The Game of Hope Returns To Beeghly Center Saturday

February 2nd, 2012

Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is presenting “The Game of Hope Charity Basketball Classic” on Saturday, February 4 at 4:30 p.m. at YSU’s Beeghly Center, proudly sponsored by Chesapeake Energy. The game, which raises money for chronically/terminally ill children so that they may have the experience generally afforded other healthy children, is open to the public with tickets $6 each.

This year, Jim Davis (Austintown Township Trustee & Board of Trustee-Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley) and Stan Boney (WYTV Evening News Anchor) will match coaching strategy as honorary head coaches for their respective teams. As in past years, both teams are comprised of local celebrities, dignitaries and media members from the area with the game set to be taped and broadcast on various cable outlets throughout Northeast Ohio on Sunday, Feb. 26.  Check  the official website for channel listings.

Those comprising “Team Boney” include Frank J. Lellio Jr, (Owner, Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home), Joe Schiavoni (State Senate-33rd district of Ohio), John Gocala Jr,. (Boardman Police Department), Ken Johnson (GM-V & M Star), Mary DeGenaro (Judge-Seventh District Court of Appeals), Nick Graham (Assistant Prosecutor-City of Warren), Pete Esparra (HM Partners-2012 Nominate A Player Honoree), Ray Housteau (The Amazing Race, Season 7), Stacie Cepin (Teacher/Basketball Coach-Austintown Local Schools), Timmy Bowser (YSU Student) & Tom Seifert (Minutemen Press).

Dr. Cynthia Anderson, President of Youngstown State University will Assist Team Boney, while Frank Frattaroli, director of marketing for the area Belleria Pizza chain will serve as Team Owner.

Team Davis consists of Amy Nilsson (Teacher-Howland Local Schools), Andrew Scarmack (Teacher-Austintown Local Schools), Bob Wolleben (CEO-Trumbull Memorial Hospital), Chris Jaskiewicz (COO-Evets Oil and Gas Construction), Deana Shade-Housteau (The Amazing Race, Season 7), Dorothy Bowers-Collins (Director-Eastern Gateway Community College), George Dimos (Owner-TanFastic Tanning Salon), Jeff Ryznar (VP-Phizzle, Inc), Matt Morrone (Assistant Athletic Director-YSU Athletics), and Shawn Jordan (Sports Reporter-My Valley Sports).

Assisting Team Davis as Assistant coach will be Dr. Laura Meeks, President of Eastern Gateway Community College with Rey Esparra, Director of Client Advocacy for GBS Computers serving as team owner.

Bob Hannon, CEO of the United Way of Youngstown/Mahoning Valley once again call the play-by-play with Chad Krispinsky, Sports Anchor, My Valley Sports and Lauran Lindvig (WFMJ Anchor) adding color commentary, while Chrissy Patrick from MIX 98.9 Morning Show will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the 4^rd straight year.

Pastor Michael Harrison from United Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio and Sarah Turner-National Recording Artist will preside over pre-game ceremonies.  In addition, the Hope Foundation will honor our Charter Class of Hall of Fame inductees – two highly recognizable names from YSU that are equated success in their respective sports. The charter class includes the late Dom Rosselli, former YSU men’s basketball and baseball coach and Ed DiGregorio, former YSU women’s basketball coach.

Other activities planned include performance by the Cheer Time Athletics Dance Teams; $5 for $50 half-court shot and visits from members of the 910^th Airlift Reserve Stations, Ronald McDonald, and mascots for all in attendance to enjoy. The event will also have its own concession stand during the event with part of the proceeds earmarked for the Game of Hope.

The event is proudly sponsored by television stations WKBN 27 First News & FOX Youngstown; WYTV & MyYTV; radio stations 95.9 KISS, 93.3 “THE WOLF” and News Radio 570 WKBN; UAW Locals 1112 & 1714; Refresh Dental, NEOEA (North Eastern Ohio Education Association); Time Warner Cable and the Lamar Advertising Company.

