Ohio City - After experiencing a 61-51 loss to Cornerstone Christian at Father Sullivan Gymnasium on Tuesday night (see the corner's story), the Varsity Basketball Wildcats of Hall of Fame Coach Brian Becker '77 will continue their challenging week on Thursday night with a trip to Cleveland Heights to face the storied Tigers of Cedar and Lee.
What is one of the winter's traditional area basketball matchups will take place in the Tigers' beautiful new gymnasium and school. The JV tipoff will be 6 PM, followed by the always highly anticipated Varsity game at 7:30. I love Cleveland Heights' decision to keep the original main entrance and construct the new school building around it. First class.
One of this veteran reporter's homes away from home during my long career as a High School Sports Reporter for The Plain Dealer, it was great to see many of my old Plain Dealer days friends - coaches, players, officials and fellow gym rats - when I covered Saint Ignatius' season-opening victory over John Hay in the sparkling new gymnasium at Cleveland Heights. That December 2 afternoon encounter with the Hornets from John Hay was part of the highly competitive Great Lakes Classic.
Yes, the 2-1 Wildcats will be no strangers to the 3-0 Tigers' new floor when the area's 12th (Saint Ignatius) and ninth-ranked teams meet on Thursday night.
"Cleveland Heights is an extremely good basketball team," said Coach Becker of Coach Will Brand's Tigers. Will is in his first season as the head of one of the most tradition-rich programs Northeast Ohio has ever produced.
Under the direction of Ohio Hall of Fame coach Jim Cappelletti, the Tigers made four trips to the Division I final four from 1993 through 1997, including three straight from ’93 through ’95. Those Cleveland Heights teams from the ‘90s, which this reporter had the privilege to cover for The Plain Dealer, were state runners-up in 1995 and state champions in 1997. “Coach Cap,” who retired as a head coach with 534 career victories, also guided Cleveland Heights to a state runner-up finish in 1975 and a final four appearance in 2003.
"Their defense is very good, they double the ball a lot," Coach Becker continued in reference to the 2017-18 Tigers. "They are big and strong, and they really go to the basket with authority. Yahel Hill is just a fabulous basketball player."
Hill, a 6-0 senior point guard, is described by Saint Ignatius' veteran Assistant Coach and Scout Jerry Porath as the Tigers' "best overall player." Coach Porath points to Hill's quickness and his ability to penetrate to the rim and draw contact.
A complete player, Hill has excellent range off the bounce and the catch. He has produced games of 30 and 31 points this young season and has totaled 12 3-pointers in the Tigers' three games.
Complementing Hill is one of the top high school athletes in the nation, 6-5 senior post Tyreke Smith.
Smith, one of the most coveted football players in the country, drew the praise of Villa Angela-St. Joseph's outstanding Head Basketball Coach Babe Kwasniak after Smith scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Cleveland Heights' 94-81 victory over the Vikings.
"I'll take everything I own and say that kid is playing on Sundays," Kwasniak told Matt Goul of Cleveland.com after Smith's performance against VASJ.
Coach Porath didn't only point to Smith's strong, physical presence, but also the young man's quick feet in the post. Tyreke will enter Thursday night's matchup with the 'Cats averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds a game.
Cleveland Heights blends experience with talent this winter, as the Tigers' top six players are all seniors. Three of those six are four-year members of the Varsity. Ball pressure, offensive rebounding, transition speed and a special blend of athleticism are also on the opponent's list of concerns when facing the young men from Cedar and Lee.
Among Coach Brand's other names to remember is 6-0 senor guard Javon Roberts, a young man who averages 10 points per game, is the team's primary ball handler and is also a quick-handed defender. And don't fall asleep on 6-3 senior wing Grayson Green, a very active player who averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds last season.
"We have to find a way to put the ball in the basket," Coach Becker said of Tuesday night's setback to Cornerstone Christian and Thursday's matchup with the Tigers. "We need to score in the 60s or 70s to win these types of games."
We will see you at Cleveland Heights on Thursday night and just a reminder that this corner will have another preview coming up this week on Saturday night's game at Solon.