The 'Cats' Junior Varsity improved to 8-1 with another display of depth and talent that the Jayvee Ramblers from Cathedral Prep couldn't cope with (see the JV recap after the Varsity game story).
By Eddie Dwyer
Erie (Pa.) - A solid road win is how Saint Ignatius' veteran Head Coach Brian Becker '77 described Saturday's trip down I-90 East to face a team from the Keystone State whose record, which now stands 4-6, is very deceiving.
Yes folks, as Coach Becker and his staff will be the first to tell you, the Ramblers from Erie Cathedral Prep are a good basketball team that, like Saint Ignatius, has played a very challenging schedule.
The problem Prep Head Coach Mark Majewski and his staff encountered on their home floor Saturday evening is that you have to be a little better than good when the tough-minded and basketball-savvy Wildcats are on their game.
That was the case on Saturday evening, as Coach Becker's 'Cats shook off a slow start that saw them trailing by one point at halftime, went on to play 16 minutes of Saint Ignatius basketball and walked out of the Ramblers' impressive athletic facility with a 62-54 triumph.
The Wildcats, who improved to 7-2 with their fourth consecutive victory, will now gear up for the portion of their regular-season schedule that should attract standing-room crowds to storied Father Sullivan Gymnasium.
After a January 13th game versus Westerville South at John Carroll University, 14th-ranked Saint Ignatius will host three of the area's best of the best - second-ranked St. Edward on January 20th, the top-ranked and undefeated Garfield Heights Bulldogs on January 26th and the 13th-ranked Ironmen from Cleveland Central Catholic on January 27th.
Cleveland.com took a little holiday break from its rankings, but should have a new area Top 25 ready this coming Monday.
Now back to Erie (Pa.), where the snow piles tell you just how hard Mother Nature has been on what this corner likes to refer to as the city that time forgot. That is a compliment, my friends, from an old-timer who appreciates historic landmarks and buildings.
Something old, something new as they say and Joann Mullen Gymnasium is certainly an impressive facility, one the first female Assistant Principal and Principal at Cathedral Prep would be very humbled and proud to have named in her honor. Also a dedicated Math Teacher, Joann died in 2012 at the age of 72.
"Kind of a choppy game in the first half," said Coach Becker after his 344th overall career victory and his 330th triumph while guiding his Wildcats. "Cathedral Prep doesn't lose many basketball games up here. They're always a well-coached, hard-nosed basketball team, which they proved again today. The second half we got into a little flow, both offensively and defensively."
After Saint Ignatius' gifted sophomore guard Chase Toppin and Cathedral Prep's endless-hustle sophomore guard Alfonso Pickens exchanged driving layups, Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School was trailing, 26-25, at halftime.
The early stages of the third quarter continued to be a test of wills, as a strong baseline move by Saint Ignatius' standout senior forward Luke Wiskes was answered by a 3-pointer from Pickens.
Following another exchange of baskets from Wiskes and Pickens,'Cats multi-skilled senior guard Neeko Melendez buried one of his smooth 3-pointers and gave his team a 34-31 lead with a strong, in-balance drive to the rim.
Cathedral Prep senior guard Adam Upperman, who lived up to his billing as the Ramblers' most complete player, cut the deficit to one point off two free throws only to watch Saint Ignatius' ever-present senior guard Jon Barnes score off a nice look from Wiskes and Toppin break away for another basket.
Wildcats 6-foot-9 junior post Kevin Davet stepped up with two key baskets off his offensive rebounding and an athletic move to the rim by senior guard/forward Josh Ozanne increased Saint Ignatius' advantage to seven points late in the third quarter.
Some impressive work in the post by Cathedral Prep's tireless big man, senior Josh Charlery, closed the gap to three points with 37.6 points remaining in the third quarter, but Melendez dialed long distance again and the 'Cats led, 47-41, entering the final eight minutes.
"We started off slow and a couple guys got in foul trouble, but we definitely did bounce back in the second half," said Melendez, who finished with a game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers. "The ball movement was there, moving without the ball, and we were in our sets in the second half."
Cathedral Prep stayed in striking distance in the early stages of the fourth quarter, but Saint Ignatius was able to gradually pull away thanks to a text-book example of running the floor by senior forward Dom DiNunzio, who scored off an on-the-money assist from sophomore point guard Tevin Jackson, another trey by Melendez, two key bakets by Barnes off Melendez looks, and the clutch free throw shooting of Melendez and Wiskes.
Barnes finished with 14 points and six rebounds, Wiskes had nine points and five rebounds, and Toppin contributed seven points.
Upperman and Charlery led the Ramblers' offense with 19 and 12 points, respectively.
"Jon Barnes and Neeko were consistent throughout the game and in the second half I thought Neeko made shots when he needed to make shots," said Coach Becker. "We also got solid play from Ozanne and Davet off the bench. To come up here on a cold, cold day at a crazy time versus a team in need of a win, it was a real nice victory."
THE JUNIOR VARSITY WILDCATS ARE BACK TO THEIR WINNING WAYS
After a tough 52-50 loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary in The Lebron James Arena on New Year's Eve, Saint Ignatius' Jayvee 'Cats won for the eighth time in nine games this winter by wearing down the JV Ramblers from Cathedral Prep, 65-32.
The sophomore 'Cats had several offensive highlights, including a 3-pointer by Daniel Nunez in the second quarter that was followed by a layup and a 3-pointer from red-hot guard/forward Griffin Hanna.
With Nunez and guard Rory McConville adding more fuel to an already red-hot offense, Saint Ignatius led, 38-19, entering the halftime break after another example of moving without the ball resulted in a layup by gifted sophomore forward Connor Cmiel.
It was Katy Bar the Door in the third quarter, as Cathedral Prep couldn't handle the storm of another 3-pointer by Hanna, two free throws by Hanna, a three-point play by guard Jack Whelan, a picture-perfect backdoor layup by guard/forward Kyle Daugenti off a sweet dish from point guard Caleb Blake, a basket by post/forward Gabe Duban off an assist from Cmiel, and a strong offensive rebound and free throw from forward/post Nate Sommerfeld.
A few more highlights were created in the fourth quarter courtesy of a Daugenti layup off a Hanna assist, ah yes that QB to WR JV football connection, and some strong defense by Duban that featured an authoritative block and rebound.
On an afternoon when every JV 'Cat hit the scoring column, Hanna finished with 20 points, including 15 in the first half, had two 3-pointers and was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Nunez scored eight points and buried two treys, and Daugenti and Cmiel each had six points.
Guard William Innes led Cathedral Prep with 11 points.
Up next for the Wildcats' rich in talent and savvy sophomores is Saturday's 6 PM tip off versus the Westerville South Junior Varsity at John Carroll University.
Have a wonderful Sunday and this corner will preview the Westerville South Varsity game later this coming week.