Lions sweep rivals, notch sectional crown in golf and climb EBC volleyball standings

Football

It may be difficult to see or even to say, but there has been noticeable improvement between Sept. 26 of this year and Sept. 27, 2024. 

That was the last time Minerva faced West Branch, and the Lions absorbed a 64-0 defeat at the hands of the Warriors. This year, with Minerva having won four games already – equivalent to its win total stretching back a decade – there was optimism among the faithful that the Lions could hang in there against one of the Eastern Buckeye Conference’s top-tier teams.

It was not to be, as Minerva was defeated 56-6 thanks to West Branch’s big play offense. The Lions kicked off to start the game and it took the Warriors about five minutes to find the end zone on an 8-yard run. 

Then Jeremiah Thomas took over. The West Branch receiver – the EBC Player of the Year in 2024 – caught a pass from QB Grady Hirst in the flat and was off to the races on a 78-yard score.Following a three-and-out by Minerva, delivered an encore performance, scoring on a 63-yard pass play.

It was 21-0 by the end of the first quarter as the Warriors would score five touchdowns of 50 yards or more against the Lions. Hirst threw for 290 yards in the first half alone, while Thomas totaled 170 receiving yards in the same span of time as West Branch (5-1, 1-0) took a commanding 42-0 lead into intermission.

Nate Linkous broke up the shutout for Minerva (4-2, 0-1) in the closing minute with a 3-yard run.

Girls Golf

How do you top a perfect regular season?

Peyton Beaumariage and company may have just come up with the answer to that question at the Div. I East District Sectional Tournament, hosted by Eagle Sticks Golf Course Sept. 22. 

The Lady Lions came in first by 10 strokes over runner-up West Holmes to claim the team crown and advance to the district tourney. On top of that, Beaumariage won the individual sectional title with a blistering round of 79,

Minerva had three golfers finish in the top 10 as Emery Sell posted an 83, which was fourth-lowest on the day, while Delaney Sell’s 87 was 10th. Mady Bartley capped the scoring with a 95, and Hannah Kirkpatrick carded a 96 for good measure.

Boys Golf

With powerhouses such as Indian Valley, River View, and Maysville in the field, the Div. II East District Sectional Tournament is one tough cookie. After a great regular season, the Lions ran into the buzz saw and failed to advance as a team. Minerva’s team score of 351 was good for sixth place out of 13 teams, but only the top four advance.

However, Wil Blackburn is not ready to hang up his cleats just yet as his score of 81 qualified him to golf at the district tourney individually. Reid Spall was the Lions’ second golfer after firing an 86. Tyson Fetty posted an 87, and Hudson Peterson capped Minerva’s scoring with a 97.

Next up for the Lions was the Stark County Boys Invitational, held at Glenmoor Country Club Sept. 27. Minerva placed sixth overall – and finished second among Div. II/III schools – with a team score of 361. That scored tied the Lions with Massillon, but Minerva won on a fifth-card tiebreaker.

Fetty was low man for the Lions with an 84, while Spall was close behind with an 86. Blackburn posted an 89, and Braydon Wood rounded out the scoring with a 102. And it was Benjamin Smith’s 106 that broke the tie with the Tigers.

Jackson captured the team title with a 304, defeating Hoover on a fifth-card tiebreaker. Canton Central Catholic posted a 358 to finish just ahead of the Lions as the top Division II/III team.

Volleyball

The Lady Lions took time this week to flex their muscles and vanquish their closest geographic opponents. First, Minerva swept host Malvern 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-22) in a nonconference match Sept. 27. No details have been made available at this time.

The next day, EBC opponent Alliance visited Minerva and the Lions must not have bothered putting their brooms away as they swept the Aviators 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18). Ayla Shellenbarger did it all for Minerva, delivering 16 kills, serving for nine points and five aces, collecting eight serve receptions, and grabbing 11 digs.

Becca Jackson came up with 12 digs, while Addy Kocher dished out 25 assists and Jenna Dowell had 13 serve receptions.

This was all prelude to the Lions’ trip to Carrollton to take on the Warriors in EBC action Sept. 25. The teams split the first two sets, but then Minerva took the final two for the 3-1 win (25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 25-15).

Shellenbarger had another big game with 19 kills, 12 digs, 27 serve receptions, a block, two aces, and 12 service points. Jackson, meanwhile, had 18 kills, 20 digs, a block, 13 serve receptions, and six service points. Kocher added 38 assists, and Hudson Shellenbarger had seven serve receptions, 12 digs, seven aces, and 12 service points.

Minerva coach Tiffany Oaks said this win was special.

“We have split with Carrollton the last few years which would put us in fourth place,” she said. This win puts us in third place for the league this year, which is the best we have done in quite a while. Carrollton is a tough team and it's always a battle when we play each other.”

With the win, the Lions improve to 11-9 overall and 6-4 in the conference, while Carrollton is 9-10 overall and 4-6 in the EBC.