The Star Beacon; Ashtabula, Ohio

A Don McCormack column: Miller back firing away on mound
Paying another visit to the variety store...

Miller’s time, redux
During his high school days at Jefferson, Adam Miller made a habit out of mowing down opposing hitters.
Area’s D-II Fab Four honored
The achievements of the Geneva girls basketball team this season were numerous. The biggest came Monday with the announcement of the Division II All-Ohio team by the Associated Press.
Classics in spotlight tonight
Forty-five senior players from throughout the Star Beacon coverage area will gather today at Lakeside High School for the annual Star Beacon-Ed Batanian Senior Classic.
A Don McCormack column: Zelenka will speak Saturday at Lakeside
Paying another visit to the variety store...

Worthwhile message
When professional football player and all-around good guy Joe Zelenka speaks at Lakeside on Saturday morning, he will be doing so armed with a new contract.
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: New crappie limits in effect
With spring just around the corner, crappie anglers are reminded that new size and bag limits went into effect on March 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
A Don McCormack column — Acta’s actions impress a dad
Paying another Sunday morning visit to the variety store...

Manny’s the man
The new guy always seems like a breath air, almost without exception.
Many times, it’s not really anything better, just different.
ACBF HOF Class of 2010 — Love... and basketball
One of the best things an educational administrator can have on their resume is that they have had a wide range of experience in various aspects of the business. It’s never a bad thing that they have a background in sports.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, MARCH 16
Basketball
n Star Beacon-Ed Batanian Senior Classics (6, Lakeside Gymnasium)
A Don McCormack column: Church at national tourney today
Paying a visit to the variety store...

Goin’ dancing
The area has a connection to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, albeit at the Division II level.
2009-10 STAR BEACON-MIKE SCULLY SENIOR CLASSIC: Taking a final bow
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — For the most part, another high school wrestling season has gone into memory banks of participant’s minds.
Scully Match Notebook: Turek, Butryn stage classic at Classic
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Few area wrestlers have endured the kind of disappointment Madison’s Matt Turek has over the past two seasons.
Scholastic Statistics
Boys Basketball
AROUND OHIO
Division II
Circleville Logan Elm 55, Vincent Warren 54
Cols. DeSales 52, Cols. Bexley 49
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, MARCH 16
Basketball
n Star Beacon-Ed Batanian Senior Classics (6, Lakeside Gymnasium)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
Girls Basketball
n ACWSAA All-Star Game (6:30, at Geneva)
ACBF Class of 2010 HOF Series — Super at St. John
When he was developing as a basketball player, John Wheelock was fortunate to have plenty of people who were willing to share their time, knowledge and even their courts with him.
Dragons shuffle Cards
EUCLID — “If I knew then what I know now” is a lament that has been immortalized in song and poetry.
Beacon Classics set for Tuesday
The elation and heartbreak of the high school basketball season has reached its conclusion for the boys and girls of the area. It’s now time for the stars to shine bright one final time.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
DIVISION I
DISTRICT SEMIFINAL
Mentor 75, Lakeside 66
at Doc Daughterty Gymnasium, Euclid High School
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
Wrestling
n Star Beacon-Mike Scully Senior Classic (6, Lakeside Gymnasium)
A Don McCormack column: ‘More to give’
For pretty much all his life, Kyle Gilchrist had been Leroy Brown on the wrestling mat.You know, the baddest young man in the whole dang town.
Scully Match Friday
The area’s senior wrestlers will have one last chance to put their skills on display Friday when they participate in the 12th annual Star Beacon-Mike Scully Senior Wrestling Classic at Lakeside High School..
Life in the fast lane?
Basketball coaches often talk about the importance of their teams playing at their own pace. They call it controlling the tempo. Many of them will tell you they need to control the tempo of certain games or risk losing.
ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
With the Lakeside Dragons winning the first boys basketball sectional championship in school history this season, here’s a look at the sectional titles won by Ashtabula and Harbor before they were consolidated in 2001-02:
A Don McCormack column: Still more queens of the diamond
Paying a visit to the variety store...

