The 5-0 Wildcats travel to the Motor City to face the 5-1 Cubs.

By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright January 2013

Brooklyn, Ohio – Coach Sean O’Toole’s varsity basketball team has had little time to savor Saturday night’s impressive 94-61 victory over previously undefeated Cleveland Central Catholic.

The Wildcats, unbeaten after five games this young season, were back on the practice floor Monday morning at 8, will practice at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day and then will board the bus shortly after the noon hour on Wednesday as they head to the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy for an early evening match up with Coach Patrick Donnelly’s Cubs. Coach Donnelly is a graduate of Rocky River High School.

Wednesday’s junior varsity game at Detroit Jesuit will tip off at 4:30 and the varsity game is scheduled for 6 p.m. The golden tones of senior John Fanta will bring you the games live over the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network.

As for Detroit Jesuit, the Cubs stand 5-1 after defeating the previously undefeated Crusaders from Loy Norrix, 85-55, in the championship game of the Holiday Hoops Invitational in Kalamazoo, Mich. After playing Detroit Jesuit even for the first eight minutes, the Crusaders were outscored, 51-23, over the second and third quarters. In that decisive stretch, the Cubs forced 14 turnovers and hit on 5 of 7 3-pointers. In the final 24 minutes, Detroit Jesuit scored on 18 layups or put back rebounds.

The Cubs’ only setback this season came to perennial Ohio power Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, 69-49. Detroit Jesuit is in good company, however, as Shaker Heights, St. Edward and Toledo Whitmer have also fallen victim to the Titans.

Detroit Jesuit’s maroon and white are led by one of the quickest back courts in Michigan – senior guard Andrew “A.J.” Horde and freshman flash Cassius Winston. Horde tossed in 29 points against Loy Norrix and Winston, en route to
Tournament MVP honors, had 25 points.

Saint Ignatius, which has displayed exceptional depth and balance while wearing down its five opponents – John Hay, Shaw, Canton McKinley, Midpark and Central Catholic – came away with a 73-60 victory at Detroit Jesuit two seasons ago.

Last winter at Sullivan Gymnasium, the Wildcats opened their season with a 57-54 triumph over the Cubs. Brian Joseph’s five 3-pointers (Brian graduated last spring) and some strong work by current standout senior posts Alec Papesch (18 points) and Derek Sloan (15 points) helped Coach O’Toole’s team erase an early second quarter 15-7 deficit.

It was a tense battle throughout, however, as Detroit Jesuit refused to fold after facing deficits of 10 points and 9 points in the final five minutes.

After the Wildcats missed the front end of two key one-and-one situations, Horde buried a 3-pointer from deep in the right corner and the Cubs trailed, 56-54, with 43.4 seconds to go.

In the final 11.2 seconds, Detroit Jesuit put up a jumper from the top of the key that rimmed out and, after Papesch hit 1 of 2 free throws, the Cubs came up short on a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer. Coach Donnelly’s program
enters Wednesday’s game 0-3 against Coach O’Toole’s ‘Cats.

After their trip to Detroit, the Wildcats will prepare for Columbus power Northland, which pays a visit to Sullivan Gymnasium on Saturday night, and a household name in Ohio High School basketball circles – Coach Dru Joyce’s Fighting Irish of St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Saint Ignatius and St. Vincent-St. Mary will meet on Sunday afternoon at Baldwin-Wallace College. The Northland game will be televised by Time Warner Cable, with the class of Ohio’s cable TV broadcasters, Patrick Pierson and David Wilson, on the call.

The corner will take a look at Northland and SVSM later in the week.

WHERE OTHER ‘CATS PLAY: The Ice Cats, a.k.a. Saint Ignatius’ varsity hockey team, will look to keep the momentum they built at the tradition-rich Purple Puck Tournament (see stories below) when they travel to Strongsville on Friday for a 7 p.m. faceoff. The Ice Cats currently stand 13-4-3.

Coach Jeff Ridler’s swimming team will take on St. Edward in Lakewood on Friday at 7 p.m., and will be on the road Saturday for a tri-meet with Firestone and St. Francis. Coach Mark Sullivan’s wrestling team hosts Padua and Maple Heights on Friday night and Coach John Kastanis’ red-hot Alley Cats will be bowling against the Bees from Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Saturday at Buckeye Lanes.

Have a blessed and wonderful New Year!