** Photos Courtesy of Ron Stevens

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YSU Men Bounce Back To Beat Milwaukee, 73-65, Behind Kendrick Perry’s 30

February 1st, 2012

Sophomore Kendrick Perry scored a career-high 30 points and led the Youngstown State men’s basketball team to a 73-65 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday evening at U.S. Cellular Arena.  Perry, who connected on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor and made four 3-pointers, is the first player to score 30 points since DeAndre Mays scored 30 in 2010 and the first sophomore to score at least 30 points since Mike Alcorn posted 35 points in 1992.

Senior DuShawn Brooks and junior Damian Eargle each scored 14 points while senior Ashen Ward grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.  With the win, the Guins improve to 12-9 overall and 7-4 in the Horizon Leauge and move into sole possession of third place in the league standings.

The 12 wins are the most since the 14 victories in 2006-07 and the seven league victories match a team high since joining the league in 2001-02. The Penguins won seven league games in 2006-07 and in 2008-09.

The Panthers led by one, 24-23, with five minutes left in the first half, but a 3-pointer by Nate Perry, a triple by Ward, and another 3-pointer by Nate Perry sparked a 9-0 run and put the Guins up, 32-24, with 2:53 to go.  Kendrick Perry, who scored 16 of his 30 points in the second half, canned three straight free throws to put the Guins up nine, 35-26, before a Paris Gulley tip-in with one second left cut the Penguins lead to 35-27 at the half.

YSU began the second half on an 8-2 run to built its lead to 13 points, 43-30, after a layup by Fletcher Larson with 17:12 to go.  After the Panthers cut the deficit to nine, Brooks, who scored 11 points in the second half, started an 13-5 run with a 3-pointer and ended it with a layup to give the Guins an 18-point lead, 61-43, with 6:48 remaining.  Milwaukee whittled the lead down to six, 67-61, with 1:55 to go, but two free throws by Perry, a dunk and two free throws by Eargle sealed the game for the Penguins.

YSU will continue their three-game road trip against UIC, Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.

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YSU Basketball Profiles: Kenya Middlebrooks

February 1st, 2012

The role players have arguably been responsible for the dramatic turnaround for this years Youngstown State Lady Penguins basketball team.  Everyone knew that Brandi Brown was good, and Coach Bob Boldon said at the beginning of the year that others will have to step up as teams sharpen their focus on shutting down Brown.  Kenya Middlebrooks, a senior, has done exactly that.  Middlebrooks now holds the record for three-pointers made in a game with eight treys and finished with 30 points against Detroit, not too shabby for a ‘role player’.

Paneech: Let’s start out by talking about this season.  Has it been as big a success as you and your fellow Lady Penguins would have hoped for?

Middlebrooks: I think that season has been a successful one because we have a little more experience.  This is the coaches second year and we were able to adapt to what he wants from us and pass that along to the incoming players.

Paneech: You played under Cindy Martin.  It was not a productive period in YSU basketball history.  Enter Coach Boldon, new assistants, and a new system.  How hard is it to buy in with a changing of the guard?

Middlebrooks: It’s very difficult because you went two years putting all of your trust into a coach and a system.  Our record did not reflect what we wanted to accomplish. With Coach Boldon, I kind of took on a different role and had to learn to shoot threes because that is what his system incorporates.  It was difficult to learn, but it is nice to see results.

Paneech: You mentioned three-pointers.  You have that big square net device that rebounds the ball and you shoot sometimes 100 of those threes toward that thing before or after any given practice.  Do you ever see that apparatus in your mind during a game?

Middlebrooks: (laughs) No, we don’t visualize it during a game.  We have a couple of different things that we use including that particular piece of equipment.  We also use a machine that will measure the arc of our shots to make sure we are getting the right amount of height on a shot.  I never really thought about arc a couple of years ago, it was more ‘shoot if you are open’, now we concentrate on threes because we are more reliant on them.

Paneech: How “in-tune” is this staff with the players? I know if I ask Coach Boldon why Brandi sneezed in the second half, he would give me an accurate and honest answer.

