By Eddie Dwyer
Cleveland Heights, Ohio - In what was the essence of a team victory, the Wildcats of Hall of Fame Head Basketball Coach Brian Becker '77 spread the wealth on offense, played a solid man and zone defense, and went to the glass with authority.
Controlling the tempo from the get-go, Saint Ignatius led, 18-6, after the first eight minutes, 37-14 at halftime and, with classy and basketball savvy senior guard Neeko Melendez hitting four of his five in-rhythm 3-pointers in the third quarter, took a commanding 63-25 advantage into the final eight minutes.
Melendez, who is as humble off the court as he is talented on the hardwood, was selected as one of the games' Most Valuable Players in what is a premier opening-weekend event. Neeko was introduced to the crowd and presented with his MVP trophy after the Wildcats' victory.
Played in Cleveland Heights' beautiful new school and atmosphere-rich new gymnasium, the 15-game, three-day Great Lakes Classic features many of Northeast Ohio's outstanding teams and players, along with GTA Prep Academy out of Canada.
Action resumes at Cedar and Lee on Sunday at 11 AM. Sunday's final matchup in what is a six-game slate will feature the basketball-rich and host Cleveland Heights Tigers taking on GTA Prep Academy at 7:45 PM. Saint Ignatius' only game in the Great Lakes Classic was Saturday's triumph over John Hay.
GUARDS CHASE TOPPIN AND TEVIN JACKSON SET A SMOOTH TEMPO
Saint Ignatius' backcourt play is in solid hands, this season and two more after that.
Yes, just sophomores, Chase Toppin and Tevin Jackson ran Coach Becker's offense like a pair of savvy veterans on Saturday afternoon. This old gym rat was tapped on the shoulder more than once from the always knowledgeable Cleveland Heights fans, who asked, "They're just sophomores?"
Helping set the tempo with their long-range shooting and ability to push the ball in transition, Toppin and Jackson established a strong outside-inside game for the Wildcats.
With senior post/forward Aymin Bahhur making his presence felt down low and junior guard Lukas Bielek displaying his hard-nosed hustle and ability to get to the rim, Saint Ignatius rode four quick points from Bahhur, a strong drive by Bielek, a 3-pointer by Melendez, a layup in transition by gifted senior forward Luke Wiskes and a 3-pointer from Wiskes off a Melendez assist to its 12-point lead entering the second quarter.
A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE AND THE DEPTH FACTOR
Coach Becker's defense and depth began to take their toll on the Hornets from John Hay in the second quarter, as a breakaway layup by Jackson, a Toppin layup off a steal and an assist from Jackson, and another second-effort basket by Bahhur made it a 24-6 game with 5 minutes and 19 seconds remaining in the first half.
The second quarter also saw promising 6-foot-6 junior post Nathan Hubbard come off Coach Becker's bench and score inside off a Jackson assist.
After another basket by Hubbard, a free throw by Hubbard, a layup by Bielek, a blocked shot by Bielek that prevented a transition layup, two free throws by ever-present 6-9 junior post Kevin Davet, and two points from the charity stripe from Wiskes, Saint Ignatius took a 37-14 lead into the halftime break.
NEEKO WAS "NASTY," TO QUOTE A SAVVY CEDAR AND LEE FAN
The third quarter was definitely Neeko's show, with a nice closing touch to the quarter from "Cool Hand" Luke Wiskes.
Neeko took most of the sting out of the Hornets with his four kiss-the-sky, nothing-but-net triples and two strong moves along the baseline and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Wiskes left no doubt. The 'Cats from Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School led, 63-25, entering the final quarter. Wiskes finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds and Bielek also produced 12 points.
A TIP OF THE FOURTH-QUARTER CAP
Goes out from this corner to Davet and another promising junior, endless-hustle 6-3 forward/post Lores Valenzuela.
Lores was a force off the glass in producing some finishing-touches baskets and Davet brought a roar from the faithful with an authoritative offensive rebound and put back, followed by a smooth baseline jumper.
FROM COACH BECKER
"We did a lot of good things," said Coach Becker, whose team's season-opening performance produced the 338th career victory for the veteran coach and his school-best 324th career triumph at his alma mater. "Chase Toppin is a good, solid basketball player, he gets his hands on a lot of loose balls. He's a quick, aggressive jumper."
Sound familiar? Yes, Chase is the brother of Saint Ignatius' first-team All-Northeast Lakes District and first-team All-Ohio football defensive back Cameron Toppin.
"Neeko is Neeko," Coach Becker continued. "I knew coming into the season that he was going to make shots. He just doesn't shoot threes, he can come off the dribble. I thought he passed well and defended well. I also thought Aymin (Bahhur) and Dom (6-4 senior post Dominic DiNunzio) did a nice job boxing out. Guys came in off the bench and gave us energy. I thought we had real good energy all day long."
FROM NEEKO, WHO LED THE 'CATS WITH 15 POINTS AND FIVE ASSISTS
"If you look at the scorebook, I'm sure that everyone who played for us today scored," Neeko said, when it was offered that Saint Ignatius displayed the essence of team basketball on Saturday afternoon. "That just goes to show you what teamwork will do.
"We're all working hard in practice and pushing each other," continued Neeko. "My teammates did a great job of finding me and I was just able to knock them down. I give the credit to my teammates for looking for me."
UP NEXT
As Coach Becker said to his team following Saturday's impressive effort, "Now we defend our house."
The Wildcats will be gearing up for their Home Opener versus Lutheran East, which is next Saturday, Dec. 9th, at Fr. Sullivan Gymnasium. The tipoff will be 7 PM.
This corner will preview the matchup with Lutheran East this coming week, as the 'Cats will be facing a program that has moved up to Division III this season after bringing home the Division IV State Championship trophy last March. Lutheran East moved to Division III under the OHSAA's new Competitive Balance system.
Have a wonderful Sunday and we will see you at storied Sullivan Gymnasium.