WHS Tigers Run To Number 19

Tuesday - March 2: The WHS Tigers Men's Basketball Team won Game 1 last night in opening this year's District Tournament play for them. By the final buzzer it was the Tigers devouring the Lions. It started out looking like it was going to be a battle. Columbiana's Heartland Christian took a 2 - 0 lead with 7:09 left in the first. Coach Dave Thompson remarked after the game he thought Heartland would be a little "sluggish" but readily admitted the Lions were not afraid to run with Wellsville. Even though the Tigers started out a little slow it was evident with a little under four minutes played in the first quarter who the better team was. That early lead Heartland Christian was the last they would see all night.

At the end of one Wellsville had an eight point lead. Out scoring the Lions by 11 in the second, the Tigers took a 19 point lead into the locker room at the half. WHS Sports announcer Joe Surace remarked that Wellsville was a little "helter skelter" with the ball handling but fellow announcer Bud Ceneviva responded with "but they're running". When they're running the Tigers are playing their best. Thompson was quoted in the ER saying after the game "You are going to have turn overs when you are running like that. It gets helter skelter at times". The Tigers started running mid-way through the first and as Surace said they didn't let up the rest of game. "Co-Chairman of the Boards" Jeremy Carter told the MJ "Everything took a little getting use to. We were a little sluggish at first. We tried to be too fancy with our passes". The Tigers had 22 turn overs in the game compared to Heartland's 30.

Going into the third period it was all Wellsville. The Lions showed they still had "heart" but the Tiger's blistering pace was too much . The Tigers put an additional 38 points on the board to Heartland's 23. With a 38 point lead Thompson cleared the bench with around two minutes left in the third. He told the WHS SS guys he wanted to give the starters a little break before the start of the fourth.

In the fourth with 6:44 left in the game Thompson once again cleared the bench with the orange & black leading 82 - 47. DeShon Pullie already got his head slammed off the floor in a collision with a Heartland player in the third. No sense risking anyone else getting hurt. There's another game Friday. The J.V.s did good off the bench. Fortunately Pullie's fall wasn't serious. He later returned to the game. By the time the final buzzer sounded it was WHS 94 - Heartland Christian 59.

The Vindicator called them a "talented and well-balanced team". John Kovach wrote they got "good scoring from six players" and dominated the rebounding. Wellsville shot 56.3% from the field last night. Mike Johnston had the game high with 22 points to go with his fours steals and four assists. The other "Co-Chairman of the Boards", Jalen DeSarro, recorded another double-double with 18 points & 12 rebounds to add to his six assists and three steals. Jeremy Carter also had a double-double with 17 points & 11 rebounds. Nbr. 4 also had six assists, five steals and three blocks. Nunzio Lombardozzi & Pullie each added nine points a piece. Jordan Dalrymple contributed another eight to the total. That, my friends, is what a well balanced team does. The Tigers have done it all season long.

Coach Thompson told the Youngstown newspaper "We have four guys averaging in double figure scoring and one almost at 10 points a game". After 21 games this year Johnston is averaging 18.5 ppg, DeSarro is 14.8 ppg, Jeremy Carter at 14.1 ppg, Lombardozzi at 10.9 and Pullie with 9.8 ppg according to the Area Leader's list in the ER this morning. That's what Bug was talking about.

Congratulations fellows. You're sparking a lot of excitement in this little river village and we're all very proud of you. Now it's back to Struthers this Friday night to take on Hartville Lake Center Christian School. We know that "fat lady" is not even close to warming up to sing! Run & gun! We're behind you all the way.

Heartland Christian finishes the season with 5 & 16 record. It was a brutal end to their season. It was a hard lesson in their first ever tournament game in the OHSAA. Their coach told the ER "Obviously we're playing better teams now, but I think Wellsville showed us we have to work harder".

Once again we were able to listen to the game on the web thanks to the generous sponsors that support the WHS Alumni's WHS Sports Station. Those guys always do an excellent job and last night was no exception. What a difference those floor level seats make in the broadcast. There was a noticeable reduction in crowd noise & cell phone interference. ESPN couldn't have done better! There were listeners from Florida to California that we know of.

Those guys will be back doing Friday's game against Lake Center but still need help if they are going to continue on when the Tigers advance in the tournament brackets. Roger Miller even offered to pick up your donations. If you can spare a few bucks call Roger at 330-383-9956. The Mayor even gave out his private extension at Village Hall. They're are doing it at their own expense with not a penny going into their pockets. They are doing it primarily for the kids and us fans all over the world that love to follow the Tigers. They're going to the games anyway. Joe needs your help keeping out of trouble with the referees! We need to keep them busy. Thanks to Joe, Roger, Bud, Sparky and all the sponsors for making it possible.

Also thanks to the newspapers for the excellent coverage. Both our local papers had reporters and photographers at the game replete with outstanding Wayne Maris pictures. Dalrymple's mug made both papers. DeShon, Mike J. & Jeremy made The Review. That's why we're showing Nunzio Lombardozzi & Jalen DeSarro here. We wanted them to have some face time too.

Go Tigers!

ole nib