More on diamond
We can add two more former area standouts to our list of young ladies playing softball this spring at the collegiate level.
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, MARCH 11
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
District semifinal
n (3) Lakeside vs. (1) Mentor (7, WZOO)
Scholastic Statistics
Boys Basketball
AROUND OHIO
Division I
Heartbreak highway
BARBERTON — Especially in big games, it is often more difficult to lose a close decision than a one-sided one. Unfortunately for Nancy Barbo and her staff and players, that’s how the Geneva girls finish the 2009-10 season.
A Bob Ettinger column: No shame: Eagles spilled their guts
BARBERTON — Athletes know when the dream is about to end. They get that feeling it just isn’t their night.
Geneva Eagles Notebook: Stage was bigger than normal
BARBERTON — Going on stage for the first time is difficult for anybody.
Mat stars front, center
Many of the area’s top senior wrestlers will be going at it one last time Friday night in the 12th annual Star Beacon-Mike Scully Senior Classic.
Locals among district’s best
Several area players and one coach received recognition on the Associated Press All-Northeast Lakes District boys and girls basketball team.
2009-10 NORTHEAST LAKES ALL-DISTRICT BASKETBALL
COLUMBUS (AP) — The 2009-10 Associated Press Northeast Lakes All-District basketball teams, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
District semifinal
n (2) Brush vs. (4) Shaw (7)
A Don McCormack column: Stars aplenty in college softball
Paying a collegiate softball visit to the variety store...

Mighty Mack
When it comes to debuts, no one has anything on Brittney Mackey and her first appearance as an Edinboro Fighting Scot.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL
Struthers 50, Geneva 46
at Barberton High School
Eagles riding the wave
Coach Nancy Barbo and the Geneva girls basketball team prides itself on playing strong defense. It’s a been a staple of the program for all of Barbo’s 14-season tenure at the helm.
Scout’s take:
With the Geneva and Struthers girls basketball team playing in different district tournaments, there are very few common opponents on the two teams’ schedules.
A Don McCormack column: Catching up with men of the mat
Paying a collegiate wrestling visit to the variety store...

