Cleveland, Ohio – After a roller coaster weekend that saw Coach Sean O’Toole’s Varsity Basketball Wildcats suffer a one sided loss to a talent rich Detroit Jesuit team, but then bounce back to defeat previously undefeated Cleveland Central Catholic, Coach O’Toole is preparing his team for back-to-back games versus University School and Walsh Jesuit.

The Wildcats (7-1), ranked third in the Associated Press Division I state poll, will face the University School Preppers on Friday night in the DeCarlo Varsity Center at John Carroll University .

On Saturday night, Saint Ignatius will host the Warriors from Walsh Jesuit in Sullivan Gymnasium.

Both games are scheduled for 7:30 and will be preceded by junior varsity match ups at 6 PM. Coach Chris Salata’s jayvee Wildcats stand 8-0 on the season.

With seniors Pat McGuire and Paddy White on the lead call, the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network will bring you the action live from both John Carroll University and Sullivan Gym.

Here is a look at University School and Walsh Jesuit.

University School: Coach O’Toole’s ‘Cats defeated the Preppers, 68-45, last season at John Carroll University. Post/forward Eric Black tossed in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds and point guard Danny Bova had five assists and six rebounds in helping key that victory. Eric and Danny join forward Isiah Barbra and forward David Black, Eric’s twin brother, as the Wildcats’ senior captains this winter.

As for the 2013-14 Preppers, Coach O’Toole sees Coach Terry Lipford’s team as having capable scorers with “a very good point guard in DeAndre Austin.”

In helping University School to a 5-1 record, Austin is averaging 20.5 points per game. Saint Ignatius’ veteran assistant coach Jerry Porath describes Austin as not only having the ability to penetrate the defense and draw fouls, but also the range to hurt you from the perimeter. Austin has dropped in 12 3-pointers through six games.

Coach O’Toole emphasized that the Preppers, who have averaged 82 points in last their four games (all victories), utilize at least nine players most every night.

“Defensively, they’ll give you some different zone pressures and half-court traps,” Coach O’Toole said. “They are obviously well coached, with some strength inside and some wings that can score. It’s a team that shoots it well. We’re pumped to be playing up at John Carroll.”

Along with Austin’s impressive contributions, University School has some solid complementary parts in 6-6 post Kyle Scadlock (16.8 points per game), 6-3 wing Chris Cercelle (10.6 points per game and 12 3-balls), 6-0 guard Regan Mohler (7 points per game), 6-5 post Sam Garson (4.6 points per game) and 6-4 post James Johnston (4.4 points per game). Scadlock has averaged 22 points over his last four games.

The Preppers’ only loss through six games came on Dec. 7 at Walsh Jesuit, 68-37.

Walsh Jesuit: “I have a lot of respect for Coach (John) Norris and what he brings to his program,” said Coach O’Toole. “Expect the unexpected when you play them. They will give you many different looks and I know that they will have us well scouted.”

The Warriors started their season with two victories, lost at Holy Name and at Archbishop Hoban and have since won five in a row. They are scheduled to face the Benedictine Bengals in a North Coast League game on Friday night at Walsh Jesuit.

Showing the way for Coach Norris are 6-4 sophomore guard Mitch Peterson, 6-3 junior forward Dom Mittiga, 6-0 senior guard Gaven Cona and 6-4 senior guard Max Siwik.

Peterson is averaging 14.1 points per game and has totaled 16 3-pointers. Mittiga, who is a tireless worker when it comes to battling for position, is averaging 10.1 points. Siwik, a lefty, is scoring at a rate of 9.3 points per game and has 12 3-pointers, and Cona is averaging 6.1 points per game and has also hit 12 shots from beyond the arc.

With Eric Black contributing 10 points and Bova dishing out five assists, Saint Ignatius defeated the Warriors, 64-46, at Walsh Jesuit last season.

BY THE NUMBERS: Entering this weekend’s action, Eric Black continues to lead the Wildcats in scoring with an average of 15.9 points per game.

Barbra, junior wing Andre’ Wolford and sophomore guard Deven Stover are each averaging 9.5 points. David Black is showing the way in the rebounding department with 7.4 per game and Bova is passing out the dimes at a rate of seven per game.

“WHERE THE ‘CATS PLAY”: Along with basketball, this weekend will include competition in all four of Saint Ignatius’ other winter varsity sports.

Coach Jeff Ridler’s swimming and diving team will match strides with University School on Friday at Hathaway Brown. The warm-ups begin at 4 PM, with the competition scheduled to get underway at 5.

On Saturday morning, Coach Ridler's Wildcats, who placed third in the state last season, will gear up for the Northeast Classic in Akron (7 AM warm-ups, 9 AM competition).

Coach John Kastanis’ bowling team will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to St. Edward, as the Alley Cats are slated to face the Padua Bruins on Saturday at Buckeye Lanes.

The Wildcats’ varsity wrestling team, under the direction of veteran head coach Mark Sullivan, will travel to Padua Franciscan High School on Saturday to grapple with the Bruins and the Brunswick Blue Devils in a high noon tri match.

On Saturday night, Coach Pat O’Rourke’s 16-2-4 Ice Cats, ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ state poll, will take on the seventh-ranked Green Wave of Holy Name at the Michael A. Ries Rink in lovely Parma, Ohio. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:30. The Ries Rink is located at 5000 Forestwood Drive.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY: To talk Saint Ignatius football, as the corner would like to send out its congratulations to junior wideout David Shibley and junior defensive back Lawrence Birchler for being selected as two of Coach Chuck Kyle’s captains for the 2014 season.

Two other captains will be chosen during the summer practices.

As for the loyal readers who inquired over the holidays, Saint Ignatius still has four open dates to fill on its 2014 football schedule.

Wildcats tireless Athletic Administrator Rory Fitzpatrick, who amazes us every year by finding opponents, said the teams currently on the schedule are: at Indianapolis Lawrence Central; versus Mentor at Byers Field; at (New Jersey) Paramus Catholic; versus two-time defending Division I state champ Archbishop Moeller at Dublin Coffman High School; at St. Xavier and versus St. Edward at Byers Field. Rory emphasized that he has calls out around the state and beyond.

Have a safe and prosperous weekend!