Saint Ignatius' Junior Varsity Wildcats improve to 9-1 by overpowering the Preppers' Jayvees, 68-30 (see the JV recap following the Varsity Game Story).
By Eddie Dwyer
Ohio City - Saint Ignatius Hall of Fame Head Coach Brian Becker's Wildcats, who outscored the Preppers from University School, 38-22, in the second half and improved to 8-2 on the season, will hydrate and rest up in preparation for Saturday night's highly anticipated matchup with longtime rival St. Edward in what will be a sold-out Father Sullivan Gymnasium. The Eagles (11-3) and the Wildcats are ranked second and seventh, respectively, in cleveland.com's seven-county area poll.
Saturday's Varsity tip off from the campus of Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School will be 7 PM and will be preceded by a Junior Varsity game between the Wildcats and the Eagles at 5:30 PM.For a preview on the first of the annual two-game, regular-season series with St. Edward, see this corner's story from Wednesday.
Yes, two matchups in the regular season that, barring an upset along the Division I postseason tournament trail, will also include another District Final encounter between the perennial West Side powers.
HERE IS A CORNER'S VIEW FROM FRIDAY NIGHT'S MATCHUPS WITH THE VARSITY AND JUNIOR VARSITY PREPPERS FROM UNIVERSITY SCHOOL.
As Coach Becker '77 emphasized in his postgame address to his team, Saint Ignatius, in the first half Friday night, performed like a team that had not played a game since a victory at Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep on January 6th. We have Mother Nature to thank for that.
The layoff, coupled with a spirited and an aggressive approach by Coach Sean McDonnell's now 4-8 Preppers, saw University School ride a 3-pointer from senior guard Matt Kalady and two downtown treys by junior guard TJ Kelly to an 11-4 lead with 3 minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
After a 3-pointer by junior guard Grant Pawlikowsky extended the Preppers' lead to eight points, Saint Ignatius answered with a three-point play by gifted senior forward/post Luke Wiskes and trailed, 16-11, after the first eight minutes.
A steal by sure-handed senior guard Neeko Melendez, a 3-pointer from endless-hustle junior guard Lukas Bielek and a driving one-hander in transition by Melendez knotted the score at 16 and forced Coach McDonnell to call for a full timeout with 6:51 left in the first half.
"Rebound the basketball," yelled Coach Becker to his 'Cats as University School was doing a good job of scrapping for the ball off missed shots.
Junior post Nate Hubbard, a young man with plenty of promise, gave Saint Ignatius a one-point lead by following his shot. Another second-effort basket by Hubbard, followed by a 3-pointer from Melendez, helped the 'Cats build a seven-point advantage with 5:22 to go in the first half.
University School got a big lift from the tireless Kelly, as TJ buried another 3-pointer and hit three consecutive free throws after being fouled while attempting a trey.
Clinging to a one-point lead, Saint Ignatius got a strong second effort off the offensive glass by tough and talented senior post/forward Dom DiNunzio that Dom converted into a three-point play and a four-point lead for the Wildcats.
Continuing to hustle from baseline to baseline, the Preppers led, 28-27, after sophomore guard O'mahn Dobbins sent home a 3-pointer and Kelly hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation.
With 6-foot-9 junior center Kevin Davet and Wiskes showing the way, Saint Ignatius offset a driving one-handed scoop shot by Dobbins and took a 33-30 lead into the halftime break.
"Give University School credit, they played a good game," said Wildcats outstanding veteran Assistant Coach Kevin Neitzel '90. "We weren't overlooking them as coaches, but when you have St. Eds lurking the next day, it's hard not to have your minds on that game. We told the kids right before the start of the second half tonight that we're going to approach the first three minutes of the second half (versus the Preppers) just like we're going to approach the start of the St. Eds game.
"We're going to go out, go after it and be intense," Coach Neitzel continued. "We told them we don't care how many people are in the gym (for the University School game). We have to get in their faces, apply pressure and create turnovers. We're emulating what we're going to do tomorrow (Saturday night) versus St. Eds."