Middlebrooks: We are very in-tune.  This second year has been much easier.  We have gotten to know all of them a bit better during the offseason.  During the season, we work very hard with them on different drills.  I would say that we know them pretty good and they know us just as well.

Paneech: In high school, were you the best player on your team?  Also, do you think when people get to the college level that they can’t all be the best player on a team anymore?

Middlebrooks: I played my high school ball in Toledo and was a pretty decent player. It wasn’t really that difficult of a transition because when players get to the college level, I don’t feel that they come with a big ego.  You adapt to a role and the coaches tell you what contribution they expect from you.  I didn’t even know about this place when I was a senior in high school.  My head coach knew Bernard Scott and sent him a tape.  I came to see the campus and was offered a scholarship, who was I not to take it? (laughs)

Paneech: This team has been labeled by the Horizon League as a lemon.  Brandi Brown gets named Horizon League Preseason Player of The Year, and your team gets picked to finish last.  Winning games, the role players have been the difference, agree?

Middlebrooks: Brandi is always a key factor because we always get things going through her.  I don’t think it is an issue though, when our shots fall, we are winning games.  When they don’t fall, we have to get back in the gym and continue working on our shots.

Paneech: Who is your best friend on this team and why?

Middlebrooks: I call her ‘babe’, and she is Macey Nortey.  We have grown up together since freshman year in the dorms.  We have been through a lot as far as different coaching staffs and players coming after us and leaving before us.  She is my best friend, and I can tell her anything, I love her.

Paneech: What are your reflections of Youngstown State University?

Middlebrooks: I really love it here.  People say a lot of bad things about this area, but the campus is great, small enough that I can get to class pretty quickly and the weather is the same as Toledo.  There are a lot of different cultures here though and I have really enjoyed my time here.  My grades are in the A-B range, I will be graduating in May.  Then I will try to find a job in social work in the Youngstown area or Toledo.

Paneech: In the past, you had the famous obstruction on your face, the glasses.  Now that Heidi Schlegel and Kelsea Fickiesen are around with their face shields, has the pressure been removed?

Middlebrooks: I have worn the goggles since my freshman year of high school.  I have had plenty of time to adjust and everything is the same, I am used to them.  My last coach wanted me to wear contacts so bad, but I like to be a little different on the court and having the goggles on makes me different.

Paneech: It is a hard balance for today’s student athlete to keep the grades up and to keep the performance level up, a very demanding pair of requirements.  What is a typical day like?

Middlebrooks: Well, I wake up, go to class then go to practice and then get to back to class.  I then go to either the library or the lab in Cushwa to study.  I get done at about nine, then I head to the dorm and continue to do more work.  I am usually up until 11.  I call home everyday and I like to cook a lot.

Paneech: Yeah?  What do you like to cook?

Middlebrooks: Oh man… anything.  Beef stew, steaks, chicken, pork chops — just a whole bunch of fattening foods.  I like to cook greens and cornbread.

Paneech: What are you watching on television?

Middlebrooks: I have shows that I watch weekly or daily.  I watch Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy.  I like Jersey Shore, any real-world show.  I used to watch American Idol, but now I only watch when they have the auditions at the beginning.

Paneech: Interesting, Desperate Housewives.  So if you were to equate the characters on that show to people on your team and coaches you who would play what roles?

Middlebrooks: Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher) would be Heidi Schlegel.  Liz Hornberger would probably be Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross).  Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) is a tough one, I would say Tierra Jones could fit that role.  Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) would definitely be Brandi.  If you watch Brandi, she loves clothes, nails, all that stuff, just like Mrs. Solice.  Coach Boldon would probably fit the role of a Tom Scavo because he has kids and his life revolves around them and he loves them very much.  Coach Schrader loves to gossip, she is great, but she could be Mrs McClusky.

One Word Answers With Kenya Middlebrooks

Favorite Color: Purple.

Favorite Breakfast Food: Hot Pizza.

