Warriors bounce back across winter sports slate

A slow start cost Carrollton in a Dec. 16 nonconference road game at Canfield, as the Warriors trailed 34-21 at halftime. Carrollton rallied and cut the deficit to eight midway through the fourth quarter, but Canfield sealed the outcome when Jayce Riccardo grabbed a key offensive rebound and was fouled on a putback as the Cardinals pulled away for a 62-49 win.

Tayvian Johnson led Carrollton with 19 points and six assists. Jayven Johnson added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Riccardo finished with 19 points and nine rebounds for Canfield (5-1).

The Warriors responded Dec. 19 by jumping out early against Eastern Buckeye Conference rival Salem, building a 37-22 halftime lead and rolling to a 67-35 victory.

Jayven Johnson totaled 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Carrollton (4-2, 1-1). Tayvian Johnson added 12 points and five assists, while Hunter Allison contributed seven points, eight rebounds and four assists. Deontay Steele scored 20 points for Salem (1-4, 0-2).

Girls basketball

Carrollton opened the week with a convincing road win before narrowly falling to West Branch in EBC play.

The Warriors defeated Indian Valley 61-36 on Dec. 15, despite the recent loss of Haley Leslie to injury. Kylie Ujcich scored a game-high 22 points while adding eight steals and six assists. Kamryn Shaw and Ivy Bishop scored 11 points apiece, with Bishop also grabbing seven rebounds. Carrollton shot 25-for-50 from the field.

Two days later, the Warriors hosted West Branch, the two-time defending EBC champions. Carrollton erased an early deficit to tie the game 16-16 at halftime, then battled back late before falling 44-41.

Ujcich scored 13 points to lead Carrollton (6-3, 3-1). Emma Shafer added nine points, and Katie Kuba chipped in six.

Bowling

Carrollton’s bowling teams remained unbeaten with road victories over Alliance Dec. 16 and Salem Dec. 19.

Against Alliance, the boys won 2,448-1,676 and the girls prevailed 1,767-1,074. Wyatt Karlosky rolled a match-high game of 245. Jace Eckinger posted a 417 series, and Khalen Green added a 391. On the girls’ side, Carrie Hawk rolled a 333 series, Kaylee Russell had a 308, and Zara Bullock and Ellie Shafer recorded games of 171 and 162.

At Salem, the Lady Warriors won 1,908-1,568, while the boys edged the Quakers 2,371-2,232. Russell led the girls with a 422 series, followed by Hawk’s 356. For the boys, Noah Hutson rolled a 430 series, with strong support from Caleb Jurkiewicz, Colten Rummell and Eckinger.

Both Carrollton bowling teams improved to 8-0 overall, 4-0 in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference American Division and 3-0 in the EBC.