skip navigation

Wildcats Extend Winning Streak to 3 Before Finals Break

By Joe Ginley '12 , 12/11/19, 1:30PM EST

Share

The Basketball Cats now have a 10-day break from games to study for final exams.

Weathering runs is a trait of an excellent team. The Wildcats exhibited that characteristic on Tuesday evening.

In the face of a very solid Maple Heights squad, the men of Cam Joyce endured a run by the Mustangs and fired off one of their own to earn the first road win of the season.

With the 57-51 win, the Wildcats advance to 3-1 on the season. The Cats now have a 10-day break from games to take care of business academically, particularly to study for semester exams and finish up those end of the semester projects and essays.

The first quarter marked the opening of the Henry Raynor Show. The Mustangs did not pay much attention to him in the early going, and it cost them. Raynor hit an early 3-point, leveled a monstrous dunk, and hit 3-of-4 free throws. With Raynor's 8 points, the Wildcats enjoyed a 12-9 lead after the first, as Aidan Hubbard and Will Yontek also chipped in 2 points apiece.

The Wildcats continued to play well in the second quarter. Raynor added two more buckets, Mike Mattimore drilled a beautiful trey, CJ Yarian added in 2 points, and Chase Toppin drove to the bucket on one of the more beautiful shots you'll see. The senior spun away from a defender, and pulled off some wizardry in getting the ball into the bucket. Sometimes the veteran guard just does things that make you marvel at his skill.

At half, the Wildcats held a 26-21 lead.

In the third quarter, the Mustangs started to figure out the Wildcats. The hosts locked down Saint Ignatius on defense and started to rip off an offensive run. Maple Heights climbed out of the hole and took a modest lead. Raynor, Toppin, and Emmett Hanna chipped in the only points of the third, as Maple Heights carried a 34-33 advantage into the fourth.

In the final stanza, the Wildcats took control. Raynor took over the game, dominating in the low post. The Henry Raynor Show put up 10 points, including a pair of free throws and a huge slammer. Tommy Spear also played quite well, adding a pair of drives to the hoop, including an and-one to help seal the deal late.

The distribution on offense was the key for the Cats. The team looked efficient in passing the ball around until finding the open man. Emmett Hanna made the Mustangs regret leaving him open on one such play, nailing a late 3-ball. 

Raynor led all scorers with 25 points, continuing his early-season tear. Spear (8) and Hanna (7) finished second and third on the leaderboard. 

The Wildcats' next game will be at home on Saturday, December 21 vs. Canton McKinley. Coach Cam hopes that Wildcats fans will come to support the team in a big matchup for the squad.

In the meantime, the Wildcats will be hard at work practicing on the court and studying in the library and the classroom.

The Full Sweep

The Freshmen Gold Cats and the JV Cats also earned road wins on Tuesday evening.

The men of Mike Sweeney '78 advanced to 2-1 on the year with the freshmen team's win over Maple Heights, 57-41. The Gold Cats play Brush's gold frosh on Saturday at 11 am.

The JV Cats rolled past the Mustangs as well, 61-50. Coach Tom Parker '10 is now 2-0 on the year. His boys are back on the court on Thursday, December 19 at Euclid.