Sheffield opened its game with Cameron County with a 12-2 run and never looked back as the Wolverines defeated the Red Raiders, 62-47, in the championship game of the Sheffield Sports Boosters Holiday Tournament Wednesday at Sheffield High School.
"We played solid, control basketball," said Sheffield coach Todd Fitch. "I'm so proud of these kids. Even after we got a big lead, they never let up."
Mark Sprandle, the tournament MVP, and George Fitch got things going early for the Wolverines with back-to-back three-pointers on Sheffield's first two possessions. Sheffield was nearly perfect from the floor in the first quarter, while limiting Cameron County to just three field goals, jumping out to a 24-7 lead.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg
Passing the rock
Sheffield’s Mark Sprandle passes the ball to a teammate during the finals of the Sheffield Holiday Tournament Wednesday at?Sheffield Area High School. Sprandle and the Wolverines were a 62-47 winner over Cameron County. Sprandle was named tournament MVP.
Sheffield came out a little cold to start the second quarter, but the Wolverines got the transition game going leading to three straight trips to the free-throw line. The Wolverines converted five of the six free throws and the momentum carried over for the rest of the half. The Red Raiders got a late three, but the Wolverines were firmly in control, taking a 41-22 lead into the lockerroom.
"Early on, we had a good transition game and we were able to capitalize," Fitch said.
Cameron County switched things up in the third quarter, moving to a full-court press and trap defense. The swtich got to Sheffield early as it forced some shots.
Fact Box
CAMERON COUNTY (47): A. Sestina 9 5-6 24, Austin 5 0-0 10, Wigfield 1 3-4 5, N. Sestina 2 0-0 4, Torres 1 0-0 2, Totals 18 8-10 47.
SHEFFIELD (62): Mark Sprandle 6 1-2 16, Ike Nearing 6 0-0 14, George Fitch 4 2-4 11, Kalil Slaughter 4 2-2 10, Nick Bonavita 3 0-0 6, Brendan Winslow 2 0-0 5, Dylan McNeal 0 0-0 0, Josh Anderson 0 0-0 0, Tyler Fitzgerald 0 0-0 0, Nic Confer 0 0-0 0, Totals 25 5-10 62.
Cameron County 7 15 12 13 - 47
Sheffield 24 17 11 10 - 62
3-pointers: C-A. Sestina. S-Sprandle 3, Nearing 2, Fitch, Winslow.
YOUNGSVILLE (37): Broc Horn 4 0-0 9, James Frazier 3 2-3 9, Thomas Chapman 3 0-0 6, Coll Dininny 3 0-0 6, Trevor Flinn 1 0-0 3, Rocco Gatta 1 0-0 2, Collin Lehnen 1 0-1 2, Levi Ecelberger 0 0-2 0, Dan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Ben Frederick 0 0-0 0, Dacoda Buchanan 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 2-6 37.
KANE (65): Kocjancic 8 1-2 17, Rolick 5 3-10 14, Ennis 3 3-7 9, Bedford 3 0-0 6, Stefani 3 0-0 6, Laurie 2 0-0 6, Anderson 1 0-0 3, Sirianni 1 0-0 2, Hodgdon 1 0-0 2, Peirson 0 0-1 0, Cleer 0 0-0 0, Totals 27 7-20 65.
Youngsville 6 11 11 9 - 37
Kane 19 20 9 17 - 65
3-pointers: Y-Horn, Frazier, Flinn. K-Laurie 2, Anderson.
CONNEAUT (63): Mirando 1 0-0 3, Campbell 1 0-0 3, Thompson 6 0-0 14, T. Blood 6 3-5 15, Johnson 0 1-2 1, Williams 6 3-5 17, J. Blood 0 1-2 1, Burdine 2 5-5 9, Totals: 22 13-19 63
WARREN (77): Mark Davis 4 1-1 9, Grayson Foley 0 1-2 1, Austin Jerman 2 0-0 4, Matt Sandberg 0 0-0 0, Collin Fantaskey 0 0-0 0, Andrew Hammersley 0 0-0 0, Jacoby Passmore 1 0-0 2, Kory Thomas 1 2-2 5, Hank Morrison 11 3-4 25, Preston McMeans 7 4-4 21, Jack Daley 3 0-0 7, Totals: 31 10-11 77
Conneaut 9 9 19 26 - 63
Warren 20 22 19 16 - 77
3-pointers: C- Mirando, Campbell, Thompson 2, Williams 2; W- Thomas, McMeans 3, Daley
Junior varsity game
CONNEAUT (31): Campbell 3 4-6 11, Geiser 0 1-2 1, Sprinkle 0 2-4 2, Otman 2 1-1 5, Speeves 2 0-0 5, Stewart 0 0-2 0, Burris 1 0-0 2, Riccardo 1 0-2 2, Totals: 12 5-11 31
WARREN (51): Grayson Foley 0 0-0 0, Austin Schwanke 2 0-0 4, Ryan Gustafson 2 1-4 5, Collin Fantaskey 3 0-0 8, Cody McGraw 1 2-4 4, Andrew Hammersley 4 0-0 8, Jacoby Passmore 6 0-0 12, Tanner Stanz 2 2-2 7, Andrew Stanton 0 0-0 0, Nick Rosenquist 1 1-2 3, Totals: 21 6-14 51
Conneaut 8 5 8 10 - 31
Warren 17 13 12 9 - 51
3-pointers: C- Campbell, Speeves; W- Fantaskey 2, Stanz
EISENHOWER (56): Josh Deppas 5 2-3 13, Aaron Lundmark 5 4-8 16, Carter Farrell 0 0-0 0, Jarett Johnson 0 0-0 0, John Potts 0 0-0 0, Colin Shine 3 1-2 7, Nathan O'Brien 4 0-0 8, Chris Sanders 0 0-0 0, Andrew Onoratti 1 0-0 2, Kyle Hunt 0 0-0 0, Ryan Williams 1 4-4 6, Ben Harvey 0 0-0 0, Joe Rutsky 1 2-2 4, Totals 20 13-19 56
UNION CITY (48): Burgess 2 1-2 5, Mangel 5 3-3 13, Hoban 2 0-0 6, Pituch 5 1-4 11, Russell 1 0-2 3, Ossa 4 2-2 10. Totals 19 7-13 48
Eisenhower 11 14 12 19 - 56
Union City 10 13 12 13 - 48
3-pointers: E- Lundmark 2, Deppas; U- Hoban 2, Russell
Junior varsity game
EISENHOWER (58): Carter Farell 7 3-3 17, Jarett Johnson 4 0-0 8, John Potts 1 0-0 2, Chris Sanders 3 0-0 6, Kyle Hunt 4 4-7 15, Ben Harvey 5 0-0 10, Totals 24 7-10 58
UNION CITY (27): Daggett 1 1-2 3, Mangel 5 2-2 12, Dalex 1 0-0 3, Ossa 4 0-0 8, Rodgers 0 1-2 1, Totals 11 4-8 27
