Ohio high school boys basketball scores | Stark's big day at Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic
MASSILLON — The Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic — featuring assorted area high school boys basketball teams — proved quite successful Saturday for Stark County. Stark teams went 5-1. Central Catholic and Canton South won early. Hoover knocked off defending state champion Hoban, which went 0-2 in Stark County over the weekend. GlenOak overcame a key injury to beat Mentor, and host Massillon beat 2023 regional-finalist Walsh Jesuit in the finale.
Here's recaps on each of the games:
Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic scores
Central Catholic 43, Mogadore 41 | FINAL
Canton South 61, Dalton 51 | FINAL
Lake 58, Ashland 68 | FINAL
Hoban 39, Hoover 48 | FINAL
Mentor 73, GlenOak 82 | FINAL
Massillon 66, Walsh Jesuit 60 | FINAL
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Massillon 66, Walsh Jesuit 60
The Massillon boys basketball team showed its home crowd on Saturday that Washington High School is more than just a football school. The Tigers knocked off Walsh Jesuit 66-60 in the final game of the Hardwood City Hall of Fame Classic on its home court.
Walsh Jesuit entered the game returning 10 seniors and three starters from a squad that reached the regional finals last season.
“This is a really good win for us,” Massillon head coach Josh Hose said. “They are a well coached and experienced group. For us to come out rotating in two freshman and two sophomores and win, is really big for us.”
Chris Knight led the way for Massillon with 19 points. Knight made a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left that gave the Tigers a 62-60 lead. Jadyce Thigpen and Jalen Slaughter each made two free throws the rest of the way to seal the win.
“We couldn’t get off to a better start than 3-0,” Hose said. “We got off to a late start because of our state championship football team and some of those guys are still getting their basketball legs under them.”
Thigpen added 18 points for Massillon. Gio Jackson was also in double figures for the Tigers with 10 points.
Joe Sitarz led Walsh with 19 points. Tyler Bell added 14 points for Walsh. Sean Spicer also chipped in 11 points.
Player of the Game - Chris Knight, Massillon, jr.
Knight made the biggest shot of the night by burying a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining and a defender desperately trying to close out with a hand in his face. His consistent effort help keep the Tigers ahead for nearly the entire game. “I’m feeling really good right now,” Knight said. “This was a great team win. This was really good for us. My teammates and coaches really set me up nicely on that 3-point shot to put us ahead. All of them put me in a good spot. I have to give them the credit.”
Three numbers to remember
4: The number of 3 pointers the Tigers survived from Sitarz. He had the hot hand for Walsh and seemed incapable of missing from deep at times.
8: The number of practices Massillon had with its entire team available since football season. Jadyce Thigpen showed up to practice the day after the Tigers won the state title in football. Slaughter started the following Monday on picture day.
14: The number of first-half points scored by Thigpen. He was key to helping Massillon build a 19-13 lead after the first quarter and letting others ease into the game.
They said it
Massillon head coach Josh Hose on Chris Knight’s impact on the Tigers: “Chris really puts a lot of work in. You can’t question his work ethic and the results of all the time he put in over the offseason is really starting to show.”
Hose on working Massillon football players such as Thigpen and Slaughter into the mix late in the practice process: “We started off with one group of kids for three or four weeks and then all of a sudden you get some new pieces overnight that you need to work in. There is always an adjustment period but things are coming along well. The basketball season is a marathon and not a sprint, so luckily we have time to work things out.”
Knight on how he feels about Massillon’s 3-0 start to the season: “It’s big for us and it means a lot. The basketball team sometimes gets overlooked because of how successful our football team is. I think this is the year the basketball team starts to get some credit. It’s been a really fun process so far and we’re really connecting with each other as a team.”
GlenOak 82, Mentor 73
It would have been easy for the GlenOak boys basketball team to falter. The Golden Eagles lost their starting point guard Bryce Broom to a head injury in the first quarter. They lost the lead shortly after that and fell behind by five points at halftime.
There would be no packing it in for GlenOak. Not with senior Ja’Corey Lipkins on the court. Lipkins scored 24 points on the way to helping the Golden Eagles secure a hard fought 82-73 win.
“Anytime you can get a win over a program like Mentor, it’s a quality win,” GlenOak head coach Rick Hairston said. “They are always competitive and seem to make deep tournament runs every year. They have a lot of Division II (college) recruits on that team. We did a great job of being resilient.”
Much of that resiliency game from Lipkins. He took over as the primary ball handler for GlenOak and did a tremendous job of making quick decisions in transition.
“When he gets it going like that, we are going to be tough to beat,” Hairston said. “He is one of the best players in the area off the dribble and he had a hell of a game for us tonight.”
Lipkins thoughts were with his teammate Broom, who was taken from the venue at halftime.
“We wanted to come out and win this game for him in the second half,” Lipkins said. “It’s tough to see a teammate go down like that. He makes everything easier when he is in the game.”
Sophomore Issa White gave GlenOak quality minutes in the absence of Broom. White scored 13 points for the Golden Eagles. Junior Reese Zerger added 15 points for GlenOak.
Findlay recruit Ian Ioppolo was the leading scorer for Mentor with 30 points. Walsh University recruit Matt Biddell scored 22 points for the Cardinals.
Player of the Game - Ja’Corey Lipkins, GlenOak, sr.
Lipkins was everywhere for GlenOak. Whether it was beating defenders off the dribble, finishing in traffic or making slick passes, everything seemed to flow through him offensively on Saturday. “I’m just excited we were able to bounce back after a tough loss to McKinley on Thursday,” Lipkins said. “We battled through adversity tonight and found a way to win.”
Three numbers to remember
6: The number of points GlenOak guard Bryce Broom scored in the first quarter before exiting after a head injury. Broom looked to be on his way to a big game before leaving.
7: The number of baskets 6-foot-5 junior Reese Zerger scored out of the post for GlenOak. Zerger showcased polished, smooth movements down low and an ability to finish through contact against quality competition.
28: The number of points GlenOak scored in the third quarter. The offensive outburst helped erase a five-point third quarter deficit and give the Golden Eagles a 64-54 lead going into the fourth quarter.
They said it:
GlenOak head coach Rick Hairston giving an update on Broom’s condition: “He left at halftime. The lights in the gym were really starting to bother him. His family took him home. We should know more next week.”
Hairston on the post play of Zerger: “That was a really good example of what he gives you. You might think he leaks out a lot on offense but when you look at the tape, it’s not what is happening. He moves really well. He runs the floor like a gazelle. When he takes off and gets in position, he is tough to stop.”
Hairston on competing in the Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic: “It’s a great experience. I’m really happy we are a part of it again. It’s a quality event and every year we get are invited, I can tell you that we will be accepting.”
Ja’Corey Lipkins on GlenOak having to find a way to fill in for Broom during the game: “It’s tough. The next man has to step up in that scenario. Our bench did a tremendous job under tough circumstances tonight.”
Hoover 48, Hoban 39
It was an impressive display of grit on the second day of a back-to-back for Hoover. The Vikings used tenacious defense to limit an athletic Hoban team to 12 points in the second half on the way to earning a 48-39 win.
“I’m happy with this performance,” Hoover head coach Mike Bluey said. “Especially coming off a tough Federal League loss to Green (51-40) just last night. It was nice to see us turn around and have a night like this.”
Junior Zac Bracher finished as the leading scorer for Hoover with 13 points. Gage Wagoner contributed 12 points for the Vikings.
“There are still some things we need to clean up,” Bluey said. “We got a little loose with the basketball late. Overall, we did a good job of maintaining our defensive awareness. We did a good job of playing smart.”
Hoban was led by 6-foot-3 senior Jonas Nicholas with a game-high 17 points. The Knights were minus injured seniors Sam Mazzola (ankle) and Kenny Scott (wrist).
Hoban also was playing a back-to-back. The Knights fell to Louisville 79-51 on Friday.
“It’s been a tough couple of days,” Hoban head coach TK Griffith said. “Coach Bluey had his team well prepared as always tonight. Our desire to win was evident. We just didn’t make the right play at the right times. We were giving good effort. I think getting some of our key injured players back will help.”
Player of the Game - Zac Braucher, Hoover, jr.
Braucher led Hoover with 13 points and rarely came off the floor for the Vikings on Saturday. He also played a strong game defensively. “He’s one of our most consistent guys night in and night out,” Bluey said. “He did a good job of getting after it on both ends of the floor tonight.”
Three numbers to remember
0: The number of practices Hoban has had this season with its entire starting lineup available.
2: The number of 3-pointers that Hoban was held to by the Hoover defense.
3: The biggest lead Hoover held at the end of a quarter prior to the fourth quarter. The Vikings outscored the Knights 12-6 in the final period to finally pull away.
They said it
Hoover head coach Mike Bluey on where he feels his team is at to this point in the season: “We’re in a good spot. We’d like to be doing a little better in the Federal League but we have a young team that is continuing to get experience. I like where we are sitting. We have a lot of room for improvement and this is a group is embracing the process.”
Hoban head coach TK Griffith on not having his full starting lineup available for one practice this season: “These games are kind of like practices for us. We haven’t had the whole team together yet. We could use a good four or five practices with everybody to synch everything up but at some point you have to stop using the injuries and the late start (Hoban’s football team reached the state championship game) as an excuse. You need to figure out a way. Expectations are high for us. Fair or not, we have to try to live up to that.”
Ashland 68, Lake 58
The Ashland boys basketball team has admittedly struggled with free throws at times this season. It was not the case Saturday. The Arrows made 10 of 12 free throws in the final 1:07 to secure a 68-58 victory over Lake.
“It’s been something we’ve had some issues with this season,” Ashland head coach Jason Hess said. “I was glad to see us show some consistency in that area today.”
Sophomore Gabe Baith went 6-of-6 from the free throw line during that time. He led Ashland with 18 points.
Paxon Ediger was 4-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute. Ediger had 11 points. Ashland also got 15 points from 6-foot-5 sophomore Nathan Bernhard.
Will Koehl was the leading scorer for Lake with 17 points. Josh Coffield added 13 points for the Blue Streaks.
Player of the Game - Gabe Baith, Ashland
The sophomore was a thorn in Lake’s side all game long. His consistency and poise helped the Arrows stick with the Blue Streaks all game long. He led Ashland with 18 points. “He played a great game,” Hess said. “He’s only a sophomore but he has showed a lot of ability to score. We were able to keep him out of foul trouble and it was nice to be able to get him the ball late when we were going to the free throw line.”
Three numbers to remember
2: The number of points Ashland held Lake’s Will Koehl to in the second half. Koehl did a number on the Arrows in the first half with 15 points.
3: The total number of seniors on the Ashland roster. The top three scorers for the Arrows were all sophomores Saturday.
4: The biggest lead a team had through the first three quarters, and it belonged to Ashland when the Arrows took a 49-45 advantage into the fourth quarter.
They said it
Ashland head coach Jason Hess on the number of sophomores playing key roles for the Arrows this season: “It’s still early and we are improving each game. With four sophomores playing key roles, there are times we struggle with consistency. We played hard today and got stops when we needed them. We’ve got a lot of room to grow.”
Hess on the experience of playing against Lake in the Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic: “It was an exciting game. The tempo was fast paced. Both teams played with a lot of energy and effort. It was nice to be able to come out and compete in an event like this.”
Canton South 61, Dalton 51
It only took a bad first quarter to catch Canton South’s attention. The Wildcats made sure to show all in attendance at the Hall of Fame City Hardwood Classic who they really were the rest of the way.
South overcame a 14-point first quarter deficit to down Dalton 61-51 in Saturday's second game.
“We knew we had to pressure Dalton,” South head coach Luke Conley said. “You can’t let them get comfortable and we were doing that. I kind of lit into the kids after the first quarter and they picked it up. They were able to get the momentum and they never really let it go.”
Jack “Poochie” Snyder and Tavon Castle led the way for South with 18 points each. The pair managed that despite having only a handful of basketball practices after helping the Wildcat football team reach the state semifinals.
“We’ve had just 12 total practices with the full team,” Conley said. “We’re still learning how to play together. ... We know there are areas we have to improve on and that we are not our best version of ourselves right now. I will say that when everything comes together I think the sky will be the limit for us.”
Julius Kimbrough added 14 points for South in the win. Coy Wenger was Dalton’s leading scorer with 15 points.
