By Eddie Dwyer

 

 Ohio City - With Thursday night 's trip to talent-rich Cleveland Heights looming, the Varsity Basketball Wildcats went back to work on Wednesday afternoon/evening looking to solve the miscues that played a role in Tuesday night's 61-51 loss to the Patriots from Cornerstone Christian at Father Sullivan Gymnasium.

 

 That said, this corner tips its cap to Cornerstone Christian, whose gifted All-Ohio senior guard Michael Bothwell was as advertised. Michael earned nothing but high praise from Saint Ignatius' veteran Hall of Fame Head Coach Brian Becker '77 following the game.     

 

 Saint Ignatius, currently 2-1 and ranked 12th in the seven-county area by Cleveland.com, has to pull together in a hurry. After Thursday night's matchup with the talented 3-0 Tigers from Cedar and Lee (see this corner's Cleveland Heights preview that was posted Wednesday morning), Coach Becker's 'Cats will have to gear up for a team that is currently on a scoring spree  - the 3-0 and third-ranked Comets from Solon High School.

 

 The Comets from Solon are coached by former Wildcat Tony DeCesare, who while playing for Coach Becker set the Saint Ignatius single-game assist record with 15 in the winter of 1999. Wildcats football and basketball standout Robby Parris, who also played under Coach Becker, would tie Tony's record in 2006.

 

While Coach DeCesare knows more than a thing or two about getting the ball in the hands of those who put it in the basket, even Tony has to be a little surprised with the scoring pace his team has put forth in its first three games.

 

 Heading into Friday night's game at Euclid, the Comets have scored more than 90 points (98, 93, 95) in each of their three victories - versus Beachwood, Twinsburg and Elyria. No, those three teams are not ranked among the elite in the area poll, but in high school games with 8-minute quarters you have to respect what Solon has accomplished.   

 

 "The next two games (Cleveland Heights and Solon) will be up-tempo games and we will need to put the ball in the basket," said Coach Becker, who is not pleased with his team's offensive flow and production.

 

 Coach DeCesare, now in his fourth year guiding the Comets, has a wealth of big-game experience to work with this winter. Solon finished 17-8 and advanced to the Division I District Finals last season.

 

 When we say a wealth of experience for the Comets, it doesn't just go back to last season. Many of Coach DeCesare's key players this winter competed or dressed for the Solon team that advanced to the Sweet 16 in March of 2016 before being eliminated by Saint Ignatius in the Regional Semifinals.

 

 The Comets, who were defeated by the Wildcats last season, 90-80, on Safety Forces Night in Father Sullivan Gymnasium, are led by one of the premier point guards in Northeast Ohio, 6-foot senior Sincere Carry.

 

 Carry, who scored 38 points in last season's loss to Saint Ignatius, is, said 'Cats savvy veteran Assistant Coach Jerry Porath, the young man who "Makes them go."

 

 Veteran Wildcats fans certainly won't dispute the fact that Carry possesses the skills that enable him to drive to the basket, go coast to coast, hit the 3-ball and draw fouls. Sincere, who is averaging 24 points per game with seven 3-pointers, has exceptional court vision and is very comfortable going to his left.

 

 Solon, a team that averages 15 3-pointers a game, has a more than capable supporting cast.

 

 Michael Bekelja, a 6-foot junior, has been a very solid, active player for Coach DeCesare. A young man who leaves it all on the floor, Bekelja's ability to attack the rim or unleash his above-average range has produced 22.3 points per game with 13 3-pointers.

 

 Among the other Comets who can strike if you focus too much attention on Carry and Bekelja are 6-1 senior Ryan Bergen, 6-foot junior Trent Williams, 6-4 junior Nick Close, 6-3 junior David Marbury and 6-foot junior Brandon Brown.

 

 Bergen is a tough rebounder and defender with range that has produced five 3-pointers and 7 points per game. Williams is averaging 14 points a game and has sent home 14 3-balls, and Brown tosses in 9 points per game and has been true on four 3-pointers.

 

 Close is active off the glass and runs the floor well, and Marbury has an average of 10 points per game.

 

 Coach Becker will be the first to tell you that Solon is a high energy team and that Saint Ignatius' transition defense will be among the keys to victory Saturday night out on Inwood Road.

 

 One factor that could, and we emphasize could, work in the Wildcats' favor is that Solon travels to Euclid on Friday night, while the 'Cats get a well-deserved night of rest.

 

 THERE ARE NO THREE-SECOND CALLS IN THE MEMORY LANE: Before their March of 2016 Regional Semifinal encounter, Saint Ignatius and Solon matched up in a key postseason game on March 8, 2006 in the District level at old Cleveland South High School.

  To say that the Cleveland South Sectional/District was special would be an understatement.

  It was, without question, the yearly end of winter ritual gathering spot for every savvy gym rat in the city, and a showcase for some of the greatest players and teams in the history of Greater Cleveland High School Basketball.

  Several celebrated players left their mark on the old floor off Broadway, including NBA standout Charles Oakley from John Hay, Ohio Mr. Basketball selections Damon Stringer of Cleveland Heights, Sonny Johnson of Garfield Heights and Chet "The Jet" Mason from the Cleveland South High Flyers, and the incomparable Malcolm Sims of Shaker Heights, just to name a few.

 

 To have had the opportunity several times during my career at The Plain Dealer to witness and report on the traditional Saturday afternoon District Championship Game at "The Big House on Broadway" still gives this veteran reporter goose bumps. While working for The Plain Dealer I tagged the old South High Gym with that nickname because of the packed-to-the-rafters crowd the District Title Game always attracted.    

  In 2006, Solon, led by its 1-2 punch of standout post Dallas Lauderdale and court-savvy point guard Steve Valentino, defeated the Wildcats, 64-54, at "The Big House on Broadway" and survived a battle with the Bedford Bearcats before running into one of the greatest teams in Ohio's rich boys basketball history, the Raymar Morgan-led 2005 and 2006 Division I State Champions from Canton McKinley. "The Pups" overwhelmed the Comets, 68-38, in a Region Final at the University of Akron.