Eric Black, who finished with a game-high 28 points, converted a high-low assist from his twin brother David as the final seconds were ticking off the clock and the Wildcats, now 9-1 on the season, turned back the underrated 8-3 Walsh Jesuit Warriors, snapping the Warriors' six-game winning streak on Saturday night in Sullivan Gym.
Saint Ignatius led, 40-26, with four minutes remaining in the third quarter before Walsh Jesuit came storming back behind sophomore guard/forward Mitch Peterson, senior guard Max Siwik and junior forward Dom Mittiga.
In what was a match up of undefeated teams, Saint Ignatius' junior varsity improved to 10-0 by defeating Walsh Jesuit's jayvees, 53-47. The Warriors' JV team is now 10-1.
Here is the corner's look at Saturday night's thriller on West 30th and Lorain Avenue.
Cleveland, Ohio or Ohio City, if you will - With 12.5 seconds remaining in Saturday night's varsity basketball headliner at Sullivan Gymnasium, there was no doubt in the mind of Saint Ignatius senior forward and captain David Black as to which play the Wildcats were going to run.
"We knew right away we were going to that play," David Black said of his high-low pass to his twin brother, senior post and captain Eric Black, an on-the-money assist that led to Eric's power layup and a hard earned 62-60 victory over a tough and talented Walsh Jesuit team.
Eric Black's game winner came with 0.65 seconds on the clock and there would be no desperation, length-of-the-court toss by the Warriors after they stepped over the line trying inbound the ball.
"That's the play we practice all the time," David Black continued. "With me and Eric being twins, it's kind of easy. I pass to him all of the time. I feel like all of my assists are to him anyways. That's just something Coach (Head Coach Sean O'Toole '87) did a great job of drawing up and Eric did a great job of finishing it."
Eric Black, who finished with a game-high 28 points, including 16 in the second half, described the intensity of Saturday night's game as being "great."
"Everyone was battling and everyone was physical down low," said Eric, who had nothing but praise for the effort Walsh Jesuit brought to the storied Sullivan court. "Rebounding was key in this game and I thought we got the key rebounds when we needed to."
After a first half that saw Saint Ignatius clinging to a two-point lead, the Wildcats came out and played the first four minutes of the third quarter like a team that was ranked third in this past week's Associated Press Division I state poll.
Sparked by two free throws and a strong baseline move by Eric Black, a 3-pointer and a free throw by senior point guard and captain Danny Bova, two free throws and a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Deven Stover, and an authoritative and quick-off-the-dribble drive to the rim by senior wing and captain Isiah Barbra that resulted in a three-point play, Saint Ignatius held a 40-26 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter.
Following a timeout, Coach John Norris' Warriors showed the large and enthusiastic crowd in Sullivan Gym why they entered Saturday night's yearly encounter with the Wildcats carrying a six-game winning streak and having won eight of their previous 10 games.
With 6-foot-4 senior guard Max Siwik and 6-4 sophomore guard Mitch Peterson, a young man with endless potential, showing the way, Walsh Jesuit went on an 11-0 run and it was game on. Folks, remember the name Mitch Peterson.
The Wildcats, on the strength of a fee throw by Eric Black and a 3-pointer by David Black, got some breathing room at 44-37 as they entered a fourth quarter that brought back Sullivan Gymnasium memories so thick that this old-timer had to wipe them away from what are as of Sunday 64-year-old eyes.
After David Black's strong move to the basket, Walsh Jesuit still trailed by seven points. But then young Mr. Peterson unleashed his exceptional shooting range and uncanny balance while driving to the rim.
A pair of quick release 3-pointers by Peterson, sandwiched around his smooth leaning one hander in the lane, were the fuel that enabled the Warriors to outscore the Wildcats, 12-6, and trail by just one point, 52-51.
Following a free throw by Barbra and yet another answer down low by Eric Black, Saint Ignatius led, 55-51, with 2:35 remaining to be played. The large number of enthusiastic young fans from St. Raphael, the home parish of the Blacks, were dancing to the beat of the Saint Ignatius Pep Band and gym rats from both Cuyahoga County and Summit County were salivating.
It was punch-counter punch over the final two minutes, as Peterson's third 3-pointer of the second half again made it a one-point game. Peterson led his team with 22 points, including 15 over the final 16 minutes.
Not to be outdone by a gifted sophomore, the versatile Eric Black stepped outside and sent home a trey that made the score 58-54 in favor of the Wildcats with 1:57 to go.
With their fans helping them stay in the game, the Warriors responded with baskets by Siwik and versatile junior forward Dom Mittiga and we were all knotted up again at 58. At least for a few seconds.