Super soph
As one of only four individuals to ever win three Star Beacon Ashtabula County Player of the Year honors in a single sport, Kyle Gilchrist is certainly used to success.
Girls Basketball Regional Pairings
Division I
At Otterbein
n Today’s semifinals — Pickerington North (23-1) vs. Xenia (17-6), 6:15 p.m.; Reynoldsburg (19-5) vs. Gahanna (17-6), 8 p.m.
n Friday’s final — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
ACBF HOF Class of 2010 Series: Finally getting his Phil
JEFFERSON — One of the many things sports can provide is an emotional outlet. It can be a source of great joy, but it can also be an avenue to find release in times of great sorrow.
Mighty mite!
AUSTINBURG — At only 4-foot-1 and less than 70 pounds, there aren’t many sports 12-year-old Alyce Simoes is going to be holding an advantage when it comes to size.
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: Conceal-carry licensing stronger than ever
Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray (D) has released the concealed handgun license (CHL) statistics for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the year-end report, Ohio Concealed Handguns Law - 2009 Annual Report.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, MARCH 9
Girls Basketball
DIVISION II
at Barberton High School
Regional semifinal
n Geneva vs. Struthers (6:15)
n Canton South vs. Hathaway Brown (8)
Faces in the Crowd...
In today's print edition!
A Bob Ettinger column: Guarded optimism? Backcourt proves so much more than that
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Geneva girls basketball coach Nancy Barbo has been insisting to her guards that their time would come.
Geneva bombs Kenston
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Some people claim it takes a village to raise a child. Late Saturday afternoon, coach Nancy Barbo and the members of the Geneva girls basketball squad could say that it takes a team to achieve a dream.
Plenty in reserve
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Geneva girls basketball coach Nancy Barbo has used her bench regularly all season. She made sure her reserves got just as much time and repetitions in practice as the starters.
A Don McCormack column: YSU women should chase H-Kap
Paying another Sunday morning visit to the variety store...
Edgewood’s Butryn garners sixth at state
When a wrestler works as long and hard, if he’s fortunate enough to battle his way to the state tournament in Ohio, doing anything less than placing has to be one of the ultimate disappointments.
Dragons make history
EUCLID — The Lakeside boys’ plan against Geneva on Saturday evening was to grab the lead and then go into the zone defense.
Warriors come up short
KIRTLAND — If there was a formula for beating the Edgewood boys basketball team, Harvey found it Saturday night.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
Geneva 42, Kenston 29
at Pymatuning Valley
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, MARCH 9
Girls Basketball
DIVISION II
at Barberton High School
Regional semifinal
n Geneva vs. Struthers (6:15)
n Canton South vs. Hathaway Brown (8)
ACSWAA game pushed back
To accommodate the trip of the Geneva girls basketball team to the Division II regional tournament Tuesday at Barberton High School, the Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association All-Star Game has a new date.
Round II
Onward and upward.
ASHTABULA COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
n 1981-82 Ashtabula Domenick Cavalancia
n 1987-88 Jefferson Rod Holmes
n 1989-90 Jefferson Rod Holmes
n 1990-91 Jefferson Rod Holmes
ASHTABULA COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL DISTRICT RUNNER-UPS
n 1978-79 Harbor Frank Roskovics
n 1982-83 Harbor Frank Roskovics
n 1984-85 Conneaut Paul Ruland
Butryn gunning for third
Fridays are often a brutal day at the state wrestling tournament. Many high hopes are dashed on the rocks of quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
PV badgered by Berkshire
HOWLAND – Berkshire basketball coach Pete Moran figured why not take advantage of the situation.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
DIVISION III
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Berkshire 54, PV 36
at Howland
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, MARCH 6
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional championships
n (9) Geneva vs. (3) Lakeside (6:30, WZOO)
n (1) Mentor vs. (10) South (8)
Lion tamers!
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The Geneva Eagles had a lot of big reasons to win their Division II district semifinal matchup with the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions on Thursday night at Pymatuning Valley.
A Bob Ettinger column: Senior moments to enjoy... treasure
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The seniors on the Geneva girls basketball team just weren’t ready for it to end. Each of them made some kind of contribution to make sure the season continued for at least a couple more days.
A Don McComrack column: Ghost hunters!
No matter what happens from here on out, Nancy Barbo already has her Geneva girls basketball program where it’s never gone before.
Triumvirate of success
What a batting average!
Cold streak KOs Streaks against top-seeded Mentor
PERRY — It was late in the second quarter when things began to fall apart for the Madison girls in Thursday’s Division I district semifinal contest.
A Karl Pearson column: Smith’s seniors go out with heads held high, see a bright future for program
PERRY TOWNSHIP — When you’ve been involved in a project for the better part of a decade, the time of closure is often a difficult matter with which to deal.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
DISTRICT SEMIFINAL
Geneva 58,
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 56 OT
at Pymatuning Valley
Scholastic Statistics
FRIDAY, MARCH 5
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional championship
n (2) Brush vs. (8) Glenville (6:30)
We’re an APSO finalist!
The most recent rendition of our annual high school football preview section is a finalist in the category of best special sports section in the Associated Press Society of Ohio’s yearly contest.
Geneva’s only focus — NDCL
Milestones are there to be claimed for the Geneva girls basketball team.
In the Cards for Blue Streaks
After the Madison girls basketball team lost to South, the Blue Streaks were a bit disappointed. The loss had all but guaranteed they wouldn’t be Premier Athletic Conference champions. Coach Mike Smith had remind his team they yet had things to play for.
Matters of state
There are only three area wrestlers competing at this year’s state tournament, but they are coming from three different perspectives.
Near-miss for Perry
KIRTLAND — There wasn’t a Cloud in sight, and there were stars out. Still, it was not a smooth night for sailing for the Perry Pirate boys.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Collinwood 61, Perry 57
at Lakeland Community College
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, MARCH 4
Boys Basketball
n GRA at NCSAA Invitational
Girls Basketball
DIVISION I
at Perry
District semifinals
n (1) Mentor vs. (8) Madison (6)
n (2) Brush vs. (4) Chardon (Game 2)
ACBF Class of 2010 HOF Series: This David was Goliath for Bula
ASHTABULA — If anybody has an appreciation for what family is all about, it is David Benton. As one of 10 children of the late L.T. Benton and Ceola Benton, who still lives in the old family home on West 41st Street in Ashtabula, he developed a keen sense of what that concept is all about.
Sports Editor Don McCormack's Mailbag: Readers get their turns
Don,