The Wildcats got the message, loud and clear, and came out and outscored the Preppers, 18-8, in the third quarter.
After a basket down low from DiNunzio off a smooth assist from Melendez and a pair of soft, spinning one-handed hook shots in the lane by senior guard Jon Barnes, Saint Ignatius led, 39-30.
University School would close the gap to five points off baskets by junior forward Jack Voudouris and Kalady, only to watch the 'Cats respond with a 3-pointer by Barnes, a baseline jumper from endless-promise sophomore guard Chase Toppin, a steal and a two-handed slam dunk by multi-skilled senior forward/guard Josh Ozanne and a basket down low from senior forward/post Aymin Bahhur.
A Chase buzzer-beater gave Saint Ignatius a 13-point lead entering the final eight minutes and the Wildcats left no doubt on two free throws by sophomore point guard Tevin Jackson, aka "The Floor General," another strong move around the rim by Barnes, a layin by DiNunzio off a "sweet dish" from Jackson, a Melendez 3-pointer courtesy of Wiskes' offensive rebound and assist, two free throws by Wiskes and a 3-pointer from Ozanne.
Ozanne led the 'Cats with 10 points and Melendez, DiNunzio and Wiskes each had nine points. Hubbard contributed eight points and six rebounds, DiNunzio had six rebounds and Melendez finished with five steals. Saint Ignatius outrebounded the Preppers, 43-27, and scored 23 points off 25 University School turnovers.
Kelly finished with a game-high 18 points and his Prepper teammates Kalady and Voudouris scored 10 and 8 points, respectively.
THIRTEEN OF THE 14 JAYVEE WILDCATS HIT THE SCORING COLUMN, AS THEIR OUTSTANDING COACHES CHRIS SALATA '94, BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN '94 RON FRIEDEL '94 AND BRYAN FISHER '13 CONTINUE TO DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH A SOPHOMORE CLASS THAT IS RICH IN PROMISE, AND THEN SOME.
Ohio City - The JV 'Cats, who continue to display a maturity beyond their years with their moving-without-the-ball unselfish approach in the half court, eyes open and heads up transition offense, and a passionate effort on defense and off the boards, gave the University School Junior Varsity program too much to deal with.
In coming away with a 38-point victory and handing the Preppers' Jayvees just their fourth setback this winter, Saint Ignatius' gifted sophomores won for the ninth time in 10 games.
With the ever-present Erik Daugenti and Connor Cmiel causing matchup problems for University School, the young 'Cats led, 34-9, late in the first half after guard Tommy Spear, moving without the ball, scored off a baseline layup that was courtesy of a Cmiel assist, Daugenti buried a 3-pointer and scored off a steal, Daniel Nunez sent home a trey, Daugenti and Cmiel went strong to the to the rim, and post Gabe Duban combined with Cmiel on a endless hustle and athletic two points.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, as Saint Ignatius' versatile offense produced, among many precise plays, a tip-in by Daugenti, a layup from athletic post Michael McNamara off a heads-up assist from multi-skilled guard Griffin Hanna, a layup by strong and active post Darius Moss off an on-the-money assist from point guard Caleb Blake, and a quick and authoritative driving 1-hander by guard Rory McConville.
After Cmiel produced a trey whose rotation off his hands immediately said three points, Katy didn't know whether to Bar The Door or head for the cellar at 58-27.
Daugenti led the large scoring contingent with 12 points, Cmiel finished with 9 points, Hanna contributed 8 points and Nunez, Blake and Duban each had six points.
Freshman guards Cam Smith and Sean Scadlock scored 10 and 8 points, respectively, for the Preppers with Smith hitting two impressive 3-pointers early in the second half.
Have a safe and great weekend and we will see you at Father Sullivan Gymnasium tonight (Saturday) for another chapter in the storied rivalry of Saint Ignatius vs. St. Edward.