By Bob Evans
Sports Editor
March 8, 2010
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| Kristian Cross, Carrollton’s leading scorer against Steubenville, goes hard to the bucket against Big Red’s Shaquil Petteway (5) |
ST. CLAIRSVILLE - The Carrollton boys basketball team led from start to finish in defeating Steubenville Big Red 59-53 in the Ohio University Eastern Sectional championship game last Saturday night in front of a large Carrollton crowd at St. Clairsville.
“The fans have been tremendous, especially during the tournament” said Carrollton head coach Matt Voll. “We are very thankful for their support and spirit.”
The Warriors, who improved to 16-6 for the year, will play a one-game district contest Thursday night at OU against Meadowbrook at 7 p.m.
Meadowbrook defeated Coshocton 61-46 in the second game. Big Red bows out of tournament play with an 11-11 record.
“It wasn’t our best performance by far, but we will take it,” said Voll, who has led the Warriors to three sectional championships. “ I thought our defense and rebounding was solid versus an athletic team like Steubenville. ”
The Warriors had a lot of good looks at the basket, but many didn’t fall. But what they lacked offensively they made up for defensively.
“We had some good looks and most nights those shots fall, but tonight it was about our ability to compete on the boards and fight for loose balls. Our guys gave a winning effort and I am very proud of them.”
The Warriors got 24 points and nine rebounds from 6-foot-4 junior center Kristian Cross.
“Kristian got in the flow early and often. Good things happen when he finishes his post moves at the hoop,” said Voll.
Junior guard Robbie Smith added 10 points, while senior forward Luke Starre came off of the bench to chip in with eight points.
Carrollton hit 22-of-62 action shots and 13-of-25 free throws.
The Warriors led 18-8 after the first quarter, 31-21 at halftime and 44-31 going into the final eight minutes of play.
Dwight Macon paced Big Red with a game-high 25 points.
From the floor, Big Red sank 20-of-59 action shots and 8-of-14 free throw attempts.
Carrollton 59, Steubenville 53
St. Clairsville Division II
STEUBENVILLE: Trey Jones 5-0-12, Shaquil Petteway 1-0-3, Dwight Macon 9-6 25, T. J. DeChristopher 3-0-7, Anthony Pierro 0-2-2, DeMichael Johnson 2-0-4. Totals 20, 8-14 53.
CARROLLTON: Johnny Lowdermilk 1-2-4, Tyler Sheets 1-0-2, Kristian Cross 10-4-24, Luke Starre 4-0-8, Robbie Smith 3-2-10, Chris Ericksen 0-5-5, Stephen Ericksen 1-0-2, A. J. Dalton 2-0-4. Totals 22, 13-25 59.
STEUBENVILLE: 8 13 10 22 - 53
CARROLLTON: 18 13 13 15 - 59
Three-point goals - Jones 2, Smith 2, Petteway, Macon, DeChristopher. |
