Emphasizing the intangibles and playing Saint Ignatius defense
The Wildcats open their 2012-13 season against a John Hay team they are quite familiar with.
“I’m excited. This team has a genuine will to win.” – Head Coach Sean O’Toole ’87.
*Saturday night’s varsity and junior varsity games will be broadcast by the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network, starting with the JV pregame at 5:55. The varsity game will tip off at 7:30.
Juniors Cole Larson, Paddy White and Pat McGwire will handle the JV call, along with sophomores James Zajaczkowski and Liam Garven. The veteran backcourt duo of seniors John Fanta and Greg Ziton will describe another season of Wildcats varsity hoops, with devoted senior manager Patrick Gibbons providing his astute halftime analysis.
Ohio City – As part of his daily practice plan, Saint Ignatius basketball coach Sean O’Toole provides his players with what the main emphasis or purpose of that work week is.
“Win with intangibles – heart, hustle, intensity, intelligence, camaraderie, discipline, unselfishness.”
Those are the words Coach O’Toole wants his 2012-13 Wildcats to absorb as they prepare for Saturday night’s season opener against the John Hay Hornets in tradition-rich Sullivan Gymnasium.
Blessed with a team that has big-game-tested skills, Coach O’Toole can turn to a solid core of veterans who appreciate just how vital those “intangibles” are.
“We’re really starting to come together as a team,” said senior point guard/two guard Bryan Fisher, who is getting back into a full basketball mode after completing a solid season as a gifted free safety for the Wildcats’ varsity football team. “We’re getting that camaraderie down with our teammates. With these practices, we’re starting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Very aggressive, very long, kind of using our height and length to our advantage,” Fisher continued, while describing Saint Ignatius’ defensive approach. “And just kind of getting after teams and pressuring them, whether it’s full-court man or zone.”
Six-foot-5 forward David Black, who played and provided several quality minutes as just a sophomore during the 16-6 finish last season, used the word chemistry when pointing to one of the Wildcats’ strengths.
“We are all friends on this team and we all worked hard in the offseason,” said David, who teams with his twin brother – 6-6 junior Eric Black – to help form a deep and talented frontcourt that is led by senior All-District selections Derek Sloan (6-5) and Alec Papesch (6-6). “Going to all of those workouts is going to pay off in the long run.”
The run is a bit longer this winter, as Ohio teams are now permitted to play 22 games during the regular season.
While Saint Ignatius’ schedule is, as always, laden with who’s who names, Coach O’Toole’s only concern right now is what takes place in Sullivan Gym on Saturday night.
“We play John Hay in the summer and are very well aware of how talented of a team they are,” said Coach O’Toole, who brings a record of 66-26 into what is now his fifth season as the head coach at his alma mater. “They have size, they have length, they have shooters and they are very skilled and very unselfish.”
The Hornets, who finished 16-8 last season after losing to Lake Catholic on a last-second shot in a Division II district final, stand 1-1 following Tuesday night’s victory over Collinwood. John Hay opened its season with a double-digit loss to perennial Dayton power Dunbar.
Those expected to provide some sting for the Hornets are the double-double threesome of 6-5 senior Maurice O’Field and multi-skilled Joshua Lumbus and Tijuna Umar.
Umar tossed in 18 points against Dunbar and O’Field and Umar led the 75-47 triumph over Collinwood by scoring 17 and 15 points, respectively.
“We’re excited about the matchup,” said Coach O’Toole. “We feel they have a very good chance of winning their league (Senate Athletic). They can get out and run, so obviously defensive conversion is going to be a big factor. We have to limit their second shots, keep them in front of us and make them shoot over us.
“Right out of the gate, it’s a great test.”
David Black couldn’t agree more with his head coach in describing John Hay as a long and athletic team that will push the ball. “They score really well in transition,” David said.
The Wildcats will try to counter the Hornets’ transition game with one of the top full-court and half-court players in Northeast Ohio – senior guard Francisco Santiago.
An All-District honoree last year, “Cisco” had an outstanding preseason.
A major factor that is sure to come to the fore on Saturday night is Saint Ignatius’ depth.
Among those helping provide those invaluable minutes will be junior guard Kyle Berger, who is coming off an All-Ohio season as a linebacker in football; underrated senior wing Austin Sterpka; tough and determined senior forward Matt Gawlik, who is another football standout; junior point guard Danny Bova, a gifted old-school performer; junior wing Isiah Barbra and his endless Saint Ignatius of Antioch hustle and determination, and promising 6-6 sophomore Jaylin McDonald and 6-7 junior Jake Strippy.
For a complete preview on the area’s second-ranked Wildcats, see the corner’s story from Tuesday, Nov. 27.