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Saint Ignatius Freshmen Gold Head Basketball Coach Tom Parker described his team's unselfish effort as the key to Thursday's impressive opening-night triumph over Archbishop Hoban in Fr. Sullivan Gymnasium.

By Eddie Dwyer, 12/08/17, 8:45AM EST

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Saint Ignatius – 62, Archbishop Hoban – 42
 
Ohio City - During their memorable basketball careers at Saint Ignatius, Tom Parker '10 and Kyle Wise '10 were NEVER lacking in effort. Simply put, they left everything they had on the court.
 
 Thursday evening in the Wildcats' storied Fr. Sullivan Gymnasium, it was obvious that Parker and Wise have instilled that same drive and desire into the young 'Cats they now coach.
 
 "The effort by the entire team, that was the key," said Coach Parker, who as the Head Coach of the Saint Ignatius Freshmen Gold is assisted by his former teammate Coach Wise and Brian Carey '78.  "That was a tough team we just played. They were very physical, but we didn't back down."
 
 The tough team Coach Parker was referring to is the ninth grade program from Archbishop Hoban.
 
 While there was no questioning the Knights' physicality, the difference was the Gold 'Cats' ability to not only respond to the physical play, but to complement that tough-minded approach with a solid brand of basketball.
 
 Treating their faithful to an endless-hustle, baseline-to-baseline opening night, the Gold 'Cats moved to a 20-10 lead through the first seven minutes.
 
 With Justin Lazuka burying a 3-pointer and turning a smooth baseline drive into a three-point play, Saint Ignatius maintained that 10-point advantage with 4 minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the first half.
 
 Guard Declan Mangan, playing with the same passion his dad, Mike, had for the game as a standout point guard for Coach Larry Arthur's 1986-87 Wildcats, kept the pressure on the Knights with a 3-pointer and a hustle steal that Declan turned into a layup. Coach Arthur's 1986-87 Saint Ignatius team ran off a school-best 18 consecutive victories while advancing to the Kent State University Regional Finals or Elite 8, if you will.
 
 Leading, 35-22, at halftime, Coach Parker and Coach Wise watched their 'Cats maintain a 13-point lead thanks to a steal and a layup by ever-present guard JP Tijanich.
 
 Archbishop Hoban answered JP's effort with a 5-0 run, a push by the Knights that had Coach Parker calling for a savvy timeout.
 
 Following the timeout, Saint Ignatius' Kendall McClain made it a 10-point game with an offensive rebound and a put back, and the Gold 'Cats took a 42-32 lead into the final seven minutes after Mangan hit a soft pull-up jumper off an authoritative move to the rim.
 
 "I called a timeout because I felt, for about one minute there, that we weren't matching their energy," said Coach Parker. "We ran some plays, but not many. They (the Gold 'Cats) just made things happen on their own."
 
 Making it happen down the stretch were Tijanich, whose blocked shot prevented a transition layup, two free throws by Mangan off an assist from strong and skilled post Aidan Hubbard, a power move down low by Hubbard from a Mangan assist, a follow by Lazuka, two free throws by guard John Becker, a blocked shot by the always hustling Kieran Farnan, and another take-charge post up by Hubbard, this time off an assist from Becker.
 
 Trailing by 17 points, it was Katy Bar the Door for the Knights.
 
 Saint Ignatius, fueled by the post presence of Hubbard, a 3-pointer by cross country mainstay Peter Fitzpatrick that had his teammates and classmates jumping for joy and baskets by Alex Garcia and Alec LaSpina, moved to a 60-38 lead.
 
 Lazuka and Mangan each scored 13 points in helping show the way to what was a 62-point night for the Gold 'Cats. Fourteen of Coach Parker's and Coach Wise's 16 players hit the scoring column.
 
 "Everybody played," said Coach Parker, who, along with Coach Wise, acknowledged the floor leadership of Becker. "They were all together as a team and that is what we have been preaching.  Everybody is on the same page, and that is what I am happy about."
 
 Up next for the Gold 'Cats is Saturday's 3:30 PM matchup with the Freshmen Program from Lutheran East.