From tradition-rich Father Sullivan Gymnasium on the campus of Saint Ignatius High School.
Head Coach Regan Sweeney's Blue Cats, a TEAM in every sense of the word, added a sparkling silver trophy to Saint Ignatius' rich-in-success athletic displays by winning their seventh consecutive game and finishing 14-3 against a who's who schedule of Northeast Ohio's top ninth-grade programs.
"Leave it all on the court" was Monday's pre-game message from Coach Sweeney '11 and his savvy Assistant Coaches Mark Hester and T.J. DiSanto '06, and the Blue Cats did just that from the get-go through the game's final decisive sequence.
Saint Ignatius, leading 52-46 after gifted forward Chris Snyder scored on an authoritative driving 1-hander and standout forward Luke Roggenburk came up with an exceptional hustle defensive play, saw the Archbishop Hoban Knights close to 52-50 with 41.5 seconds remaining to be played.
With the Knights in possession of the ball, the Blue Cats put together a will-testing sequence that in many ways defined their season.
First it was the ever-present Snyder with a leaping blocked shot in front of the Blue Cats' basket and then it was ice-in-his-veins guard Jack Dunstan with another big-time basket that gave Saint Ignatius a four-point lead.
Multi-skilled post Henry Raynor helped seal the deal with a steal and Wildcats Hall of Fame Head Varsity Basketball Coach Brian Becker '77 presented the impressive Sullivan Showdown Silver Championship Trophy to a group of ninth graders whose collective hearts were too strong to be broken.
Coach Becker echoed Coach Sweeney's words in saying that the Knights from Archbishop Hoban provided the strongest all-around competition the Saint Ignatius Freshmen Blue faced this winter.
"We knew they were going to be quick, so we double teamed, helped on defense when the point guard had the ball, because he is so quick, stayed with their bigs (the Knights' post players) and didn't fall for the pump fake and bump into them," said Snyder.
THE EARLY GOING
Archbishop Hoban (12-5) put the quickness Chris Snyder referred to on display early, as the Knights moved to a 12-5 lead midway through the first quarter.
Saint Ignatius, on the strength of a driving layup by Dunstan and a deep corner 3-pointer from guard Andrew Chime, cut the deficit to 12-10 with 1:27 to go in the first seven minutes.
The Knights responded with two quick baskets and took a 16-10 lead into the second quarter.
SOME SECOND QUARTER BLUE FIRE
The Blue Cats were all business in the second quarter.
Behind a three-point play by Snyder off his offensive rebound, a hustle basket from Dunstan, two more points by Snyder off a Dunstan assist and the all-around production of Roggenburk, Saint Ignatius led, 19-16, with 4:54 left in the first half.
A 3-pointer from guard Michael Mattimore and a strong follow by forward Will Yontek enabled the 'Cats to maintain a three-point lead until Knights standout Martavien Johnson converted a three-point play off one of his lighting-quick dribble drives.
The Blue Cats, thanks to a another heads-up follow by Yontek and an offensive rebound and put back by Raynor, led, 28-26, at the halftime break.
DUNSTAN AND ROGGENBURK DIAL LONG DISTANCE
After Archbishop Hoban's Johnson knotted the score with a follow, Roggenburk unleashed a 3-pointer off his quick release.
Following another hustle play by the Blue Cats that saw Snyder race down court and get a piece of the ball that prevented a breakaway layup, Roggenburk scored off a give-and-go from Mattimore.
The Knights turned to Johnson again and cut a five-point deficit to one point.
Dunstan would have none of that, however, as Jack buried back-to-back 3-pointers and then hit on 2 of 3 free throws after being fouled while attempting another trey.
With its faithful showing their appreciation, Saint Ignatius, on the strength of a driving 1-hander high off the glass by Mattimore, took a nine-point advantage into the fourth and final quarter.
ANSWERING THE CHALLENGES
After a Roggenburk basket off a Snyder assist extended the Blue Cats' lead to 11 points, Archbishop Hoban called on its 1-2 punch of Johnson and Alvin Stallworth, and cut the deficit to six points.
A determined put back from Raynor had the 'Cats leading by eight points and Saint Ignatius was still in front by eight after Dunstan sent home two free throws with 3:08remaining in the fourth quarter. The Blue Cats also benefitted from some strong work from post Peter Outcalt, especially when Raynor was approaching foul trouble.
Hoban, whose quick steps only made it seem like the Knights had a thousand eyes, closed to four points with 2:31 left, setting the stage for the dramatic ending that this corner described in the lead paragraphs.
"It was a good season overall," said Dunstan. "We had some losses early in the season, but we came together as a team."
Learning to play four quarters of Saint Ignatius basketball, as Snyder and the Blue Cats' Coaching Staff emphasized, is why the Wildcats' faithful will always remember the 2018 Sullivan Showdown Champions.
BY THE NUMBERS
Dunstan led the Blue Cats with 16 points, followed by Snyder with 11 points, Roggenburk with 9 points, 6-point afternoons from Raynor and Mattimore, 4 points from Yontek and 3 points from Chime, whose deep three flirted with the Sullivan Gym ceiling.
Johnson's 18 points and Stallworth's 14-point afternoon showed the way for the Knights.
Third place in the Sullivan Showdown went to Walsh Jesuit, which defeated Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 55-48, in Monday's third-place game. St. Vincent-St. Mary dominated Brush, 67-32, in the fifth-place game and it was University School over John Marshall, 58-42, in the seventh-place game.
FROM COACH SWEENEY: "Archbishop Hoban is very good. They are physical and disciplined. We came out and fought a little adversity. They went on a run and then we went on a run.
"It was a perfect way to end the season," said the young, but oh so basketball wise Head Coach of the Blue Cats.
In talking with Coach Sweeney about the future of Saint Ignatius Athletics, he and this old-timer believe it is in great hands with the current Freshmen and Sophomore classes.
"A bunch of our kids are two- and three-sport athletes," Coach Sweeney continued. "Yeah, it went by fast. But we'll be back at in November looking at another 100 or so kids trying out. That's what is so great about Freshmen Basketball."
This corner would like to again thank Coach Sweeney, Freshmen Gold Head Coach Tom Parker '10, Saint Ignatius Athletic Director Mr. Rory Fitzpatrick '88 and the Saint Ignatius Administration for the pleasure and privilege to add the Freshmen Basketball Program to my winter coverage list.