Barbra, who never stops moving without the ball, beat the defense down court and Bova found him with a precious dime that resulted in a layup and 60-58 Saint Ignatius lead.
Following a timeout by Coach Norris and his staff, Walsh got the ball in the hands of Siwik and the senior leader looked like a vintage Bob Pettit with his reverse layup along the Lorain Avenue baseline, an effort that tied the score once again. Siwik finished with 17 points, 12 of those coming in the second half.
In the final 16 seconds, Walsh Jesuit came up short on a 3-pointer that would have given them a three-point lead and Saint Ignatius calmly ran the twin-spin play that Coach O'Toole and his staff called for.
"Danny Bova, a terrific point guard, looks up the floor and our bigs (frontcourt players) and our guards were running the floor," said Barbra, a leader on and off the court. "If we run and get wide, Danny's going to get it to us. He did a great job of taking care of the ball and our bigs finished well around the rim."
Typical Isiah, always crediting and encouraging everyone else. But then I guess that is a characteristic that helps define a captain.
"Our first measure of a game is getting a win," said Coach O'Toole. "What's good is that we were able to survive. They (the Warriors) played really well down the stretch. They executed well and we did not execute as well. But, in the end we were able to get it (the ball) where we wanted.
"I keep going back to our consistency," Coach O'Toole continued. "We go up 14 in the third quarter and within two or three minutes the game is tied. There's different paces you play with. When you are winning you have to be a little more selective with your shots, make the defense work a little more and try to get an easier shot. With the schedule we have coming up, we have to be more consistent. We're not finishing at the end of quarters. I'm happy for our kids that we won and I am happy where we are after 10 games (9-1), but we are nowhere near where we need to be."
Saint Ignatius was 12-of-20 from the free-throw line and had six 3-pointers. Walsh Jesuit was 9-of-11 from the charity stripe, including a 6-for-6 performance by Siwik, and hit five treys. Along with his floor generalship, Bova totaled 10 points, including two 3-pointers.
The Wildcats will now focus on five days of all-out-effort practices, as they prepare to face their longtime rival St. Edward on Saturday night in the Eagles Nest. St. Edward is ranked No. 1 in the big-school state poll and No. 1 in the seven-county area poll.
As for the Junior Varsity Wildcats, Coach Chris Salata's team remained unbeaten thanks in part to a strong game down low by sophomore post Sharief Irish (15 points) and some crisp passing and nine points from sophomore guard Ryan Berger.
The JV 'Cats made 13 2-point shots, had three 3-pointers and were 18-of-25 from the free-throw line.
HOCKEY
*In varsity hockey action late Saturday night, the Ice Cats suffered their first loss in Great Lakes Hockey League play as the Green Wave of Holy Name scored with 0.08 seconds left in the third period and defeated Saint Ignatius, 3-2. The game, which matched the No. 1 (Saint Ignatius) and No. 7 teams in the coaches' state poll, was played on Holy Name's home ice in Parma's Michael A. Ries Ice Rink.
Saint Ignatius (16-3-4) tied the score at 2 with 54 seconds remaining in the game, before Tim Higginbotham provided the game-winner for the Green Wave. It was Higginbotham's second lamp lighter on the night.
Junior forward Kevin Yarcusko scored the Ice Cats' first goal in the first period and junior forward Ethan Whitney provided the tying goal for Coach Pat O'Rourke '90. Saint Ignatius sophomore Wes Deacon had 13 saves in net and Holy Name keeper CJ Balodis had 28 saves.
WRESTLING
Coach Mark Sullivan's Wildcats went 1-1 in Saturday's tri match at Padua, losing to Brunswick, 42-28, and defeating the host Bruins, 34-31.
Here are the 'Cats' highlights versus Brunswick.
At 126 pounds, Bush (SI) pinned Thomas (B) 3:27. At 138, Miller (SI) major decision over Camacho (B), 10-0. At 145, Brady (SI) won by decision, 6-1. At 152, Vilsask (SI) pinned Floyd (B) :51. At 182, McLaughlin (SI) pinned Fontana (B) 1:03. At 195, Keim (SI) won by decision over Slyman (B), 10-5.
Here are the 'Cats' highlights versus Padua.
At 120 pounds, Rivera (SI) pinned Hrusovsky (P) 1:33. At 126, Bush (SI) won by forfeit. At 138, Miller (SI) won by major decision over Nichols (P), 12-3. At 152, Vilsak (SI) defeated Fasnacht (P), 3-1 in overtime. At 182, McLaughlin (SI) defeated Hartman (P), 3-1. At 195, Andrews (SI) pinned Gilmore (P) 4:45. At 220, Vazquez (SI) pinned Reinholz (P) 1:22.