Jefferson girls basketball team had had enough. After winning seven straight, the Falcons had lost their last two, and that was more than enough.
It evens out for Dragons
RICHMOND HEIGHTS – The Lakeside girls came up big in the even quarters on Wednesday. That was good enough to pull out a tense 58-53 non-conference victory at Richmond Heights.
Blue Streaks blow by Harvey
A Madison team which seems to have found its stride continued in that direction Wednesday in non-conference action with a 72-44 victory at Harvey as it warmed up for a key Premier Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon at South.
Oh, no... no O
ASHTABULA — Coming off a double-overtime loss to Youngstown Christian, SJP coach Nick Iarocci felt his girls were playing their best basketball of the season, and thought they would put up a good show in scoring Wednesday night as they hosted the Wickliffe Blue Devils.
Junior High Roundup: Braden, SJP record victories
Led by 14 points from Tyler Diemer, Braden Junior High’s seventh-grade girls basketball team earned its first victory of the season with a 27-24 win over Jefferson on Wednesday.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Jefferson 65, Riverside 46
at Falcon Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, JAN. 21
Girls Basketball
n Maplewood at PV
n Grand Valley at Bristol
Coming Thursday...
Sports Editor Don McCormack asked former and current Ashtabula County residents for their memories of Northeast Ohio winters and they responded in such a positive manner that the Star Beacon has taken the (snow)ball and run with it.
Road Warrior Dragons
WILLOUGHBY – The Lakeside boys have just completed a portion of their schedule which, with a little assist from Mother Nature, resulted in four consecutive road games. They passed the test with flying colors.
Pick your poison
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Inside-out or outside-in? It’s a debate nearly as old as the game of basketball itself.
Sturkie & Co. find just enough O
CONNEAUT — In about as tight a defensive struggle as a basketball fan could want, the Geneva Eagles gathered just enough offense at the right moment to claim a thrilling 54-51 non-conference win over Conneaut at Garcia Gymnasium.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Lakeside 78, South 48
at South
Non-varsity/JV roundup: Lakers sink Mathews
Pymatuning Valley’s junior high girls basketball teams continued to roll along in impressive fashion with a pair of victories Tuesday afternoon over Mathews.
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20
Girls Basketball
n Riverside at Jefferson
n Lakeside at Richmond Heights
n Madison at Harvey
n Wickliffe at SJP (5)
n Perry at South
Wrestling
n PV, Warren JFK at South Range
Gymnastics
n Perry at West Geauga (7)
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, JAN. 19
Boys Basketball
n Geneva at Conneaut
n Grand Valley at Edgewood
n Lakeside at South
n North at Madison
n Jefferson at Lakeview
n Twinsburg at Riverside
n Perry at Harvey
n SJP at Warren JFK
Girls Basketball
n Edgewood at Harding
Backstop to ‘Baggers’
To be a catcher, a softball player has to be willing to get dirty.
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: Muzzleloaders had nice harvest
Hunters took 24,078 deer during Ohio’s four-day muzzleloader season, Jan. 9-12, with Tuscarawas County again leading the state with 1,345 deer checked. In 2008, a preliminary total of 20,659 deer was taken during muzzleloader season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, JAN. 19
Boys Basketball
n Geneva at Conneaut
n Grand Valley at Edgewood
n Lakeside at South
n North at Madison
n Jefferson at Lakeview
n Twinsburg at Riverside
n Perry at Harvey
n SJP at Warren JFK
Girls Basketball
n Edgewood at Harding
Eagles back on track
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Beware of the team with a lot of pent-up frustration.
Riverside rings the Bell
PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP – Despite a tough first half of the season, the Riverside girls have worked hard to get better. In recent games, they have done so, and now they can celebrate their first win of the season.
Special K delivers
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Kelsey Koskinen knew this one mattered. And she knew she needed to be a difference maker.