Eisenhower 10 15 23 10 - 58
Union City 10 10 4 3 - 27
3-pointers: E- Hunt 3; U- Dalex
The Red Raiders completed a three-point play with just under 30 seconds left in the third quarter. Ike Nearing answered with a three on the Wolverines next possession and Kalil Slaughter emphatically blocked a shot at the buzzer to shift momentum back to Sheffield for the final period.
"That block was a big key going into the last quarter," Fitch said. "It lifted (the team's) spirits."
The fourth quarter belonged to Sheffield as the Wolverines played ball control offense to limit Cameron County's possessions.
Sprandle led the Wolverines with 16 points. Nearing added 14 tallies, Fitch just missed a double-double with 11 points and seven rebounds and Slaughter finished with 10 points.
Sprandle, Slaughter and Nearing were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
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Sheffield Tournament
Consolation Game
Kane 65, Youngsville 37
No team in Warren County may be happier to see 2011 come to a close than the Youngsville boys basketball team.
The Eagles fell to Kane, 65-37, in the consolation game of the Sheffield Sports Boosters Holiday Tournament Wednesday at Sheffield High School, running their losing streak to 22 games and finishing the 2011 calender year without a single victory.
Kane jumped out to a 19-6 lead after the first quarter and the Wolves' 39 points at the half would have been enough to secure the win.
Youngsville was able to hold Kane to just nine points in the third quarter, but the Wolves pulled away late in the fourth to secure the win.
Broc Horn and James Frazier led the Eagles with nine points each and Coll Dininny and Thomas Chapman both added six points in the loss.
Horn won the 3-point contest and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
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Northwestern Tournament
Warren 77, Conneaut (Ohio) 63
ALBION - Hank Morrison scored 25 points, Preston McMeans added 21 more and the Warren Dragons finished the Northwestern Tournament 2-0 with a 77-63 victory over Conneaut (Ohio) Wednesday at Northwestern High School.
The contest wasn't necessairly as close as the final score indicated as the Dragons (7-1) led by 24 points after three quarters and played their junior varsity unit for the entire fourth quarter of play.
"For how poorly we played defensively last night, we were very solid tonight," said Warren coach Jeff Berdine. "The kids responded very well to some criticism from myself and the coaching staff and upped their game tonight. We were rotating to the ball, helping out on defense and took two charges in the first quarter. We only allowed 18 points in the first half. Anytime you can accomplish that, you are doing something right."
Mark Davis' effort highlighted the defensive outing and the 6'4 junior finished with 10 blocks and seven rebounds. Morrison had seven rebounds to go with his 25 points and Matt Sandberg and McMeans both dished out five assists.
The Dragons will look to remain red hot as 2011 ends and 2012 begins. Warren is back in league action Tuesday when it visits Harbor Creek. The team returns home Friday to host Fort LeBoeuf.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Dragons earned a 51-31 junior varsity win over Conneaut. Jacoby Passmore paced the winners with 12 points.
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Corry Christmas Tournament
Consolation Game
Eisenhower 56, Union City 48
CORRY - Eisenhower salvaged a third-place finish in the Corry Christmas Tournament with a 56-48 consolation game victory over Union City Wednesday at Corry Area High School.
After a narrow loss to Titusville in Tuesday's semifinals, the Knights rebounded well and earned the third victory of the 2011-12 season.
The Knights led by a point after the first quarter and the game's intensity picked up in the second stanza. While the scoring picked up, the teams were unable to carve out any seperation and the Knights took a 25-23 lead to halftime.
Things remained close through three quarters and the Knights led 37-35 as the final eight minutes got underway. In the fourth quarter, it was Eisenhower who was able to hit more key shots down the stretch thus earning the win.
"We were more aggressive on offense tonight," Ike assistant coach Jacoby Curtis said. "We got to the foul line and made our shots. We were 13-for-19 during the game. On defense, we were more aggressive as well. This team has to learn how to put away games when we're ahead, and we did that tonight."
Aaron Lundmark and Josh Deppas both reached double figures for the winners. Lundmark had a game-high 16 and Deppas finished with 13 while being named to the all-tournament team.
Ike won the junior varsity game over Union City, 58-27. Carter Farrell scored 17 points, Kyle Hunt 15 points and Ben Harvey 10 points in the win.
The Knights are back in action Tuesday when they host Maplewood.