Front Page News

Lady Kats to take on Lady Cougars for title

By J. Patrick Eaken

Herald Writer

The first game between the Northview and Southview girls’ basketball teams drew a capacity crowd. 

The crowd stayed for the entire game, but the result was quickly settled in many fans’ minds as the Lady Cougars rolled to a 55-34 victory.

The two teams will meet again on Northview’s court this Saturday night, and there could no argument saying that this time there will not be a capacity crowd. So get your tickets early.

Both teams shared the Northern Lakes League lead with 9-1 records after wins last Saturday, and the Lady Kats are promising a more interesting game this time around.

“It’s for the league title, and we’ve already been preparing for them all this week. We’re definitely going to be ready this time,” Northview senior point guard Hannah Small said.

Both teams are 14-2 overall heading into this week’s play, which makes determining a favorite that much harder. 

While Northview coach Jerry Sigler said his Lady Kats were “playing very hard”  in putting away Rossford, 57-21, Saturday, Southview was demolishing Maumee, 71-42.

The Cougars hit seven treys in their win over the Panthers, including three by junior ball-handling and shooting sensation Ariel Gaston. In Southview’s 21-point rout the first time the teams met, Southview had 10 treys, including four by Gaston.

Sigler knows it’s going to be more of the same this Saturday night, and it’s not just Gaston who will be trying to cause headaches for his Kats.

“(Tiffany) Scott is a heck of a player, and Gaston, and they all just hit 10 three’s, and they hit three three’s from the corners,” Sigler said. “They threw them up and they were going in. It won’t be that easy this next time, I guarantee you.”

Defensively, the Cougars held Northview’s 5-foot-11 senior Olivia Fouty to zero points and one rebound in the first half, even though she finished the game with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Fouty and Small say their team will be prepared offensively and defensively, because one plays a hand in the other.

“Well, we definitely have to pick up our defense,” Fouty said. “Our defense was not very good the last game, so we’re starting with that because everything, your offense, revolves around your defense. So that’s what we’re working on right now.”

Small said, “We’re going to bring a lot more pressure this time. Last time we did half court, this time we are going to do full court trap and be more aggressive. They are quick, but we are going to help each other out this time.”

Sigler knows it will be about more than getting a game up on a league championship. It’s to see which team is the best “view in town.”

“It’s a rivalry game, and if you don’t play well in rivalry games like we didn’t play well this year and they didn’t last year, you get blown right out of the gym,” Sigler said. 

“I will guarantee you one thing. We will play harder this time than we did last time. If you saw us play last time, we will guarantee you that is probably not going to happen. I am also going to guarantee to you that we’ll have our kids prepared. The coaching staff, we didn’t have them that well prepared last time, but we will be this time.”

Sigler said many NLL teams were not clued in as to how good Southview would be this season. He was.

“I knew they were going to be good,” Sigler said.

Southview knows that Northview will be gunning for the Cougars when the two teams meet Saturday, but Gaston, speaking after her teams’ first victory over the Lady Kats, said her team will be ready to play.

“Northview is a good team — they have a good coach. They didn’t give up. They played hard the whole game,” Gaston said. “Well, I don’t want to spoil it. All I can say is that the next game will be even better.”

Gaston’s backcourt teammate, Katie Murphey, says the Lady Kats will likely have that first game in the back of their minds Saturday night. She says her Cougars will remember that first game forever no matter what and promises her team will be prepared for this next one.

“It starts today, everyday, at practice we are going to remember if we beat them again, and that could be for the league,” Murphey said.

Lady Kats celebrate Senior Night with win

By J. Patrick Eaken

Herald Writer

Prior to his team’s game Saturday night, Northview girls coach Jerry Sigler walked out with bouquets of flowers, stringed balloons, and goodie bags filled with gifts.

It’s a tradition at Northview.

He was bringing the goodies out for his two seniors, forward Olivia Fouty and guard Hannah Small. He does this every year.

“I knew it was coming because I’ve been here the past three years, but it still got to me,” Small said. “I didn’t think I’d cry, but I couldn’t help it.”

Sigler even brought out flowers for Rossford’s three seniors, wing Darian Kusz, post Brittany Igo, and wing Nicole Nirschl. 

“That was really nice of him,” Small added. 

(For complete story, check Front Page News under News Board)

Evola earns Eagle Scout Award

By Christine A. Holliday

Herald Writer

Sam Evola, a senior at St. Francis de Sales High School, joined the ranks of 2% of all Boy Scouts in the United States when he received the Eagle Scout Award in November. He is a member of Troop 263, based at Christ the King Church, and has worked toward this honor since he was a first grader.

He remembered, “I was in the first grade when I saw a Scouting poster advertising summer camp and space camp. I was sold on Scouting by that poster, and my interest has continued since then.”

That interest has included four years as a Cub Scout, and almost seven years as a Boy Scout. He has attended many camps, participated in all Scout activities, and credits the values he learned as a Scout for his interest in serving others. At St. Francis, he has received national recognition for his volunteer work, and he counted on the Scouts’ emphasis on sensitivity to others and hard work as he undertook the Eagle project.

The rules for the Eagle project stipulate that, “…a Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, school, or community.” The project must be approved by several Scout officials, and must be completed before the Scout reaches his eighteenth birthday.

Evola thought for a long time about what his project would involve. His dad suggested building a gazebo on the grounds of St. Francis, and Sam agreed. He said, “They already had a big lawn where resident priests can enjoy the outdoors. But I thought they would appreciate something that is covered, so they could use the space and not be bothered by the sun and bugs.”

The planning process took less than the actual building process. Because the land is considering commercial property, Evola had to meet all the conditions of building on commercial property. He had to have an architect draw up the plans, and he had to present them to several city commissions in order to secure a building permit. He spent several months arranging for the volunteers who would assist him and looking for donated materials. He and his group constructed the gazebo in the summer of 2008, and he finished the paperwork this fall, in time for the official Eagle Scout Award ceremony in November, 2009. 

That ceremony gave his troop leader, George Pavuk, another opportunity to celebrate an Eagle Scout Award from Troop 263. His own two sons have earned the Award, and, in his 25 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 263, he has seen 33 Scouts earn the award. He notes that the national average is 3% of scouts in a troop earn the Eagle; 9% of his Scouts have completed the work and received the Award. One year, he had five boys receiving the Award at the same time.

Pavuk is justly proud of his newest Eagle Scout. “Sam is a delightful guy,” he said. “He is a self-motivator and a hard worker. He sets goals and reaches them. He reaches out to the younger Scouts, and does his best to live up to the Boy Scout code.  I’m going to love watching him grow up into whatever he is going to be.”

Evola is a Sylvania resident, and the son of Dr. and Mrs. John J. Evola.