Columbiana rolls past visiting Youngstown Valley Christian 54-17 at Clippers’ gym
COLUMBIANA — Columbiana, the No. 2-ranked team in the latest mahoningmatters.com girls basketball poll, remained unbeaten after rolling past visiting Youngstown Valley Christian 54-17 in a running clock game Thursday evening in the Clippers’ gym.
With the win, the Clippers improved their area-best record to 10-0 overall and they continue to lead the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference standings with a 4-0 ledger. Columbiana is the defending co-champion in the EOAC after finishing 20-4 overall and 12-2 in the league last winter.
With the setback, Valley Christian is now 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the EOAC.
Columbiana, which sports the best defensive average in the Mahoning Valley, wasted no time setting the tempo. The Clippers jumped out to a 20-3 lead after one period and never looked back. Columbiana is only surrendering an average of 23.2 points-per-game this season. That includes giving up less than 10 points to two of their first 10 opponents and less than 20 points in four of its other outings.
As it has done all season, the Clippers featured outstanding offensive balance in the scoring column. Ava Heinrich and Annah Clemmer led the winners and tied for game-scoring honors with 12 points apiece, while teammate Evy Rapp added 11 markers. Ellie Venezia added seven points and Sydney Spaite finished with six markers.
“We’ve been blessed to have four contributors a game pretty much in double figures,” said highly-successful Columbiana girls basketball coach Dave Crismon. “It seems like we’re sharing the ball really well. One night when one girl is not doing well, we have somebody who steps up.”
The Clippers hit four three-pointers in the game, including two each by Heinrich and Spaite.
Leading Valley Christian was Na’Ariyah Graham with eight points, while teammate Aa’Liyah Underwood ended with four markers.
Columbiana held first-half quarter-stop leads of 20-3 and 39-9 and initiated a running clock midway through the third quarter when Heinrich converted a layup with 5:10 showing in the frame, as the hosts took a 47-11 advantage.
Columbiana, which substituted freely throughout the contest, took its largest lead of the contest at 41 points (52-11) after Annah Clemmer hit a layup late in the third quarter.
“We’ve had a sophomore (Clemmer) that came in this year and (replaced) one of our seniors who tore their ACL and she’s stepped up,” praised Crismon.
With backups playing much of the fourth quarter, the Clippers closed out the 37-point (54-17) triumph.
“It’s been a total team effort and really good balance,” observed the Columbiana mentor. “I’m super proud of them. They’ve bought in and sold out and that’s kind of our mantra, and that’s what they’ve done.”
There was no junior varsity game.
Columbiana travels to Lisbon Friday for an EOAC game with the Blue Devils.
“Right now we’re just focused on one game at a time, trying to win our league and see what happens from there,” stated Crismon.
Valley Christian returns to action Monday hosting the Leetonia Bears in EOAC action.