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Season Ends with Heartbreaking 4 OT Loss for the Basketball Cats

By Bobby Gerome '21 , 03/08/19, 8:45PM EST

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This season unfortunately comes to a close.

After a big win against Rhodes, the Wildcats took on a tougher competition on Thursday against the Bees of Brecksville Broadview Heights High School. Unfortunately, the Bees came out on top.

The first half saw the Wildcats take a demanding lead. The score at halftime was 31-20 in favor of the Cats. The men of Ohio City played smart defense and found open looks on offense.

Early in the third, the Wildcats increased on their lead even more, at one point the lead was at 18. But the Bees cut into the lead a little in the third.

Going into the fourth, the score was 40-33 Wildcats. The quarter ended with a buzzer beater three by the Bees, giving them momentum heading into the fourth.

In the final regulation period, the Bees got hot from beyond the arc. Near the end of regulation, with thirty seconds left on the clock, sophomore Henry Raynor made a putback layup to put the Wildcats up one point. On the next possession, the Wildcats fouled the Bees and the Bees went one for two from the line.

The score stood tied 52-52 going into overtime.

In the first overtime period, the score stayed close. But after a missed shot at the buzzer, the score was still tied at 57.

The second stanza saw a Lukas Bielek layup with 14 seconds left to tie the score at 63 after the Bees took a lead. Brecksville Broadview Heights missed a shot at the buzzer, and so the game went into a third overtime.

In the third overtime period, the Wildcats took a six point lead, 69-63. Four of those six points were from free throws. But a three and a layup from the Bees narrowed the Wildcats’ lead to only one point.

On the Bees’ next possession they got fouled, and went 50% from the charity stripe. The game was tied at 69. Both teams hit another shot in the period (Brecksville’s came at the buzzer), and one of the most interesting games in recent Wildcats history went into a fourth overtime.

In the fourth overtime, the Bees dominated the Wildcats. The final score of the game was 84-79, concluding the Wildcats’ season.

After the game, Head Coach Brian Becker ‘77 said, “Brecksville’s a great basketball team, especially when it comes to shooting. They also made their free throws and we didn’t. We battled every single possession for a game in a half of basketball played.”

The Wildcats end a promising season at 16-8. After a 5-6 start to the year, the team tallied 10 straight wins. Following a loss to Stow-Munroe Falls, the Wildcats won a playoff game against Rhodes before concluding the year in the District Semi.  

“It’s a tough loss, but I credit the seniors for their effort and leadership throughout the season, and I think with our young talent, we’ll have some great success next season,” said Becker.

The basketball season may have come to an end this year, but the team is only graduating five seniors. The Wildcats will have lots of players with varsity experience on the floor next year. The Saint Ignatius community would like to thank seniors – Kevin Davet, Lukas Bielek, Wilson Young, Lores Valenzuela, and Darius Moss Jr. for their leadership, effort, and great memories they have given us throughout the years.