Fast Food Order: Smoky Bones – Smoked Wings, Ribs, Fries, and Cornbread.

Favorite Drink: Blue Gatorade.

Worst Class Here: Psychology.

Best Class Here: Human Behavior I & II.

Worst Habit: Biting My Nails.

NBA Player: Dwayne Wade.

Dream Destination: Jamaica.

One Bad Thing In The World Worth Changing: Homelessness.

Biggest Phobia: Snakes.

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YSU Men To Face Austin Peay In BracketBusters Game

January 31st, 2012

The Youngstown State men’s basketball team will visit Ohio Valley Conference member Austin Peay in the 2012 Sears BracketBusters announced on Monday evening.

The Penguins (11-9, 6-4 Horizon) and Governors (9-14, 6-4 OVC) have met 14 times while the Guins were members of the OVC, but have not faced each other since 1988.  Youngstown State owns an 8-6 advantage in the all-time series but the Governors have won the last four meetings.  YSU has not won in Clarksville, Tenn., since a 62-57 victory on Feb. 16, 1984.

The Penguins own a 4-4 record in BracketBusters games and are 1-0 against the Ohio Valley Conference, defeating Eastern Kentucky, 66-61, on Feb. 17, 2007.

Dates and times for the game will be announced at a later date, but the location is set, as well as the matchup.

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YSU Men Hit The Road For A Few

January 31st, 2012

The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (11-9, 6-4 Horizon League) embarks on its longest trek of the season – a seven-day, three-game road trip – when it visits Milwaukee, Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast on 570 WKBN-AM.

This is the 31st meeting between Youngstown State and Milwaukee in an all-time series that dates back to 1972. Milwaukee leads the series 24-6. The Guins snapped a four-game losing streak to the Panthers with a 68-66 win on Jan. 20 at the Beeghly Center. The last time the Penguins won in Milwaukee was a 68-65 win on Dec. 10, 2006. The last time YSU swept the season series against Milwaukee was during the 2006-07 season.

After Milwaukee, the Penguins travel to UIC for a Thursday night game.  The road trip ends on Sunday with a game at Loyola which tips off at 2 p.m.

If the Penguins are to have any shot at winning the Horizon League, they need to win at least two out of these three games as Butler and Valparaiso loom next week for a pair of big home games.

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Cleveland State Cruises Past Cold-Shooting Youngstown State, 67-47

January 29th, 2012

In front of the fourth largest crowd in the history of the Beeghly Center (6,311), Youngstown State couldn’t get synchronized and fell to Cleveland State, 67-47.  The Vikings played great defense and the Penguins, as Coach Jerry Slocum said at the post-game press conference, ‘self-imploded’.  The Penguins struggled mightily from behind the arc in this one, going 4-24.

“We got beat in every facet of this game tonight”, said Slocum.  ”I don’t think we handled the moment very well.  We played outside of our basketball IQ and they didn’t play any different than they did the first time.”

In the first half, things were tight with Cleveland State holding a 15-12 lead with eight minutes played.  The Vikings would close out the half with a 26-7 run to establish a commanding 41-19 lead at the half.  Cleveland State applied full-court pressure almost the entire first half, which didn’t seem to bother YSU as much as the Penguins struggling to run their normal half-court sets in half the time.

Only five Penguins, the starters, (Damian Eargle, Ashen Ward, DuShawn Brooks, Kendrick Perry and Blake Allen) scored in the first half.  The Penguins were a dismal 2-14 from behind the arc.  Conversely, Cleveland State was hot, nailing 6-8 long balls.  Trevon Harmon and Anton Grady had nine and eight points respectively for the Vikings in the first half.

In the second half, Cleveland State kept their foot on the gas pedal.  With 11:28 to go in the contest, the Vikings were firmly in control of the game with a 56-35 lead.  The tremendous half-court defense of the Vikings was forcing YSU into taking a lot of shots they normally would not.  The game would also evolve into a very physical battle with plenty of hard fouls, pushing, and shoving.

