Coach Sean O'Toole's Varsity Basketball Wildcats controlled the second half and consistently beat St. Vincent-St. Mary in transition over the final eight minutes en route to a 74-64 victory in The LeBron James Arena late Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats shot better than 50 percent from the field and held the Fighting Irish to a shooting percentage of well under 40 percent, as Coach O'Toole's deep and gifted team improved to 6-0.
****The Junior Varsity Wildcats improve to 7-0 with an impressive 68-50 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary's jayvees (see the recap after the varsity story).
Akron, Ohio - Saint Ignatius head basketball coach Sean O'Toole '87 won't hesitate to tell you that his team has a solid nucleus of 12 to 13 players.
While the Wildcats' impressive depth has already come to the fore more than once this young season, there is one player, when the 'big games" arrive, that Coach O'Toole can't take off the floor.
And that was never more evident than in Tuesday's New Year's Eve matinee headliner against highly regarded St. Vincent-St. Mary in the basketball-rich LeBron James Arena.
Saint Ignatius, with senior point guard Danny Bova breaking down SVSM's defensive pressure and directing a relentless fourth-quarter transition offense, took the fight out of the Irish, 74-64, in what was a match up of the area's fourth (Saint Ignatius) and seventh-ranked teams.
Bova, who selfless approach and high basketball IQ came to the fore time and again, settled the Wildcats down after they fell behind by six points late in the first half. Danny, said Coach O'Toole, orchestrated everything from that point on and got the Wildcats into their sets.
After versatile 6-6 junior forward Jaylin McDonald scored off a text-book follow and tireless senior forward Isiah Barbra buried two free throws, Saint Ignatius trailed, 31-29, with 1 minute and 16 seconds remaining in the first half.
St. Vincent-St. Mary's 5-10 junior guard Johnnie Robinson responded with a 3-pointer, but after three free throws by Barbra and a basket by 6-foot-7 senior post Eric Black off an assist from his twin brother David, a 6-6 senior forward, SVSM clung to a one-point lead at halftime.
Eric Black, who scored a game-high 24 points, including 11 in the decisive fourth quarter, gave his team a 37-36 lead by burying a 3-pointer early in the third quarter. Saint Ignatius moved to a five-point advantage at the midway point of the third quarter, only to watch the Fighting Irish close to 45-44 on two free throws by multi-talented 6-5 senior forward Jalen Hudson with 2:47 left in the quarter.
Hudson led the now 3-6 Irish with 17 points.
McDonald, a good-natured, yet unassuming young man who lets his play do the talking, slowed SVSM's momentum by hitting a big-time 3-pointer and Bova turned an offensive rebound by David Black into a strong drive and a 50-44 Saint Ignatius lead.
Coach Dru Joyce's Fighting Irish, who were the Division II state runner-up last season, cut the Wildcats' lead in half on a three-point play by 6-5 junior forward Jibri Blount. The 'Cats had the answer again, however, as gifted 6-4 sophomore guard Deven Stover scored off a strong one-handed drive and Coach O'Toole's team took a five-point lead into the final eight minutes.
"I can count on and trust my guys that they'll be down the floor," said Bova, who, in Coach O'Toole's words, "was throwing darts" to his teammates in transition while beating SVSM's pressure in the fourth quarter. "I got the easy part. I just give it to them and they make the good plays. Coach tells us to catch it and read 90 and that's what I did. I didn't force the dribble."
Danny, who entered Tuesday's game averaging 6.2 assists, dished out eight one-the-money point producers with everyone of them seeming to take a toll on the Irish.
With Eric Black continuing to play with strength and passion, Saint Ignatius took command in the final six minutes and 36 seconds of a game that attracted a true basketball-savvy crowd to The LeBron James Arena. A strong move down low by Eric, followed by his two transition layups, pushed the Wildcats' lead to 61-53 with 4:49 remaining to be played.
McDonald then combined with Bova for yet another transition basket and after an authoritative block by David Black, a layup by 6-7 senior post Jake Strippy off a Bova dime and an offensive rebound by Strippy that he converted into a put back, the Irish were reeling at 71-54 with 2:41 left on the clock.
"Eric is so smart, he plays so hard," said Coach O'Toole when Eric Black's final points were mentioned. "He's very skilled. We're trying to simplify him. He's able to go right, he's able to get left, but he' so strong that when he catches it and he's balanced, he's either going to lay it in or he's going to get fouled. Multiple guys defensively have to be aware of him. He stepped out and hit a big three (3-pointer) and hit his free throws, an incredible game."
The Wildcats have little time to savor Tuesday's victory as on Friday evening they host a very talented Detroit Jesuit team in Sullivan Gymnasium. The junior varsity tip off is at 4:30, followed by the varsity game at six.
Coached by Rocky River native Patrick Donnelly, the Cubs of Detroit Jesuit are 3-1, with their only setback coming in overtime to Toledo St. John's Jesuit. Among Coach Donnelly's mainstays are highly regarded senior Noah King, sophomore Billy Thomas, senior Nick Mutebi and sophomore Cassius Winston, who is capable of a double-double every time he steps on the court.
The 'Cats edged the Cubs, 78-75, in Detroit last season.
JV Recap: Saint Ignatius 68, St. Vincent-St. Mary 50 - Coming off a tough one-point victory at Toledo St. John's Jesuit on Monday, Coach Chris Salata's team showed no signs of tired legs. The now 7-0 JV 'Cats ran, shot and defended their way to a 32-16 lead by halftime.
Helping key the offensive charge were sophomore post Sharief Irish, freshman post Matt Davet, sophomore guards Kyle Kalish, Jake Gawlik and Ryan Berger, and sophomore forward Ian Burry.
Irish scored nine of his 16 points in the third quarter in helping his team take command. Gawlik scored 14 points, including a 5-for-6 effort from the free-throw line, Kalish tossed in 11 points in less than two quarters, and Ryan Berger and Burry finished with nine and eight points, respectively.
Coach Salata's team hit 24 two-point shots, had three 3-pointers and was 11-of-14 from the charity stripe.