Saint Ignatius Uses Early Defense to Defeat Solon
Saint Ignatius sets the tempo by limiting Solon to two points in the first quarter and advances to Saturday's Division I Regional Championship Game versus Garfield Heights by bringing the Comets down to earth, 64-45, in Wednesday night's Regional Semis
Cleveland, Ohio - Coach Brian Becker's Basketball Wildcats ended Solon's Cinderella ride to the Sweet 16 on Wednesday night by outscoring the Comets, 16-2, in the first eight minutes and 38-27 over the third and fourth quarters.
Saint Ignatius, which continues to play a relentless defense, one that Solon couldn't cope with, improved to 20-6 and advanced to Saturday's 7 PM Regional Championship/State Qualifying showdown with the 22-4 Garfield Heights Bulldogs in The Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University. The Bulldogs advanced by turning back Warren G. Harding, 49-43, in Wednesday night's other Regional Semifinal at The Wolstein Center.
The winner of Saturday's Elite Eight matchup, which feature's the seven-county area's third (Garfield Heights) and fifth-ranked teams, will advance to the Division I Semifinals of the 94th annual OHSAA State Boys Basketball Tournament, which begin on Friday, March 18th at The Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Either Saint Ignatius or Garfield Heights will face the Columbus Regional Champion at 8:30 PM on the 18th. The Division I State Championship Game will tip off in The Schottenstein Center on March 19th, also at 8:30 PM.
The Columbus Regional Final, which is being played at Ohio Dominican University on Saturday at 7 PM, will match Westerville South against the winner of Thursday night's semifinal between Gahanna Lincoln and Upper Arlington.
Garfield Heights and Saint Ignatius will be meeting for the second time this season, as on Feb. 17th the Bulldogs held off the Wildcats, 66-60, in a regular-season encounter at Garfield Heights. Coach Sonny Johnson's Bulldogs lost to Westerville South, 60-57, in last year's State Semifinals. Garfield Heights also advanced to the State Tournament in 2011 and 1950.
"I thought our defense again was really good," Coach Becker '77 told this corner just moments after his team's sixth consecutive victory. "Solid defense, that's what gets you through the Regionals and on to Columbus. We know who we're playing, we know Garfield Heights. They're men amongst boys, with five guys going Division I (Division I Universities). But will conjure up something, I'm sure we will.
"Playing for a trip down to Columbus, this is where we wanted be," continued the man who guided his alma mater Saint Ignatius to its only State Basketball Championship, a 49-46 victory over Cincinnati Elder in March of 2001. Coach Becker also coached the Wildcats to a state runner-up finish to St. Edward in 1998. Saint Ignatius' other appearances at the State Tournament were in 1953, 1952 and 1923.
"I'm glad to be practicing tomorrow," said Coach Becker with that familiar wide smile.
Solon, which is under the direction of Tony DeCesare, who played for Coach Becker at Saint Ignatius and earned his spot among the Cats' all-time assist leaders, battled back into the game by outscoring the Wildcats, 16-10, in the second quarter.
The Comets just couldn't matchup with Saint Ignatius' size, versatility, depth, defense and work off both backboards, as the Cats stretched a 12-point lead after three quarters to 64-40 late in the final quarter.
Saint Ignatius finished with four players in double figures, including a game-high 18 points from 6-foot-8 junior wing/post Austen Yarian, 14 points from 6-7 junior post Matt Davet and 10-point nights from gifted senior guards Deven Stover and Kyle Kalish.
The Cats outrebounded the Comets, 39-28, with Davet (9 boards) and Yarian (7 boards) showing the way. Solon was 10-of-13 from the foul line and Saint Ignatius was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Solon turned the ball over 15 times and the Cats had 12 turnovers. Saint Ignatius totaled 18 assists, including six from Yarian and five from standout senior guard Jimmy Berger.
The Comets, who won three of their last four regular season games and upset Mayfield, Cleveland Heights and Mentor along the tournament trail, closed their season at 13-13. Promising sophomore guard Sincere Carry led Coach DeCesare's team with 10 points, including a 6-for-6 night from the foul line, and was supported by eight-point efforts from senior guard Reid Thompson and junior guard Jason Steele.