I watched some district girls basketball games this past week and as I watched a non-public school team completely dismantle a good public school team, I couldn’t help but wonder how members of the Ohio High School Athletic Association can continue to allow this to happen year after year?
Sweeping W for Lakeside
EUCLID — The Lakeside boys were able to weather the storm for the nine minutes when Emilio Parks was out of the game, and then used him to get the bulk of their scoring in the second half.
Pirates pluck Falcons with big second half
KIRTLAND — Apparently, there were some remnants of last weekend’s snowstorm lingering around the gymnasium at Lakeland Community College on Tuesday.
Windham ends season for SS. John and Paul
WARREN – The SS. and Paul Heralds only have 20 boys to choose from and they have struggled getting 12 on the team.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
DIVISION I
SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Lakeside 60, North 59
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional semifinal
n (12) Riverside vs. (1) Mentor (6:30)
DIVISION II
at Lakeland CC
Sectional championship
n (4) Collinwood vs. (11) Perry (7)
Junior high Eagles sweep Lakeside
The Geneva Junior High girls basketball teams swept Lakeside on Tuesday night. The eighth-graders scored a 34-8 win while the seventh-graders downed the Dragons, 38-12.
Coming Wednesday!
Send your letters today to be included.
Second-half surge helps Lakers sail
HOWLAND – Ryan Fitch didn’t like what he saw of the Pymatuning Valley Lakers in the first quarter, but he had nothing but praise later in the evening.
No mistaken ID
KIRTLAND — Knowing who the opponent’s shooters are and keeping them from firing away can be a big advantage.
Cold shooting KOs Spartans
KIRTLAND — It’s not easy to win a basketball game when you can’t make the easy buckets.
ACWSAA to bring out 35 girls stars
Thirty-five senior players from eight Ashtabula County schools will participate in the annual Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association Senior All-Star Basketball Game, which will be played March 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Geneva High School.
Streaks stalled
EUCLID — To most of those present at Madison’s 44-41 loss in Monday’s Division I sectional semifinal, what will stand out in their memories will be the fact Glenville held the ball for the first seven minutes of the second half.
Scholastic Statistics
DIVISION II
SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Edgewood 66,
West Geauga 49
at Lakeland Community College
Nicholson can’t save Eagles
Despite 10 points from Danielle Nicholson, Geneva’s seventh-grade girls basketball team couldn’t quite overcome Mentor Ridge on Monday, dropping a 29-27 decision.
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional semifinal
n (3) Lakeside vs. (6) North (8, WZOO)
D.J. is A-OK!
HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — The motivated athlete is a dangerous one. Dave Johnson certainly had plenty of motivation for this year’s Beacon’s Best Scratch Division Bowling Tournament.
Famous folks
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — Keeping everything on the level for area bowlers to make sure they derive the maximum enjoyment from the game is the calling card of the three newest inductees into the Ashtabula County Bowling Hall of Fame.
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: Dale answers some fan mail
With the Ohio 2009-10 deer season being officially over and all the stories I had being told, I guess it’s time to hark back to some of the mail I’ve gotten over this past season.
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, MARCH 1
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional semifinal
n (11) Madison vs. (8) Glenville (7)
A Don McCormack column: From A to Z: Zelenka will speak here
Paying another Sunday morning visit to the variety store...

No average Joe
Of the many enjoyable interviews I’ve had the pleasure of doing in recent years was the one with Joe Zelenka about a year ago.
Lake floods Jefferson
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — When the tournament trail arrives at the close of basketball season, only one team in each division can say it was the better team at the best point of its year and be correct about it.
Pirates can’t complete sweep
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The bit of wisdom that it is difficult to defeat a team three times in a season is often a falsehood when it comes to high school basketball. But it is certainly true when the opponents in question are as evenly matched as the Perry and Kenston girls.
Trio headed to C-Bus
Two senior wrestlers who came from entirely different perspectives will be Ashtabula County’s only representatives to the state wrestling tournament, both competing Thursday through Saturday in the Division II tournament.
Montgomery sole survivor in D-I
MENTOR — Then there was one. That one wrestler turned out to be among the youngest, too.
Done in at D-III district
MAPLE HEIGHTS — It was a tough weekend for the area’s 12 competitors in the Division III district wrestling tournament as none were able to advance to the state tournament.
Dragons dispatched by Beavers
With a strong fourth quarter, Riverside’s boys basketball team pulled away from a tie at 35 to a 53-48 victory Saturday over Lakeside in the regular-season and Premier Athletic Conference finale for both teams.
Past champs roll on
Plenty of men who have done it before will be competing for another Beacon’s Best Scratch Division Bowling Tournament championship when 12 of them go it at starting at 2:30 p.m. today at Sonny Lanes in Harpersfield Townshi
Scholasitc Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Lake Catholic 68, Jefferson 29
at Pymatuning Valley
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, MARCH 1
Boys Basketball
DIVISION I
at Euclid
Sectional semifinal
n (11) Madison vs. (8) Glenville (7)
A Don McCormack column: Frankly, some good guys step up
Paying another visit to the variety store...

