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Gregory honored for defense

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University forward and West Branch High School graduate Sophia Gregory was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year on Monday. Gregory follows last season’s Horizon League Freshman of the Year award by joining Lilly Ritz (2022-23) as one of only two Penguins to be named the conference Defensive Player of the Year. Gregory leads the Horizon League with 9.0 rebounds per game and 6.7 defensive rebounds per game, and she is the anchor for YSU’s defense that leads the conference in scoring defense, opponent field-goal percentage, opponent ...

East Palestine turns to veteran Rick Shepas

EAST PALESTINE — East Palestine’s football program added an experienced head coach who once excelled at the highest levels of the high school football in Ohio on Monday. Rick Shepas, 60, was approved during Monday’s East Palestine Board of Education meeting. Shepas takes over for Michael Demster, who was not retained. Demster went 17-25 over four seasons and led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record last season including a playoff win over Western Reserve. Shepas last coached high school football in 2004 after serving out a seven season stint at Massillon where he went 53-27 with a ...

Warriors blast Rockets

LORDSTOWN — The tradition of the West Branch Warriors girls basketball program speaks for itself. A resume that includes a state championship, two other regional crowns, seven district titles and nine league titles, all before entering their Division IV district final on Saturday ...

Rebels, Rhodes get over the hump at district

PENINSULA — Led by All-Ohioan Addison Rhodes, the top-seeded Crestview girls basketball team stepped up in the decisive fourth quarter and nailed down the school’s first district title since 2007 with a 50-38 win over stubborn No. 7 seed Chagrin Falls Saturday night at Woodridge High School. Leading by just two points (35-33) entering the fourth quarter, Crestview dominated at both ends of the floor, outscoring the Tigers 15-5 in the frame, including 11 points by Rhodes in the stanza to secure the Rebels elusive district title after sustaining some narrow heartbreaking district ...

Crismon’s time comes to an end

COLUMBIANA — Dave Crismon said it was time for him to concentrate on other things than winning or losing. Crismon told the Columbiana girls basketball team Friday he is leaving after eight seasons as head coach. “My wife was diagnosed with cancer,” he said. “It’s a journey for her and I feel I need to be there for her.” The Clippers hosted a benefit game for the Crismons in January 2025 after Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Dave Crismon finished with a 134-50 record in eight seasons at Columbiana, including two straight Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference titles ...

AROUND THE HORN

Shepas will join Bulldogs EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine board of education will vote tonight on hiring Rick Shepas as the new head football coach. Shepas, the Warren Harding athletic director, was head coach as Massillon for seven years before becoming Waynesburg University’s winningest coach. He is being recommended by superintendent James Rook, according to the board agenda. The board will meet at 6 p.m. today at the elementary media center. Shepas starred at Youngstown Mooney High School and was Youngstown State’s leading receiver in the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He ...