Speaking with the same calm and composure he displayed at the foul line, Saint Ignatius’ gifted forward Shonn Miller said the past two nights have been all about what his coach, Sean O’Toole (’87), stresses in practice every day.
“Coach talks about staying together,’’ Miller said. “It’s all about team chemistry, picking each other up when we’re down. I think that’s what got us through this game.’’
Yes, that, and a sophomore who had ice in his veins when called on to pick up his entire team and the Wildcats’ faithful.
Miller, hitting nothing but net on two free throws with two seconds remaining, lifted Saint Ignatius to a 46-45 victory over a talented and gritty University School team in Saturday night’s non-league basketball headliner on the Preppers’ home court.
The Wildcats, who were coming off an intense four-point victory over rival Saint Edward at Sullivan Gymnasium on Friday night, trailed by one point with four seconds on the clock.
With Saint Ignatius in-bounding the ball under its basket, Miller grabbed a lob pass about six-to-seven feet in front of the basket, attempted a jumper in the paint and was fouled.
As most of the large and enthusiastic crowd rose to its feet, Miller dropped both free throws through a net that hardly moved because of the soft rotations of the ball. The Wildcats improved to 6-2 after winning two dramatic games in less than 24 hours.
"I was kind of nervous,’’ said Miller after he finished with a team-high 11 points and totaled 21 points for the weekend. “But really, you just have to suck it up and make the free throws. We work on it all week in practice.’’
Saint Ignatius had to work for the entire 32 minutes against a University School team that lost for the fourth time in 13 games.
Along with Miller’s heroics, the Wildcats got a solid performance from 6-4 junior post Mark Myers, who scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds. Myers and reliable 6-3 junior post Vito Sosic helped fill the void created by the shoulder injury to standout senior post Dan Fox.
After a three-point play by Myers and a strong move down low by Sosic, Saint Ignatius led, 17-10, with 5:48 remaining in the first half.
It was at that point, however, that the Preppers got their half-court offense in gear.
University School, behind a three-point play by multitalented 6-2 junior guard Richard Morrow and a 3-pointer by junior guard Harry Briggs, tied the score at 22 with 2:21 left in the half.
The Wildcats responded with a free throw by junior forward Rich Austin and a 3-pointer by Myers. However, after a driving one-hander by Preppers senior guard Nolan Thompson, Saint Ignatius clung to a two-point lead at halftime.
“I never really played the (post) position before this year,’’ said Myers, who will take over the quarterback reins this summer for the Wildcats’ defending Division I state champion football team. “I’m just getting started. Like tonight, I’m doing better and better every day at practice and working harder and harder.
“I really didn’t feel tired at all (after playing Saint Edward on Friday night). Just get a good night’s sleep and come back and do it again.’’
Neither team had difficulty calling on its second wind, as Saint Ignatius started the second half with a 6-0 run.
University School, which was coming off a 30-point victory over Solon on Tuesday night, closed to 32-30 on a three-point play by Morrow off a creative move down the lane and a free throw by Morrow. The silky-smooth Morrow finished with a game-high 15 points.
Sparked by a floating teardrop down the lane by junior point guard Tyler Hammond and some more hustle down low by Myers, the Wildcats took a seven-point lead into the final eight minutes.
No lead was safe in this one, however, as the Preppers put together another run that was fueled by Thompson’s 3-pointer and capped off by 3-pointers by sophomore guard Jack Bentz and Briggs. Briggs’ third 3-pointer of the night put University School in front, 42-40.
Saint Ignatius, which travels to Shaker Heights on Friday night, regained the lead, 44-43, on a soft jumper by Miller off Hammond’s fifth assist with 1:55 to go. Morrow’s two free throws put the Preppers back on top with 1:38 remaining, and not another point was scored until Miller stepped to the line with two clicks left on the clock.
“Shonn Miller, what can you say?’’ said Coach O’Toole, who also got some key contributions from junior guard Tom Parker, senior guards Joey Parris and Joey Salata, and senior forward Fred Schirmer. “I can’t say it enough, when you lose a kid like Danny Fox other kids have to step up.
“I can’t wait until we become a finished product. The kids realize we have room to get better, but we’re finding a way to win and this was a great road win. Hey, we also played basically the whole game without (senior guard) Pat Hinkel (foul trouble), and he’s a huge part of what we do. That’s resiliency at its best.’’
WILDCATS AND PREPPERS JUNIOR-VARSITY TEAMS SET THE TEMPO.
Before the varsity teams played their nail-biter, University School’s JV squad turned back Saint Ignatius’ junior varsity in overtime, 43-40.
The Wildcats trailed, 16-8, midway through the second quarter, but came back behind the hustle of guard Ryan Ivancic and post Pat Gallagher. Saint Ignatius led, 29-28, after Gallagher converted an assist from forward Zach Strippy into a layup with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Gallagher led the ‘Cats with 12 points.
After calling a timeout with five seconds left in regulation, Saint Ignatius forced the overtime on a strong and smooth buzzer-beating, driving one-hander by Ivancic.
In overtime, the Wildcats (5-3) trailed, 41-40, after guard Greg Kurtz hit a 3-pointer. The Preppers held on behind two pressure free throws by forward Mitchell Black with 11 seconds remaining.