Good people
One of the most well-liked and respected gentlemen to have darkened the doors here at the Star Beacon is Tom Harris.
Dynamic duo
AKRON — Conneaut’s Patrick Sanford and Edgewood’s Thomas Butryn are each one victory away from earning places at the Division II state wrestling tournament next Thursday through Saturday at Value City Arena in Columbus.
Seven start strong in D-I
MENTOR — At least after the first round of wrestling in the Division I district tournament Friday at Mentor High School, area competitors were holding their own.
D-III guys face uphill battle
MAPLE HEIGHTS — Area competitors in the Division III district tournament will have an uphill battle to qualify for the state tournament.
Mother Nature bests basketball
Several boys basketball games that were initially set for Friday have new dates.
Scholastic Statistics
SATURDAY, FEB. 27
Boys Basketball
Regular season
n Riverside at Lakeside (7, varsity only, WFUN)
Butcher cuts it as top snowmobiler
Rod Butcher was named 2009 Snowmobiler of the Year during the banquet at the Ohio State Snowmobile Association Ride-In on Jan. 16. Butcher was chosen from a group of four.
A Don McCormack column: Dragon boys have raised the bar
Paying a visit to the variety store...

Best to date
Even if the Lakeside Dragons don’t win another game this season, they’ve already raised the bar for the high school in terms of its boys basketball program.
DRAGON DOINGS
Coach Rob Pisano’s Lakeside Dragon boys have set a school record for most wins in a season already. Here’s a season-by-season look at Lakeside’s history:
A Tom Harris column: Regrets? Yes, I’ve had a few
On a weekend not long ago, Bethany, my daughter, bagged a coyote and her man.
EAGLE UPRISING
A list of the girls basketball sectional championships by the Geneva Eagles:
Triple treat
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The Geneva girls basketball team spent 28 years trying to reach the district tournament for the first time. With a 50-40 win over Lakeview in a Division II sectional championship Thursday night, the Eagles reached that level for the third straight time.
Seeds of success
PERRY — Mike Smith may have figured out the secret for the Madison girls to win a Division I sectional championship.
SURGING STREAKS
A list of the girls basketball sectional championships by the Madison Blue Streaks:
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION II
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Geneva 50, Lakeview 40
at Pymatuning Valley
Scholastic Schedule
FRIDAY, FEB. 26
Boys Basketball
DIVISION II
at Lakeland CC
Sectional semifinals
n (12) Cleveland East vs. (9) Conneaut (6:15)
n (11) Perry vs. (13) Jefferson (8)
Shaker peppers Harvey to salt away ACBF crown
A big third quarter carried Shaker Heights to the championship of the first Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Freshman Boys Tournament held Thursday at Jefferson High School with a 56-49 victory over Harvey.
Lemponen leading way in Beacon’s Best
Two-time Beacon’s Best Ashtabula County Bowling Scratch Division champion Mike Lemponen is in the lead after two of three rounds of qualifying for the tournament finals, which will be held Sunday beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Sonny Lanes in Harpersfield Township.
Then along came Jones... to handicap tournament win
With her triumph in this year’s event, Amanda Jones became the second straight woman to win the Beacon’s Best Bowling Handicap Tournament, the final of which was held at Conneaut’s El Camp Lanes.
New faces capture kids’ titles
An entirely new set of champions was crowned from the Beacon’s Best Youth Bowling Tournament this year. The finals were held at Conneaut’s El Camp Lanes, with three-game qualifying rounds at Sonny Lanes in Harpersfield Township and St. Angelo’s Lanes in Saybrook Township.
A Don McCormack column: Barbo's bunch... of success
Tonight, Nancy Barbo will lead her Geneva Eagles into a Division II sectional championship game at Pymatuning Valley High School.
Matmen gear up for second step
For all but a precious few, this is the final week of the wrestling season.
Falcons frustrated, but don’t fold tent at Harvey
