Talent, Experience, Depth and a solid camaraderie on and off the court define the 2012-13 Wildcats.

Seniors Derek Sloan, Francisco Santiago and Alec Papesch will help pave the road to success.

By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright November/December 2012

Ohio City – After covering and reporting on Sean O’Toole ’87 when he was a rugged, savvy and talented power forward for Saint Ignatius, reporting on many of the teams he coached at Euclid High School and being blessed to have the privilege to work with him and report on his teams for what is now his fifth season as the head basketball coach at his alma mater, this old-timer has a pretty good handle on what Coach O’Toole expects from his teams every year.

That said, let me say I have never seen Coach O’Toole, 66-26 in his previous four winters at Saint Ignatius, more excited for a season to begin.

“Every group of kids is different,” said Coach O’Toole, as he was preparing for Monday’s practice in Sullivan Gymnasium. “But with this group, there is a lot of depth and anytime you have this kind of depth, the first thing it provides is very competitive practices. Individually you get better, because you are competing daily. We’ve had deep teams, but I would say this is as deep of a team as I have coached in that we can go well past 10, maybe 12 or 13 guys, that could step up and provide input into victories.”

Complementing Saint Ignatius’ depth will be an experienced and big-game tested nucleus from last season’s 16-6 finish. Those 16 triumphs featured a six-game winning streak that included triumphs over a hard-nosed and well-schooled team from Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep, the tradition-rich Canton McKinley Bulldogs and Fighting Irish from St. Vincent-St. Mary, and a talented and disciplined team from Huber Heights Wayne.

The winter of 2011-12 was also highlighted by two four-game winning streaks. Included in those runs was a 46-44 thriller over Cleveland Central Catholic in the unique atmosphere of the St. Stan’s Social Center, the memorable 66-65 heart-pounding victory over eventual Division I state champion Pickerington Central in the “Dunk for Diabetes” showcase at Walsh University, impressive road victories at talent-rich Villa Angela-St. Joseph and always loaded Benedictine, and a hard-fought sectional-championship victory over what was arguably the best team Kenston put on the floor in years.

Helping provide those minutes to cherish were eight players who return for unfinished business with not only the knowledge and talent to succeed, but the chemistry that fuels every successful team.

“I feel like we have a lot of talent, offensively and defensively, especially with our big guys,” said three-year varsity performer Derek Sloan, a gifted 6-foot-5 senior forward/post who garnered All-Northeast Lakes District honors last season after averaging a team-leading 13.1 points, pulling down a team-best 193 rebounds, including 124 off the defensive glass, and blocking 34 shots. “We can run and score inside and we have good guards that can handle the ball and pass it. We’re really blessed all around.”

Along with the rebounding and finishing skills Sloan brings to the court, Coach O’Toole welcomes back two other All-District performers in 6-6 senior post Alec Papesch and 6-2 senior guard Francisco Santiago. Papesch averaged 12.3 points last winter, grabbed 165 rebounds, including 107 defensive caroms, and drew a team-leading 14 charges. Santiago, who brings endless hustle and crowd-pleasing excitement to his game, averaged 10 points in 2011-12, had 27 3-pointers while shooting 40 percent from beyond the circle and totaled 62 rebounds, 44 assists, 16 blocks and 15 steals. Sloan and “Cisco” led the Wildcats in minutes played last season with 560 and 526, respectively.

“Francisco Santiago has done a phenomenal job leading our team in the offseason and he has done it by example more than anything else,” Coach O’Toole said. “The best thing about ‘Cisco’ is that he competes in everything he does, even in conditioning. When we’re out on the floor he is a very competitive kid. He brings everybody else up to a higher urgency.

“He is as skilled a guard as I have ever coached,” O’Toole continued in his evaluation of Santiago. “He has the ability to score in a variety of ways and the ability to create. When we sit down and talk, he is a quiet, shy kid. But when he gets out there on the floor, he’s focused almost to the point of being possessed. He wants to win, but is one of those guys who strives for his team’s success. He’s a great team player.

“Cisco’s aura is evident when we walk on the floor.”

