Thu Mar 11 2010
by Steve Batko
Correspondent
For head coach Dave Close, it was nice to see his Stow boys basketball team collect a pair of wins on the road on back-to-back days.
Stow, 8-5 overall as of press time, bested Parma Heights Valley Forge (4-10) 72-44 on Jan. 29 and turned around and won 59-48 at Copley (2-13) the next day.
Close realizes that these clubs are down this winter, but the wins showed the team's toughness as the Bulldogs prep for the Division I post season.
It also helps that the latter victory was on the court where Stow has its annual site for the sectional-district tournament.
Defense was again key for Stow, which has won four out of its last five games and eight-of-10. That's how Close wants to head into the Copley post season.
Of course, it didn't hurt Stow that 6-foot-3 senior off guard Aaron Stefanov is getting hot from the perimeter.
Stefanov poured in 15 first half points at Copley and finished with a game-high 19. In the win at Valley Forge, Stefanov exploded for 26 points.
Senior sidekick Blake Williams also got hot from long range as he followed Stefanov's five 3-point outing against Valley Forge with five triples of his own at Copley.
A pair of treys by Williams helped Stow push its lead to 25-12 over Copley, but the Indians answered with a 10-5 spurt to cut the lead to 30-22 at the half.
Copley's Jordan Burke (14 points, eight boards) nailed two quick hoops to start the second half, but that was as close as the Indians would get.
Williams finished with 15 points while 6-foot-5 junior post Ryan Yurkschatt played strong in the paint with 13 points and seven caroms.
Junior center Mike Garrison added nine points and snagged 10 rebounds. Sophomore Jim Scelza added two free throws, senior Kevin Podnar added a free throw and six boards, while sophomore David Walker dished out five assists.
In upcoming action, Stow hosts archrival Cuyahoga Falls Feb. 9 and plays at Hudson Feb. 12.
Final results of the Feb. 5 home tilt against North Royalton were not available of press time.
Stow is 3-2 in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division.
Not only did Stefanov score often against a Valley Forge zone, but he had a nice floor game with seven rebounds and four assists.
Garrison, who is 6-foot-7, was a force in the paint against the Patriots as he had 10 points and snagged a career-high 17 rebounds.
One of the highlights was that senior point guard Tyler Hawkins returned to action from an injury for Stow.
Scelza popped in 11 points on the strength of three treys, while Williams netted 10 points, including two triples. Podnar and Walker each added five points, while Yurkschatt had four.
Junior forward David O'Neill added a charity toss for the Bulldogs.
E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Stowsentry.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications