Carrollton basketball teams deliver late-game drama

It’s nice to know that some things don’t change.

Last year, during their run to a share of the Eastern Buckeye Conference title and a 20-win season, the Carrollton Warriors gave fans plenty of heart-pounding moments. It appears that even with 80% of last year’s starters gone, Carrollton can still raise the pulse with late-game theatrics.

Such was the case Dec. 2 when Tusky Valley visited for a nonconference matchup that also served as the Warriors’ home opener.

Trailing by seven points with only 53 seconds left, Carrollton stormed back and forced overtime when Marcus Brooks drained a 3-pointer off a baseline out-of-bounds pass with just 0.7 seconds remaining.

The Warriors took command midway through OT, building a five-point lead with two minutes to go. True to form, they found themselves down one with 45 seconds left before Brooks hit another key basket to put Carrollton ahead 59-58. With nine seconds left, Hunter Allison sealed the 61-58 win with a steal and score.

Tayvian Johnson led Carrollton (2-0) with a career-high 31 points. Brooks also posted a personal best with 21, and Allison grabbed 10 rebounds as the Warriors held a 42-29 advantage on the boards. Cole Kuykendall scored 17 for Tusky Valley (0-1).

Girls basketball

Carrollton extended its winning streak to three after a season-opening loss to Tri-Valley, highlighted by the Warriors’ first EBC win of the year.

On Dec. 3, the Warriors opened conference play with a 67-46 road win over Marlington (1-3, 0-1). Kylie Ujcich led Carrollton with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Ujcich was one of four Warriors in double figures. Emma Shafer scored 14, Kamryn Shaw added 11 and Ivy Bishop had 10. Bishop led Carrollton with seven rebounds, while Shaw grabbed six.

Carrollton returned home Dec. 6 to face unbeaten Canal Fulton Northwest in a nonconference matchup. The Indians came in outscoring opponents by nearly 28 points per game, but the Warriors handed them their first loss, 36-34.

Bishop led Carrollton (3-1, 1-0) with 13 points and two blocks and added four rebounds. Ujcich scored nine and had a team-high three steals and two assists. KJ Roudebush pulled down seven of Carrollton’s 25 rebounds.

Bowling

Carrollton remained perfect on the lanes with two more victories, including a sweep of rival Minerva at Atwood Lanes.

The Warriors hosted the Lions Dec. 2 in a match with both Stark County and EBC implications. Carrollton made a statement as both the boys and girls posted wins.

Kaylee Russell rolled games of 211 and 210 for a 421 series to lead the Carrollton girls to a 1,951-1,615 win. Freshmen Carrie Hawk (324 series) and Jocelyn Burkhart (318) also contributed.

Minerva’s top scorers were Rylan Klitz with a 231 game and 386 series, and Bailey Wood with a 328.

In the boys match, Carrollton held off a late Minerva surge for a 2,327-2,214 win. After the two regulation games, the Warriors led by 220 pins thanks to Khalen Green’s 237-214 for a 451 series. Jace Eckinger added a 403 and Caleb Jurkiewicz had a 394.

Minerva was led by Owen Frazier with a 401 series and Parker Eckstein with a 367. The Lions won all three Baker games, cutting 107 pins off the Warriors’ lead, but Carrollton held on.

The next day, Carrollton visited Massillon at AMF Lanes, again sweeping both matches. The Lady Warriors won 2,021-1,487, while the boys earned a 2,403-2,032 victory.

Colton Rummell led the boys with a 404 series (182-222), and Eckinger added a 385. Burkhart recorded the girls’ high series with a 364 (190-174), and Russell added a 340.

With the wins, both Carrollton teams improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in both the Stark County High School Bowling Conference’s American Division and the EBC.