YSU sliced the CSU lead to 17 when Kendrick Perry hit a ten-footer to make it a 58-41 game with 7:17 remaining. The Vikings were able to weather the storm and recover before Slocum emptied the YSU bench with about three minutes to play.

“Our big wins did not make our year”, remarked Slocum.  ”Last week when we beat Milwaukee, I told you that it would not make our year.  This loss will not break our year.  Give them credit, they are a very good team, but our play tonight didn’t help our chances.”

Cleveland State (18-4, 8-2) got 10 points from Harmon, 8 each from Pogue and Charlie Lee, and Anton Grady had a big night scoring 14 points and pulling down 11 boards.  The Vikings clamped a stronger grip on first place in the Horizon League with the win.  Furthermore, the Vikings nullified YSU’s win earlier this season at Cleveland State.

“We came in with a chip on our shoulder”, said the Vikings Jeremy Montgomery.  ”We knew we had to stay focused on defense and keep the pressure on to shake things up.  Our full-court pressure forced them into quicker sets and that is what we drew up for this game.”

YSU, suffering one of their poorest shooting efforts of the season, got 11 points from  Allen, and ten each from Perry and Eargle.  Eargle also recorded five blocks in the contest.  The Penguins slipped to 11-9, and 6-4 in the Horizon League.

Youngstown State hits the road to face Loyola, UIC, and Milwaukee.

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YSU Rallies From 15 Down To Force Overtime, But Wright State Gets Win, 71-66

January 28th, 2012

An integral part of any athletic program turning around for the better depends on consistency.  Granted, the Youngstown State Lady Penguins have taken steps in the right direction all season.  Second-year coach, Bob Boldon and staff have initiated a strong offense where the three-point shot has been a source of good things.  Wright State needed overtime to claim a 71-66 win after the Penguins roared back late to tie things up, once down 15.

“I thought we gave a good effort”, said Coach Boldon.  ”That was a good team sitting all alone in second place.  The energy was real good and I was happy our kids had a chance to play in that kind of atmosphere.”

In the first half, the Penguins struggled in the latter portion with their shooting.  Seemed like every shot hoisted was clanging and the Guins had trouble even getting shots off a couple of times turning the ball over on shot clock violations.  Brandi Brown was the leading scorer for YSU at the break, that comes as no surprise.  What does jump out was that as her teams leading scorer she only had four points and no one was tied with her.  Kim Demmings paced Wright State with five points and the Raiders were ahead 26-22 at the break.

In the second half, the Penguins showed signs of life on threes by Monica Touvelle and Kenya Middlebrooks to cut into a lead that grew to twelve after the break.  With 11:57 left to go in the game, the Raiders were comfortably ahead, 47-36.  Molly Fox started to establish inside dominance after being hit with an offensive foul and three traveling calls in the first half.  Fox completed a traditional three-point play to lengthen the margin to twelve points at 48-36.

Middlebrooks, shaking off a sluggish first half that consisted of going 0-4 from the floor and five turnovers,  collected her second three-pointer of the second half to make it 51-39.  Kelsea Fickiesen snared a rebound on offense and and was fouled making the putback, completing a three-point play that made it 51-41 with 8:45 to play.  Fickiesen would hit another three that made it a 53-47 game after a good defensive effort.  Demmings responded with a 15-foot jumper to give Wright State back a 55-47 lead with 6:45 remaining.

Heidi Schlegel did her best to keep the Penguins alive converting a three-point play with 2:27 to go that made it 57-54 in favor of Wright State.  Brown got a rebound with 27 seconds left but the Penguins could not convert trailing 59-57.  The Raiders inbounded and Demmings was fouled immediately.  Macey Nortey started a drive at the opposing baseline and in 7.9 of the 8.3 seconds that remained, got to the other end and hit a layup to tie the game and force overtime.

“We would have thrown up the white flag in the past”, commented Nortey.  ”We don’t do that anymore.  We learn something each game, win or lose, and if we guard the way we know how, we can compete.”