Coach O’Toole said his talented and good-natured big men – Sloan and Papesch – have been working hard on bringing that consistent urgency to their games. As Coach O’Toole was able to do in his playing days, you can be the nicest kid off the court, but on the court you have to have that edge. And that is what Coach O’Toole is looking for from Sloan and “Pappy” in their last go around as seniors.

“Everyone on this team can play,” said Papesch after another demanding practice. “There is not one person who shouldn’t be on this team. We have such a tight chemistry from last year that it enables us to talk easy on the floor. That bonding is just going to lead to more success.”

As the veterans, Sloan, Papesch and Santiago appreciate and relish their roles. Sloan and Papesch said they will look to lead more by their actions, “making the plays on the floor,” and “Cisco” will take on whatever needs to be done to help his team succeed.

“We’ve been here before,” Santiago said of the advice he, “Pappy” and Derek can lend to the promising young players, including those from last season’s outstanding 18-2 junior varsity team. “I’ve been a leader all of my life. My father always taught me to be a leader. Even in sprints, you have to be a leader and set the example.”

Along with the experience and obvious God-given talent Papesch, Sloan and Santiago bring to the floor, Coach O’Toole’s veteran squad is fortunate to have other skilled and tireless workers such as 6-2 senior Austin Sterpka, who can shoot the rock and slash to the basket; the multi-skilled Black twins, 6-6 juniors David and Eric, who can score inside, face up and shoot it, rebound, defend and run the floor. David got a ton of varsity experience last winter and came up with one of the top moments of the season with a crucial heads-up play along the baseline against Pickerington Central; senior point guard Bryan Fisher and senior forward Matt Gawlik, who are coming off outstanding seasons in football and will bring savvy, skill and toughness to the court; junior forward/guard Kyle Berger, an All-Ohio linebacker in football who can run the floor, pass on a dime, defend and soar to the basket while scoring and rebounding; junior point guard Danny Bova, whom Coach O’Toole can’t say enough about when it comes to his team’s camaraderie. Danny is not only talented with a high basketball IQ, but brings a hard-nosed, old-school approach to his game; 6-3 junior forward Isiah Barbra, another gifted member of last season’s impressive junior varsity team who has played with passion and skill throughout the preseason and a name to remember not only this season, but for the next two years – 6-5 sophomore Jaylin McDonald. Wildcats football fans probably recall Jaylin’s solid work as a wide receiver for the junior varsity team this fall.

“Jaylin plays extremely hard and is mature beyond his years,” Coach O’Toole said. “A lot of sophomores need time to find their niche, or just the reverse, they come in big-headed or whatever. But Jaylin is so grounded and so hungry. He just does his part and is not intimidated. Jaylin is smart, very cerebral and extremely versatile for a young kid.”

While another demanding schedule awaits the 2012-13 Wildcats, Coach O’Toole said he and his veteran staff of Kirk Culler, Jerry Porath, Kevin Neitzel, Brian Carey, Larry Arthur, John Cooney, Chris Fletcher and Fred DiSanto, along with basketball-savvy and devoted student assistants, Patrick Gibbons and Mike Berry, are anxious for the season to begin.

*At a glance: Taking a brief look at the rest of the area, Coach O’Toole sees many of the usual suspects – St. Edward, Mentor, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Garfield Heights – as being among the best of the best. Among Coach O’Toole’s “sleepers” are the Central Catholic Ironmen and the Knights from Archbishop Hoban.

*For a complete look at this season’s schedule, go to www.ignatius.edu, click on Athletics and click on Basketball under the heading of Athletic Teams.

*As always, the corner will provide weekly previews on the varsity games and JV and varsity game coverage throughout the season. And of course Saint Ignatius’ Student Broadcasting Network, led by its own senior backcourt of John Fanta and Greg Ziton, and seasoned junior Paddy White, will bring you live audio and video broadcasts of the junior varsity and varsity games. The astute basketball mind of Patrick Gibbons will be featured during halftimes.

*Next up on the corner’s winter sports preview circuit – a look at the Wildcats’ varsity wrestling and swimming and diving programs.