OHIO CITY, OH - The end of the calendar year 2023 has been nice to the Wildcats, as they head into 2024 claiming an 8-2 record and finding themselves near the top of many area and state rankings. While playing a schedule full of area powerhouses, the Wildcats have seen it all with heartbreakers and game-winners in the first month of action.
It started with a home stretch where they took care of business against Medina and Villa Angela-St. Joseph and handed Louisville their only loss of the season to this point. The first setback came against Richmond Heights, as after being down 20 in the first half, the Wildcats battled to a five-point loss.
The next day, however, they took on Reynoldsburg and won an instant classic in double-overtime, on a game-winning four-point-play after six Wildcats had fouled out. They came home for one game and handled Maple Heights before hitting the road to Tampa, Florida. There, they demolished Canisius (NY) by 57, then fought a nationally ranked St. Joseph's Prep (PA) team to the wire, but ultimately lost, but bounced back with a win over Dallas Jesuit (TX) in the finale. In a quick turnaround, they went into Akron and beat St. Vincent-St. Mary by 18 points in a father-versus-son showdown.
Junior guard Quinn Woidke is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game while pulling down 3.0 rebounds, dishing 2.3 assists and collecting 1.7 steals per contest. Woidke has been filling up the stat sheet, and has scored over 10 points in all but one contest. He dropped a season-high 27 points against St. Joseph Prep and also had 20+ against St. Vincent-St. Mary (22) and Reynoldsburg (21).
The big man Reece Robinson, who is committed to Cleveland State University, is having a breakout campaign in his second year in Blue and Gold. Robinson has recorded double-doubles in points and rebounds in four games and has two games of over 20 points (VASJ, Dallas Jesuit). Robinson averages 13.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds while swatting 1.4 blocks per contest.
The two starting forwards for the Wildcats have also done their fair share of damage this season. Junior Damon Friery is the other Wildcat in double digits, averaging 10.4 points per game, despite only shooting from a 33.3% clip from the field. Senior Air Force commit Sam Springer is right on his heels, pouring in 9.4 tallies per game while also grabbing 4.8 rebounds a night. Both big men average over one trifecta a game, adding a unique dynamic to the Wildcat offense.
The final starter, senior point guard Jack Zapolnik, has done it all for Head Basketball Coach Cam Joyce and the Wildcats. He is the team's primary facilitator, dishing out 3.3 assists per game while also hauling in 3.4 rebounds per game and being a threat on defense with over a steal per contest. "JZ" can also fill up the score sheet, averaging 8.9 points per game, with performances of 17 points (Medina), 16 points (Reynoldsburg) and 14 points (St. Vincent-St. Mary).
Matt Ellis leads the reserves in points per game off the bench with 7.8. His big game came against Reynoldsburg, where he had 18 points and hit the game-winning four-point play. Mike Lamirand has had to do it all, playing multiple positions depending on what's needed that night. Lamirand has responded by averaging over a rebound, assist, steal and block per night, along with 3.2 points a game. His best game was against St. Vincent-St. Mary, where he had 11 points while knocking down three deep balls.
Max Woidke also had a big game against St. Vincent-St. Mary, scoring 11 of his own, setting a new career high. Woidke adds shooting to the lineup, shooting an absurd 60% from beyond the arc while also getting a steal and rebound per appearance.
Coach Joyce also has some efficient defensive specialists to call upon, with Sean Martin and Kalli Johnson. Martin, who is committed to playing defensive back at Northwestern, plays hard on-ball defense and is a top facilitator on the team, averaging a shade under two helpers per game, along with 3.2 points per game and almost a steal per contest.
Johnson, who transferred in from Oklahoma after his father joined the Cleveland State coaching staff, flies around the passing lanes and is usually tasked with guarding the opposition's leading scorer. Johnson also averages 2.8 tallies and 1.4 boards per game.
Rounding out the rotation, both Jimmy Thomas and Pearce Gibbs have gotten essential minutes this season and Alijah Haddox has provided additional frontcourt depth. Ezekiel Alfonso averages over three points a game, and Kyle Niehaus recently scored his first varsity bucket. Jackson Pierce and Conor Mangan add height, length and shooting to this Saint Ignatius team.
This team awaits a fun stretch ahead, with a game against arch-rival St. Edward on the horizon and a two-day trip to Dayton to take on state dynasty Centerville and national powerhouse Oakridge Academy (FL).