SETTING THE TEMPO: Leading, 4-2, in the early going of the first quarter, the Cats closed out the quarter on a 12-0 run that was highlighted by two 3-pointers by Kalish, a steal and a layup by Yarian, a strong move down low by senior forward Tim Kiefer and another basket by Yarian.
SOME LIFE FOR THE COMETS: After Stover scored off a baseline move courtesy of an assist from Yarian and Davet made it a 20-4 game by hitting two free throws, Solon's offense found some life and closed to 20-11 on five consecutive points by senior forward Daryl Johnson Jr. and a strong move to the rim by Steele.
Following two free throws by Stover, the Comets chipped away some more and, following an impressive drive to the basket by sophomore guard Michael Bekelja, trailed by eight points.
On the strength of a follow by Stover and another strong move in the paint by Davet, Saint Ignatius held a 10-point lead, but the Comets trailed by eight points entering the third quarter after Carry hit a soft jumper from the top of the key.
REGAINING CONTROL: Saint Ignatius did just that at the start of the second half, as Yarian was money down low, Stover went to the rim with authority and Davet's endless passion on the offensive glass resulted in his soft one-hander at the rim.
After a hustle put back by Kalish, a power spin move by Davet and a one-hander in the lane by 6-6 senior guard Michael Hollis, the Cats led by 16 points with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.
SETTLING THE ISSUE: With Yarian and Davet running the floor like guards and continuing to have their way down low, Coach Becker's Cats took what little life the Solon Student Body Section had left on two more free throws by Stover, baskets by Yarian and Davet, a steal and a layup by Yarian, a Kalish drive that was as determined as his tailback days at St. Chris and two more points from Davet.
CONTINUING TO STEP UP DEFENSIVELY: "With (senior guard) Ryan Berger being out (sprained ankle), we all had to step up on D," said Yarian, who honed some of his many basketball skills while playing as a kid in the legendary Saint Ignatius of Antioch League. "He is one of our big defenders. But at the end of the day, we just want to win and in the tournament the defense you play has to be tough."
WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE WOLSTEIN CENTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AS THE BASKETBALL CATS SEEK THEIR FIRST FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE SINCE THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON OF 2001.
MARCH MADNESS, BABY! THE WILDCATS' STUDENT BODY SECTION HAS ADDED A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER AND VERSE TO THAT TRADITIONAL SAYING.
Saint Ignatius, which continues to play a relentless defense, one that Solon couldn't cope with, improved to 20-6 and advanced to Saturday's 7 PM Regional Championship/State Qualifying showdown with the 22-4 Garfield Heights Bulldogs in The Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University. The Bulldogs advanced by turning back Warren G. Harding, 49-43, in Wednesday night's other Regional Semifinal at The Wolstein Center.
The winner of Saturday's Elite Eight matchup, which feature's the seven-county area's third (Garfield Heights) and fifth-ranked teams, will advance to the Division I Semifinals of the 94th annual OHSAA State Boys Basketball Tournament, which begin on Friday, March 18th at The Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Either Saint Ignatius or Garfield Heights will face the Columbus Regional Champion at 8:30 PM on the 18th. The Division I State Championship Game will tip off in The Schottenstein Center on March 19th, also at 8:30 PM.
The Columbus Regional Final, which is being played at Ohio Dominican University on Saturday at 7 PM, will match Westerville South against the winner of Thursday night's semifinal between Gahanna Lincoln and Upper Arlington.
Garfield Heights and Saint Ignatius will be meeting for the second time this season, as on Feb. 17th the Bulldogs held off the Wildcats, 66-60, in a regular-season encounter at Garfield Heights. Coach Sonny Johnson's Bulldogs lost to Westerville South, 60-57, in last year's State Semifinals. Garfield Heights also advanced to the State Tournament in 2011 and 1950.
"I thought our defense again was really good," Coach Becker '77 told this corner just moments after his team's sixth consecutive victory. "Solid defense, that's what gets you through the Regionals and on to Columbus. We know who we're playing, we know Garfield Heights. They're men amongst boys, with five guys going Division I (Division I Universities). But will conjure up something, I'm sure we will.
