Saint Ignatius' OHSAA sectional-final preview.
What: Division I basketball sectional final versus John F. Kennedy.
Where: Solon High School, 33600 Inwood Road.
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
SIBN: If you cannot make it to the game, it will be broadcast live over the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network. Seniors Greg Ziton and John Fanta will call it as they see it, and junior Paddy White will be the man with the names and the numbers.
Ohio City – The Saint Ignatius Wildcats are very flattered by the accolades they received throughout the regular season – the top ranking in The Plain Dealer’s seven county Top 25 basketball poll, a seventh-place
ranking by the Associated Press in the Division I state poll and the top seed at the Solon sectional/district, which is the most demanding postseason tournament in Northeast Ohio.
As Wildcats outstanding senior guard Francisco Santiago emphasized after last weekend’s regular-season finale victory over Benedictine, the Wildcats are proud of those poll rankings and seeding. However, as “Cisco” was quick to point out, it is where you stand near the end of March that people remember you by.
Friday night at Solon High School, Coach Sean O’Toole’s Wildcats (19-3) embark on their all-important “second season” as they take on Coach William Marrow’s Fighting Eagles (12-9) from John F. Kennedy in a
sectional final. Game time is 6 bells. The 'Cats will take a 10-game winning streak into Friday's tip off.
Seventh-seeded John F. Kennedy advanced to Friday’s match up with the Wildcats by defeating Lincoln-West, 59-44, in Tuesday night’s semifinals. The Fighting Eagles led, 35-16, at halftime before being outscored
by four points the rest of the way. JFK had defeated Lincoln-West by 43 points during the regular season.
The young man who helps put the fight in the Eagles is senior point guard Donte’ Lindsay. The 6-foot-1 Lindsay is blessed with quick hands, excellent footwork, anticipates well and has above-average range on his
shots. He is averaging more than 17 points an outing. An excellent student in the classroom and a student of the game, Lindsay is also a standout southpaw on the mound during the spring.
Donte’ and his teammates finished as the runner-up in the city’s Senate Athletic League after losing to a very talented Glenville team, 53-50, in the SAL Championship Game.
Two of Lindsay’s biggest complementary parts are 6-3 junior forward Christen Wilson and 6-3 senior forward Ronnie Briggs. Coach Morrow can also call on attacking guard Ra'mond Bell, who is another lefty, and some high flyers of the 6-5 range.
Wilson is very athletic and has excellent range and Briggs, said Saint Ignatius’ veteran assistant coach Jerry Porath, plays much bigger than his height. Briggs will attack the rim, post hard and is a superb offensive rebounder.
“I was impressed with John F. Kennedy when we scrimmaged,” said Coach O’Toole of the spirited preseason encounter with the Fighting Eagles back in the fall at Sullivan Gym. “William Marrow’s teams are always well
coached and they play with great confidence. They are physically tough and are probably one of the more underrated teams in the city. They have great size, a great point guard and they do a solid job of mixing up what they do defensively.”
Coach O’Toole emphasized that one of the biggest adjustments for his team is that they are going to be on a bigger floor than the one that graces Sullivan Gymnasium.
“It’s not that it’s an advantage or disadvantage for anyone, but it’s a factor,” said Coach O’Toole, who enters the postseason with a record of 85-29 in what is now his fifth year at his alma mater. “I personally like
the space. I think it will help us. But you have to be aware of it and aware that there is more ground to cover.
“With our depth that plays well because obviously we have a bench deep enough to give us blows and give us that second wind,” Coach O’Toole continued.
The Wildcats’ depth has come to the fore all winter in playing a huge role in the ‘Cats’ success.
Leading Coach O’Toole’s 10-man rotation are Santiago, gifted 6-5 senior post Derek Sloan, 6-6 junior post Eric Black, junior point guard Danny Bova and 6-3 junior wing Kyle Berger. That versatile five is supported by
a very cable second unit of 6-5 junior post/forward David Black, who is Eric’s twin brother, 6-3 senior forward/wing Austin Sterpka, gritty senior point guard Bryan Fisher, 6-3 junior forward Isiah Barbra and promising 6-6 sophomore forward Jaylin McDonald.
The Wildcats’ depth could increase to even a higher level with the return of talented 6-7 senior post and New York University recruit Alec Papesch.
“Pappy,” who suffered a broken wrist on January 19, might, and we emphasize might, return this weekend or next week providing Saint Ignatius takes care of business on Friday night. But we will leave that up to Alec’s doctor and Wildcats highly respected Athletic Trainer Hank Gaughan, A.T.C.
“I think these kids really buy into each other,” Coach O’Toole said as he was monitoring his team’s weekly weight training session on Monday evening. "We have great, great leadership.
“My biggest concern, as is the case anywhere, is consistency,” Sean continued. “We have to do the little things consistently. We have to rebound the basketball, we have to take care of and value the ball, we have to shoot high percentage shots, we have to run the floor and make sure we communicate in transition. The best way to be consistent is to voice what you are doing. You are your teammate’s eyes behind his head.
“From game one throughout this tournament, there is not a team that won’t get you if you’re not consistent.”