On Friday evening, the Wildcats got exactly what they needed. A win.
The Saint Ignatius varsity basketball team broke its 3-game losing streak on Friday, rolling past Belen Jesuit in style, 69-54.
The big difference from Day 1 to Day 2 of the Vince Fernandez New Year's Classic was energy. Before the game, Head Coach Cam Joyce encouraged his team to bring enthusiasm, particularly on the bench. That meant clapping during every defensive possession, along with plenty of cheering after buckets.
That passion, along with red-hot shooting, paved the way to the Wildcats' win, advancing them to 5-4 on the season.
The Wildcats roared out of the gate against the Wolverines. The Cats scored the first five points of the game and held Belen off the scoreboard for the first few minutes. Griffin Hanna helped to light the spark, showcasing some fight in the early goings. CJ Yarian started and played well as an inside defender, even with a pair of early fouls. Belen Jesuit struggled with the Wildcats' height, particularly when forced to contend with both Yarian and Henry Raynor.
Thanks in part to a pair of Hanna 3-pointers, the Wildcats enjoyed a 13-10 lead after the first.
The Clevelanders continued to click in the second quarter. Hanna hit two more open 3's. Chase Toppin, Will Yontek, and Emmett Hanna added a bucket apiece. And most importantly, the Wildcats played shutdown defense. Belen did not enjoy too many open looks, as Joyce's Cats guarded the Wolverines' sharpshooters well.
Late in the half, the Wildcats made a play that kept momentum on their side for a while. On a 2-on-1 fast break, Emmett Hanna lofted a pass to Raynor. The 6'8 junior threw it down with two hands, drawing the foul as well, in a play that changed the game. The Wildcats charged to the locker room leading 28-21.
The Wildcats didn't need much of a speech in the locker room, as they came out of the break much earlier than their opponents. The free and loose play continued into the third quarter.
Once again, Hanna buried a three, as did Raynor. Chase Toppin also drove to the bucket twice. But the story of the second half was Jon Effertz.
The sophomore found his range and could not be guarded. In his first breakout performance since returning from an injury, Effertz lit up the Miami stage. As assistance coach Lyndon Brooks told him to do during halftime, Effertz shot free and easy. The 6'0 guard found open looks from the wing and the corner, and buried them time and time again.
Entering the fourth, the Wildcats were in full control, 48-31.
Belen Jesuit refused to quit, heating up from behind the arc. But Effertz would not allow a comeback. Effertz continued to swish open looks from deep, hitting three more in the fourth quarter. Effertz also added four free throws in a crazy quarter for the sophomore.
Griffin Hanna also continued his rampage. The senior multi-sport athlete drove the lane for 2 and found space from the wing for 3, giving him a team-best 20 points on the evening. Hanna showcased his inner animal, showing ferocity in attacking the opposing defense.
Danny Nunez also added a triple late in the game, making sure the opponents would not get a comeback in front of the home crowd. The Wildcats walked away smiling with a 69-54 win.
The men of Ohio City will look to conclude the showcase with another win on Saturday. The Wildcats will do battle with Monsignor Pace (FL) at 3:30 pm in the third game of this Miami trip. Monsignor Pace lost to Toledo St. John's Jesuit on Thursday and to McLancy on Friday. Kurt Pickering and Adam Eagleeye will have coverage on the SIBN.