BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – First-year head coach Steve Flores takes over the Boardman boys’ program after suffering through a rare back-to-back losing campaign in 2022-23 (7-16) and just this past season (5-19).
Flores is seeking to improve upon their finish last winter.
“We hope to be a highly competitive team in a very strong conference and use a challenging non-conference schedule to prepare us for that,” the former East Liverpool great said. “Our hope is by the end of the season to be playing our best basketball and be a challenge for anyone we play come tournament time.”
Boardman welcomes back a large senior class with Terrell McDowell (11.0 ppg, 1.6 apg), Grayson Eicher (7.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Kaden Mayhew (4.8 ppg), Sullivan Smith and Zach Haus (2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) all back in the mix. Junior Vince Butto and sophomore Jayse Varley will be back as well.
Look for newcomers Destin Sellers, Mason Nawrocki, Ryan Smith, Braiden Bulkley, Jerry Smith III, Gabe Hammerton, Zach Howell and Ryan Mitchell to help add depth to the success of the program.
Flores points to, “I expect the team to be much improved. The team will look to pressure and play fast and push the tempo. We feel our depth can be an advantage in playing this way.”
The Spartans will open the new season on December 3 at Lake.
Boardman Spartans
Fast Facts
Head Coach: Stephen Flores, 1st season
Assistant Coaches: Daymian Daniels, Kip DeShields, Darrin Johnson, Ryan McKeown
2023-24 Record: 5-19 (0-8), 5th place in All-American Conference
2023-24 Post-Season Finish: Lost in Sectional Final to Hoban (63-46)
Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 43.9
Scoring Defense: 55.1
Individual Leaders
Scoring: Terrell McDowell, 11.0
Rebounding: Grayson Eicher, 5.0
Assists: Nico Holzschuh, 2.0
Three Point Percentage: Terrell McDowell, 39.5%
Free Throw Percentage: Jeff Markovitch, 83.3%
2024-25 Schedule
Dec. 3 – at Lake
Dec. 6 – Mooney
Dec. 10 – East
Dec. 14 – vs. South Range (United Way at Poland)
Dec. 17 – at Warren JFK
Dec. 20 – at Tallmadge
Dec. 23 – at West Branch
Dec. 27 – Struthers
Jan. 3 – Canfield
Jan. 7 – Hoover
Jan. 10 – Fitch
Jan. 14 – Harding
Jan. 17 – Howland
Jan. 21 – at Canfield
Jan. 25 – Niles
Jan. 28 – at Fitch
Jan. 31 – at Harding
Feb. 4 – at Howland
Feb. 7 – Poland
Feb. 8 – Garrett Morgan
Feb. 15 – at Canton Central Catholic
Feb. 21 – Green