PAINESVILLE — Jefferson’s boys got frustrated in the first half on Wednesday. By the time they got over it, they had been mired in a sizeable deficit.
Mustangs bow out vs. Gilmour
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — It has yet to be recorded when a coach would not be happy when his team starts a period with a double-digit scoring run.
Lakeside, Geneva, Harvey, Shaker win in ACBF frosh tourney
Sayvaughn Morgan scorched the nets for 20 points as Lakeside downed Perry, 53-41, Wednesday in the Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Freshmen Tournament at Jefferson High School.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
DIVISION III
SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Gilmour Academy 90,
Grand Valley 23
at Lakeside Gymnasium
Scholastic Schedule
THURSDAY, FEB. 25
Boys Basketball
n ACBF Freshman Tournament finals at Jefferson (consolation 4:30, championship 7)
The Butler did it
Edgewood boys basketball coach Kevin Andrejack has known for four exactly what he is going to get from Sean Butler.
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
Dragons pull out a thriller
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — It was Sean Butler’s night, but Lakeside crashed the party. The Dragons put a damper on the celebration with a thrilling 52-51 victory over Edgewood at Edgewood.
Conneaut crushes Badger
CONNEAUT — Celebrating senior night in Garcia Gymnasium as the Spartans hosted the Badger Braves, coach Tim Tallbacka had a gameplan that he felt would fit the honors his six senior players deserved in completing their careers.
Not enough of an attack
PERRY – From the point of view of Lakeside girls coach Rob Livingston, one statistic told all that one needed to know about the Lakeside girls’ loss to Brush in the Division I semifinals. That was the fact they were able to shoot the ball just 25 times.
Scholastic Statistics
BOYS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Lakeside 52, Edgewood 51
at Edgewood
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24
Boys Basketball
n Jefferson at Harvey
n ACBF Freshman Tournament semifinals at Jefferson (two at 4:30, one each at 5:30, 6:45)
Cougars, Red Raiders at 7
ans planning on heading to Pymatuning Valley today for the Division II girls basketball sectional semifinal between sixth-seeded Lake Catholic and 11th seed Harvey are asked to note the tipoff time is 7 p.m.
Nicholson, Juncker power Geneva past Mentor Shore
Two scorers was all Geneva needed to its seventh-grade girls basketball game Tuesday with Mentor Shore, 33-23.
NDCL KO’s Conneaut in D-II
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — It’s often said speed can’t be coached. That’s very true. However, it can be harnessed and used to create havoc.
Turnovers prove costly to Edgewood
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — Turnovers will cause every basketball coach to turn gray at an early age — if he doesn’t pull out all the hair first.
Lakers sunk by Hawken in D-III
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — It probably would be fair to say that if the Pymatuning Valley girls basketball team never saw Lakeside Gymnasium again it would be too soon.
Falcons fly to W
ASHTABULA —While consistency is something all coaches love to see from their teams, it always can be something different depending on the talent levels of the players on those teams.
Conneaut frosh advance
Conneaut and Shaker Heights earned spots in the winners’-bracket semifinals of the first Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Freshman Boys Basketball Tournament at Jefferson High School on Monday.
Scholastic Statistics
DIVISION II
SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 60,
Conneaut 46
at Pymatuning Valley
Scholastic Schedule
TUESDAY, FEB. 23
Boys Basketball
n Badger at Conneaut
n Lakeside at Edgewood (WFUN)
n SJP at Bloomfield (6, varsity only)
n PV at Warren JFK
n Perry vs. Riverside, ACBF Freshman Tournament at Harvey (4:30)
n Geneva vs. Harvey, ACBF Freshman Tournament at Jefferson (5:45)
Sports Editor Don McCormack's Mailbag: Readers have their say
Play while you can