"Playing for a trip down to Columbus, this is where we wanted be," continued the man who guided his alma mater Saint Ignatius to its only State Basketball Championship, a 49-46 victory over Cincinnati Elder in March of 2001. Coach Becker also coached the Wildcats to a state runner-up finish to St. Edward in 1998. Saint Ignatius' other appearances at the State Tournament were in 1953, 1952 and 1923.
"I'm glad to be practicing tomorrow," said Coach Becker with that familiar wide smile.
Solon, which is under the direction of Tony DeCesare, who played for Coach Becker at Saint Ignatius and earned his spot among the Cats' all-time assist leaders, battled back into the game by outscoring the Wildcats, 16-10, in the second quarter.
The Comets just couldn't matchup with Saint Ignatius' size, versatility, depth, defense and work off both backboards, as the Cats stretched a 12-point lead after three quarters to 64-40 late in the final quarter.
Saint Ignatius finished with four players in double figures, including a game-high 18 points from 6-foot-8 junior wing/post Austen Yarian, 14 points from 6-7 junior post Matt Davet and 10-point nights from gifted senior guards Deven Stover and Kyle Kalish.
The Cats outrebounded the Comets, 39-28, with Davet (9 boards) and Yarian (7 boards) showing the way. Solon was 10-of-13 from the foul line and Saint Ignatius was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Solon turned the ball over 15 times and the Cats had 12 turnovers. Saint Ignatius totaled 18 assists, including six from Yarian and five from standout senior guard Jimmy Berger.
The Comets, who won three of their last four regular season games and upset Mayfield, Cleveland Heights and Mentor along the tournament trail, closed their season at 13-13. Promising sophomore guard Sincere Carry led Coach DeCesare's team with 10 points, including a 6-for-6 night from the foul line, and was supported by eight-point efforts from senior guard Reid Thompson and junior guard Jason Steele.
SETTING THE TEMPO: Leading, 4-2, in the early going of the first quarter, the Cats closed out the quarter on a 12-0 run that was highlighted by two 3-pointers by Kalish, a steal and a layup by Yarian, a strong move down low by senior forward Tim Kiefer and another basket by Yarian.
SOME LIFE FOR THE COMETS: After Stover scored off a baseline move courtesy of an assist from Yarian and Davet made it a 20-4 game by hitting two free throws, Solon's offense found some life and closed to 20-11 on five consecutive points by senior forward Daryl Johnson Jr. and a strong move to the rim by Steele.
Following two free throws by Stover, the Comets chipped away some more and, following an impressive drive to the basket by sophomore guard Michael Bekelja, trailed by eight points.
On the strength of a follow by Stover and another strong move in the paint by Davet, Saint Ignatius held a 10-point lead, but the Comets trailed by eight points entering the third quarter after Carry hit a soft jumper from the top of the key.
REGAINING CONTROL: Saint Ignatius did just that at the start of the second half, as Yarian was money down low, Stover went to the rim with authority and Davet's endless passion on the offensive glass resulted in his soft one-hander at the rim.
After a hustle put back by Kalish, a power spin move by Davet and a one-hander in the lane by 6-6 senior guard Michael Hollis, the Cats led by 16 points with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.
SETTLING THE ISSUE: With Yarian and Davet running the floor like guards and continuing to have their way down low, Coach Becker's Cats took what little life the Solon Student Body Section had left on two more free throws by Stover, baskets by Yarian and Davet, a steal and a layup by Yarian, a Kalish drive that was as determined as his tailback days at St. Chris and two more points from Davet.
CONTINUING TO STEP UP DEFENSIVELY: "With (senior guard) Ryan Berger being out (sprained ankle), we all had to step up on D," said Yarian, who honed some of his many basketball skills while playing as a kid in the legendary Saint Ignatius of Antioch League. "He is one of our big defenders. But at the end of the day, we just want to win and in the tournament the defense you play has to be tough."
WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE WOLSTEIN CENTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AS THE BASKETBALL CATS SEEK THEIR FIRST FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE SINCE THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON OF 2001.
MARCH MADNESS, BABY! THE WILDCATS' STUDENT BODY SECTION HAS ADDED A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER AND VERSE TO THAT TRADITIONAL SAYING.