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Basketball Cats Fall to St. Edward in District Final

By Eddie Dwyer, 03/11/18, 10:30AM EDT

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A dominant second quarter and early third quarter vault St. Edward Basketball to a 71-57 victory over Saint Ignatius in Saturday night's OHSAA District Championship Game at the Wolstein Center

From the Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University- Another storied chapter in Wildcats Basketball, one that was highlighted by resiliency and an exceptional camaraderie, came to an end Saturday night after the 'Cats were defeated by archrival St. Edward for the third time this season.

 The third setback was the big one, as Saint Ignatius was eliminated by the Eagles in the OHSAA Division I Strongsville District Championship Game for the second consecutive season.

 Under the direction of their Hall of Fame Head Coach Brian Becker '77, the Wildcats closed their gritty winter at 16-7 versus a schedule laden with some of the area's and state's best.

 Saint Ignatius, ranked 11th in the final seven-county area poll by cleveland.com, entered Saturday night's headliner on a six-game winning streak

 After two regular season setbacks to seven-county, top-ranked St. Edward - 74-62 in Father Sullivan Gymnasium on January 20th and 85-67 in The Eagles' Nest on February 9th - the Wildcats stayed within striking distance of St. Edward in the first eight minutes on the spacious floor in the Wolstein Center.

 Following a basket by multi-skilled senior forward Luke Wiskes off an assist from senior guard Neeko Melendez and a three-point play by senior post/forward Aymin Bahhur off Aymin's second-effort offensive rebound, the 'Cats trailed the Eagles, 21-16, entering the second quarter.

 Wiskes finished with a game-high 22 points, including 11 of the Wildcats' first 16 points.   

 Just when Saint Ignatius' outstanding Student Body support was back in the game, the Eagles of highly successful Head Coach Eric Flannery played a second quarter that Coach Flannery and his staff probably wish they could box.

 Unleashing a relentless defense and constantly beating the 'Cats off the dribble and in transition, St. Edward rode the hot hand of senior forward P.J. Flannery (a son of Coach Flannery) and the all-around play of guards Montorie Foster and Grant Huffman and post Devontae Blanton to a 48-26 lead by halftime.

 Not only are the physical skills that sophomores Foster, Huffman and Blanton bring to the floor impressive, but what has left a lasting impression on this old gym rat is the savvy and unselfish knowledge of the game that they possess for being so young.

 As for P.J. Flannery, he dropped in four 3-pointers Saturday night that didn't seem to disturb the rim. P.J. totaled 12 3-pointers versus the 'Cats this season, including five in the February victory on the Eagles' Coach Jim Connors Court.

 Foster's 19 points led four St. Edward players in double figures. Huffman scored a significant chunk of his 15 points off smooth drives to the glass and the rim, and P.J. Flannery and Blanton turned in 14-point nights.

 The Eagles shot 64 percent from the field in the first half, including 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

 Things didn't get any better for Saint Ignatius in the early stages of the second half as St. Edward, executing pretty much the same way it did in the second quarter, extended its lead to 30 points.

 With Coach Flannery employing his rotations and working the clock, the Wildcats did win the fourth quarter, 17-8.

 Along with Wiskes' solid performance, Coach Becker got a 13-point night from senior forward Josh Ozanne and some solid play from his oh so promising sophomore guard Chase Toppin.

 The final numbers from Wildcats senior Stats Man/Team Manager Gabe Liberatore showed St. Edward shooting 55 percent overall and 44 percent on 3-pointers, and Saint Ignatius shooting 40 percent overall and 43 percent from beyond the arc.

 The Eagles, now 22-3 with an 11-game winning streak, move on to face Lorain in Wednesday's 7 PM Regional Semifinal at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena, "The JAR," if you will.

 St. Edward outrebounded the Wildcats, 30-19, and was 13-of-15 from the foul line. The 'Cats made 13 of their 20 shots from the Charity Stripe.

 FROM COACH BECKER: "St. Edward can score in a lot of different ways, outside, inside, dribble drive and 3-balls. Games are lost at certain points and certainly that run (10-2) in about 35 seconds of the second quarter was the difference.

 "Give St. Edward credit, they are a good basketball team that is very well coached and we saw them on a hot night," said Coach Becker. "When good teams are hot, they are almost impossible to beat. They'll make a deep run if they continue to play like they did tonight.

 "We had opportunities that didn't go in the basket, opportunities that would have stemmed the tide and changed the momentum a little bit," Coach Becker continued. "But that's basketball. St. Edward came out early and made a bunch of shots that forced us to play the game we didn't want to play. We wanted to keep the game in the fifties. They executed and we didn't."

 FROM STANDOUT SENIOR LUKE WISKES: As tough as Saturday night's season ender was, Luke Wiskes, always the epitome of class, emphasized that he will remember this season as being the most enjoyable in his four-year career as a Wildcat.

 "The friendships, the laughter and the great camaraderie we have," that is what I take with me," Luke said. "And it isn't just the seniors, it's every player on this team."

 On or off the court, Luke was a special leader and, as his teammates will tell you, even a better person.

 In the late stages of the second half on Saturday night, when the outcome was obvious, Saint Ignatius' Team Chaplain Father Paul Shelton, S.J., who everyone associated with Wildcats Basketball is blessed to have as a mentor, counselor, spiritual advisor and friend, turned to this old-timer and said: "Luke Wiskes can surely hold his head high tonight."

 And this corner can hold on to some special memories, knowing that I had the privilege to write about Luke, his fellow seniors Dom DiNunzio, Aymin Bahhur, Jon Barnes, Josh Ozanne and Neeko Melendez, along with all of the juniors and underclassmen who have added to the unbreakable bond of the 2017-18 Saint Ignatius Basketball Wildcats.

 Again gentlemen, Thank You and God and Saint Ignatius' Administration be willing, I will look forward to another special winter next season.