In the overtime, Demmings took over hitting two quick baskets to put Wright State ahead, 63-59.  With 3:339 left in the extra session, Middlebrooks was fouled and hit a pair of charity tosses to make it 63-61.  Nortey again went the length of the court on a fastbreak to tie the game.  Demmings, however, responded with a three to untie the game.  Fox was whistled for fouling Brown with 1:39 left, sending her to the line, where she hit both free throws to tie the game at 66 apiece.  Not to be outdone, Demmings converted another old-fashioned three-point play to give the Raiders a 69-66 lead with 38.5 seconds remaining.

Brown (above) finished the game with 11 points and 8 rebounds for YSU (9-11, 3-6).  Melissa Thompson followed up a career-effort with another decent start for Boldon, finishing with 8 points.  Schlegel came to life late to finish with 10.  Middlebrooks ended up with 10 points and did well to put aside her shaky first half, showing good composure to mentally regroup at halftime and produce in the second half.  The Penguins went 12-46 from three-point land, second all-time in attempts.

Wright State got 14 points and 10 rebounds from Fox and 25 big points from Demmings.  The Raiders improved to 14-7 overall and 7-2 in the Horizon League.

Next up for the Lady Penguins is a February 2 game against Valparaiso at the Beeghly Center.  Tipoff is set for 7:05.

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Phantoms Get Big 3-2 Win Over Dubuque In Front Of Good Crowd

January 28th, 2012

The Youngstown Phantoms have been pining for an audience to support them for three seasons now.  Friday night, thanks to ‘YSU night’, a winning record, and some good promotions, the Zoldan family got a taste of what the potential can be.  Matt O’Connor turned away 40 shots and the Youngstown Phantoms dazzled a crowd of well over 3,500 with a 3-2 win.  The crowd was loud for most of the game and made a big adrenaline push for the home team.

“Having the big crowd was awesome”, commented Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen.  ”We fed off of them and they fed off of us and it is the kind of crowd we would like to duplicate.  I always tell people that watching a game on TV does the sport of hockey no justice and to see a game live.”

In the first period, Dubuque (20-11-3) scored 7:42 into the game.  Jono Davis beat O’Connor to put the Fighting Saints ahead 1-0.  Davis gathered the puck in front of the crease and basically danced around O’Connor beating him glove side with a nifty move.

The Phantoms retaliated when Austin Cangelosi found the back of the net for his 16th goal of the season.  Michael Gunn and Mike Ambrosia picked up assists.  Cangelosi received a real nice feed as they broke into the Dubuque zone and made Fighting Saints goaltender, Matt Morris, pay by beating him.  The game-tying goal came with 4:58 left in the first period.

In the second period, the Phantoms offense came to life.  Todd Koritzinsky broke out of the Phantoms zone and fired about ten feet beyond the blue line to beat Morris and give the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.  Koritzinsky’s goal was unassisted and was his fourth of the season.

The Phantoms increased their lead to 3-1 when Ryan Belonger scored at close range with exactly three minutes left to play in the third period.  Koritzinsky, having a very productive night, notched his second point of the game with an assist on the even-strength goal.

The stat that no one would believe was that after two periods, the Phantoms had three goals on just 12 shots.  The Fighting Saints had 33 shots and only one goal.  O’ Connor really made some tremendous saves for the Phantoms during the second period.

In the third period, the Phantoms (21-12-3) killed a couple of penalties.  In fact, Dubuque only had one shot on goal through both man advantages, the defense and special teams really stepped it up.  The Phantoms seemed content to work the clock as they were offensively dumping and chasing in the Dubuque zone.  The Fighting Saints were scurrying around and taking urgent chances and cut the deficit to 3-2, but got no closer.  Dubuque outshot Youngstown, 42-21.

“This probably wouldn’t even be in the top half of the games we have played this season”, said Noreen.  ”Matt [O'Connor] was unbelievable and on a night that we didn’t give him a ton of offensive support, he was able to put this team on his back and won the game.”

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