Player of the Game - Jack “Poochie" Snyder, Canton South
The senior All-Ohio quarterback in football showcased his well-rounded basketball game in the win over Dalton. He made two 3-pointers and was equally adept attacking the rim. He tied Castle for the team lead with 18 points. “I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates,” Snyder said. “I felt there were times when T (Castle) really sparked us. Our bench also stepped up for us.”
Three numbers to remember
3: The number of days off that Snyder and Castle had off after the football season before starting basketball practice. “It may not have even been that long,” Castle said. “We were back in the gym the Monday after the loss to Glenville in football.”
12: The most points South allowed Dalton to score in a quarter after allowing 22 points in the first quarter.
20: The number of wins the South boys basketball team is hoping to exceed this season. “We believe we are capable of that,” Snyder said. “If we continue to improve defensively I think we can make that happen.”
They said it
South head coach Luke Conley on how the team is coming together despite a limited number of practices: “We know we can score. The big thing that needs to come together for us is timing and execution. Those are things that should improve as we have more time together.”
Conley on the relationship between Snyder and Castle: “They play well off of each other. Both of them are incredibly competitive. They help keep the tempo up and pressure up defensively. They were our leading scorers last year and have been again so far this year.”
Tavon Castle on switching so quickly from football to basketball: “It’s hard. I’ve been finding that I have been getting a little tired easier. You have a few more breaks in football in between plays.”
Central Catholic 43, Mogadore 41
When a Mogadore shot at the buzzer from behind the 3-point line hit the front of the rim with a clank and fell harmlessly to the floor, Central Catholic could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Crusaders had their second win in less than 12 hours and third of the week.
Central (3-2) defeated the Wildcats 43-41 in the opening game early Saturday afternoon, just hours after beating Perry 54-51 Friday night.
"The kids gutted it out," Central head coach Matt Creamer said. "We made a lot of big shots down the stretch against a well-coached team. I just have to give the kids a lot of credit for battling through this one."
Luke Vlacovsky led the way for Central with 16 points and made two free throws with 28.2 seconds left to help seal the win for the Crusaders.
"It feels great to come out with the win," Vlacovsky said. "It was a tough game but I never doubted our ability to find a way to win. I was always confident in that."
For a while it looked as though Mogadore might be on its way to spoiling a strong Central effort. A 17-point third quarter gave Mogadore a 30-26 lead going into the final period.
"We had to flip the switch no matter how tired we were," Vlacovsky said. "We just came out for the forth quarter and got after it and everything clicked."
Layne Miller led Mogadore with 14 points before fouling out. Devin Graham also contributed 13 points for the Wildcats.
Player of the game - Luke Vlacovsky, Central Catholic
The junior leading scorer with 16 points for Central and did not come off the floor. Vlacovsky added two steals and a rebound for the Crusaders in a strong all-around effort. "Luke did a great job today," Creamer said. "He works really hard. In fact, he may be one of the hardest workers I've ever had." Vlacovsky totaled 50 points in the three wins this week.
Three numbers to remember
12.2: The amount of time left on the clock when Easton Miller scored the final point of the game. His made free throw gave the Crusaders a two-point advantage down the stretch.
13: The number of points Lance Vlacovsky contributed off the bench for Central. Lance Vlacovsky was clutch in the fourth quarter, delivering two 3-pointers and two made free throws. Mogadore managed just four points off the bench as a team.
17: The number of points scored by Central in the fourth quarter. It was the most scored in a period for the day for the Crusaders despite it being Central's second game in 12 hours.
They said it
Central head coach Matt Creamer on making some defensive adjustments in the fourth quarter with new personnel: "It can be a little bit like hockey for us. Sometimes a new shift comes out to give us a different look. We like to put Chace Johnson and William Minor out there. They can both defend well along the perimeter and inside."
Creamer on returning to the Massillon gym: "It's always fun to be back. Being in the gym brought back a lot of memories. I look up at the banners and see a lot of names and some numbers. A lot of those were from my time here." Creamer spent 15 years as the head coach of the Tigers during his career.
Luke Vlackovsky on the performance of his brother Lance off the bench: "He came out and stepped up in a big way today."
Stark County High School Basketball: 'Didn't look good, but it went in': Chavers wins it for Canton McKinley vs. GlenOak in OT
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Massillon's Hardwood Classic boys basketball scores, recaps