Don,

I completely agree that if the kids are waiting for a sport to pay their college tuition, they could be in for a disappointing reality check.
Write to Don!
Readers are encouraged to send their opinions or questions to sp
ACBF HOF Class of 2010 — Fab Fred
ASHTABULA — All-out effort. Unselfishness. Teamwork. Loyalty. A desire to give in return for what has been received.
ACBF frosh boys tourney tips off today
For the first time, the Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation will host a tournament for freshman boys teams.
Scholastic Schedule
MONDAY, FEB. 22
Boys Basketball
n Jefferson at SJP (6:30, varsity only)
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: New park gun rule takes effect today
Today, a new law on guns in national parks takes effect. The law repeals a National Park Service rule that has long prohibited Americans from lawfully possessing firearms in national parks for self-defense.
ARC splits with Albion, Pa.
It was business as usual for the Amboy Rifle Club in its match against invading Albion, Pa. on Friday night.
Faces in the Crowd...
In today's print edition...
Eagles land second
MENTOR — For a wrestling team that only has three seniors playing significant roles and general inexperience with even those wrestlers, Geneva certainly put on quite a performance Saturday in the Division II sectional tournament at Lake Catholic High School.
Lakers kings for a day
Kevin Brown is in his 12th year as the head wrestling coach at Pymatuning Valley High School. It’s safe to say there has never been a day during his tenure like Saturday. It’s probably equally likely it’s the greatest day, at least to this point, the Lakers have ever experienced in the sport.
Bombers shoot down Geneva
BAINBRIDGE — Perhaps the Geneva girls can take comfort in the fact the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints lost the final three games of the regular season.
SJP falls off pace
Maintaining the pace was a challenge for the SS. John and Paul girls basketball team Saturday in its Division IV sectional tournament semifinal game, but coach Nick Iarocci believes his team has progressed to the point that it is ready to take the next step to respectability.
Fifteen advance in Division I
With strong performances at both Division I sectional wrestling sites at which area wrestlers were involved, 15 matmen from three schools will compete next Friday and Saturday fairly close to home in the district tournament at Mentor High School.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Kenston 40, Geneva 37
at Kenston
Hilltoppers claim frosh tourney
Seven points each by Jessica Parker and Hannah Tegel led Chardon to a 27-20 victory over Geneva in the championship game of the Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association’s Freshman Girls Basketball Tournament held at Geneva.
A Don McCormack column: (Not) great for openers, but...
Paying a Sunday morning visit to the variety store...

Tough opening act
As far as maiden voyages go, Antawn Jamison has nothing on the Titanic.
Preppers pull away from Eagles
GENEVA — When the University School boys basketball team wants to get serious, it can get dangerous, and in a hurry.
PV works OT x 5!
It took five extra periods, but Mitch Berrier was finally able to give the Pymatuning Valley boys basketball team a 96-95 victory over Mathews in a Northeastern Athletic Conference battle Friday night at PV.
19 area competitors still going strong in D-II at Lake Catholic
Nineteen wrestlers from area schools will be competing today at 10 a.m. in the championship-semifinal round of the Division II sectional tournament at Lake Catholic High School.
15 guys alive and well in D-I sectional action at Maple, Austintown
After the first day of wrestling Friday in the Division I sectional wrestling tournament at Maple Heights High School, it looks like a replay of the Premier Athletic Conference championship as South and Riverside hold the top two spots entering today’s semifinals.
PV, GV going strong in D-III
The wrestling teams from Pymatuning Valley and Grand Valley find themselves among the leading contenders in the Division III sectional tournament at Beachwood High School after Friday’s action.
Spartans stave off Falcons
JEFFERSON — The Jefferson Falcons fell behind the Conneaut Spartans late in the first period Friday night in a non-conference battle of old rivals.
AC/DC for Lakeside in win: Electrifying start at Riverside, but a fizzle at the finish
PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP – Though the Lakeside boys have won 15 of their 18 games, coach Rob Pisano is concerned.
Warriors scalp Heralds
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Edgewood boys basketball coach Kevin Andrejack always goes into games with a series of objectives for his team. There’s always room for expansion of those goals, of course.
Scholastic Schedule
BOYS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Edgewood 94, SJP 27
at Edgewood
Scholastic Schedule
SATURDAY, FEB. 20
Girls Basketball
Division IV
Sectional semifinal
at Hubbard
n (13) SJP vs. (7) Wellsville (2)
Regular season
n Geneva at Kenston (6)
Wrestling
n Division II sectional at Lake Catholic (10, 6:30)
n Division I sectional at Austintown Fitch (9, 3:30)
n Division I sectional at Maple Heights (10, 6:30)
n Division III sectional at Beachwood (10:30, 6:30)
Swimming
n Districts
Second season
In some sports, you can’t tell the players without a scorecard. When it comes to sectional wrestling, not only does a scorecard not benefit the fan, but a road map is also an important part of their arsenal.
Eagles, Hilltoppers advance
Alyssa McIntyre exploded for 17 points as Geneva advanced to the championship of the Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association Freshmen Girls Basketball Tournament at Geneva High School with a 42-17 victory over Lakeside on Thursday night.
Geneva Jr. High teams split
Sarah Juncker scorched the nets for 16 points to lead the Geneva seventh graders past Willowick, 44-29, on Thursday.
A Don McCormack column: Photograph spurs call from a sister
Paying another visit to the variety store...