Roundup: Scullion scalds game Falcons
Despite facing All-American and Ohio State signee Amy Scullion and her highly regarded Salem Quaker teammates on their home floor at John Cabas Gymnasium, Jefferson found itself down only six — at 40-34 — entering the fourth quarter Saturday night.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Geneva 67, Lakeside 19
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Down 30... no sweat for Hartz’s Heroes
Josh Hartz has been around basketball for pretty much all his life.
No walk in the Parks
GENEVA — When opponents are up against the Lakeside boys basketball team, especially against Emilio Parks, there is no recreation for the guys assigned to defend him.
Fast start fuels GV victory
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — As is the case with most battles between siblings at home, there are occasions of great success, but also many occasions where things didn’t go quite right or according to plan.
The Butler did it... in a big way, too
CONNEAUT — Coming back from a collapsed lung suffered in a scrimmage just before the season began, Sean Butler was patiently waiting for Edgewood boys basketball coach Kevin Andrejack to cut him loose.
No offense, but... well, no offense
CHARDON – The Madison boys played the caliber of defense they wanted on Friday night. And they got the shots they wanted. They just didn’t hit them.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
Lakeside 63, Geneva 51
at Geneva
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, JAN. 16
Girls Basketball
n Edgewood at Riverside (1)
n Geneva at Lakeside (1)
n Chardon at Madison (1)
n Jefferson at Salem (6)
n Badger at PV (1, varsity only)
n SJP at Youngstown Christian (1)
n Perry at West Geauga (6)
n South at North (1)
Help wanted: Head football coach
Even though the area is deeply imbedded in basketball and wrestling season and fighting the storms that have buffeted it, thoughts never stray very far from what’s coming up next on the gridiron.
PV pounds Bristol
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Having played a less-than-stellar game in its last outing against Lordstown, even in a winning cause, Pymatuning Valley coach Jeff Compan wanted his team to come out sharp and aggressive against visiting Bristol on Thursday night.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Cornerstone 48, SJP 35
at Mahoney Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, JAN. 15
Boys Basketball
n Edgewood at Conneaut
n Grand Valley at PV (WMVL)
n Lakeside at Geneva (WFUN)
n Madison at Chardon
n SJP at Cornerstone Christian (7, varsity only)
n Catholic Academy at GRA
n University at Riverside
n Chagrin Falls at Perry
n North at South
High School Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders
INDIVIDUAL
POINTS PER GAME
1. Nichele Johnson Conneaut 18.8
2. Lizzy Ziemski Jefferson 14.7
3. Taylor Webb Geneva 14.5
High School Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders
INDIVIDUAL
POINTS PER GAME
1. A.J. Henson Grand Valley 20.4
2. Cory Weyer Grand Valley 15.6
3. Nick Mayer Madison 15.3
4. Mychael Delano Riverside 15.1
Warriors roar out of gate
ORWELL — The Edgewood Warriors jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the host Grand Valley Mustangs on Wednesday night in non-conference action, then put the pedal to the medal in rolling to a convincing 56-24 win over the Mustangs.
VanCise-ly!
CONNEAUT — Conneaut senior guard Justine VanCise can’t quite tell you why, but she manages to play her best while facing Jefferson on her home floor.
South rises on Geneva
WILLOUGHBY – No one could reasonably think the South girls sneaked up on Geneva on Wednesday night.
Blue Streaks blitz Dragons
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The struggle for consistency is an ongoing one. A lot of things can interfere with it.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PREMIER
South 65, Geneva 53
at South
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, JAN. 14
Boys Basketball
n Erie First Christian at GRA
Girls Basketball
n Bristol at PV
n Cornerstone Christian at SJP (5)
n Grand Valley at Southington
Wrestling
n Grand Valley, Perry at Kirtland (6)
Lakeside mauls Madison
MADISON TOWNSHIP – As high school basketball coaches put in their work from day to day, they hope for games like the Lakeside boys had on Tuesday night.

Popular business directory searches