Oh, brother!
The voice on the other end the line was pleasant and in the middle of a laugh.
Senior moment
GENEVA — There could have been a lot of distractions Wednesday night as Geneva High School said goodbye to six senior girls basketball players who have meant so much to its program for the last three years.
Madison’s Smith hits milestone
For a while Wednesday night, Madison girls basketball coach Mike Smith was afraid varsity assistant Randy Rose had put the whammy on the Blue Streaks. There were some thoughts of Rose having his cake and eating it, too, only by himself.
Spartans sink Skippers
FAIRPORT – The Conneaut boys’ 72-40 win at Fairport was a fine performance all around. And it was well-rounded, too, as the scorebook will attest.
Hey, Sailors!
Before the season, Perry girls basketball coach Ryan Dolotowski challenged his girls by writing on the cover of their preseason folders “2009-10 CVC champs. Believe it.”
Beavers break through
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Success can’t always be measured by the numbers in a won-loss record.
Scholastic Statistics
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE
Geneva 54, West Geauga 26
at Geneva
Schoilastic Schedule
THURSDAY, FEB. 18
Girls Basketball
n Jefferson at Harding
A Don McCormack column: OSU star linked to Ashtabula
Paying a visit to the variety store...

Linked
Evan Turner is the top player for the Ohio State men’s basketball team.
Lakers show off depth in big win
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — First-year Pymatuning Valley boys basketball coach Ryan Fitch believes it takes up to three years for any coach to get a program operating the way he wants.
Dragons torch Streaks
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The Lakeside boys didn’t show off their up-and-down style of play right away on Tuesday night, but they did so eventually. They still broke away for a decisive 73-48 victory over visiting Madison.
Falcons no match for Pirates
JEFFERSON — Being ready to play at the opening whistle is of the utmost importance. The Perry boys basketball team was ready to get after it. Jefferson was not Tuesday at Falcon Gymnasium.
GRA has win stolen at JFK
WARREN — Warren JFK’s basketball team found it challenging to slow down Grand River Academy’s Brant O’Brien.
Lakeside, Riverside, Chardon get wins
With one exception, the seedings for the first round of the Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association Freshman Girls Basketball Tournament ran true to form Tuesday at Geneva High School.
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17
Boys Basketball
n Conneaut at Fairport
Girls Basketball
n Riverside at Lakeside
n North at Madison
n West Geauga at Geneva
n Perry at Kenston
Eagles plucked at North
Geneva’s junior high girls basketball teams suffered a pair of tough losses Tuesday against Eastlake Middle School.
A Tom Harris column: Things have changed... or have they?
Reading a book written long ago or one written about the events of long ago is to be reminded how much things have changed — and how little.
Home cookin’ tastes great
JEFFERSON — All anyone can ask out of life is an opportunity. When it’s received, it’s time to make the most of it.
No doubting Thomas
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The Grand Valley Mustangs and Edgewood Warriors have battled through some similar problems this season, but a bit more quickness and solid defense has helped the Warriors to a more successful season on the hardwoods this season.
Heralds, Mustangs are champs
Rae Ann Benedict hit a free throw with 9.6 seconds remaining to give SS. John and Paul’s combined seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball team the championship in its division of the Ashtabula County Women’s Scholar-Athlete Association Junior High Tournament with a 28-27 victory over Grand Valley.
Tigers roar past Spartans
CONNEAUT — Aggression, or the lack thereof, is often the difference between winning or losing a basketball game.

Popular business directory searches