Ohio City - Under the direction of Coaches Chris Salata '94, Brian McLaughlin '94, Ron Friedel '94 and Bryan Fisher '13, the Saint Ignatius Junior Varsity Wildcats are still undefeated in 2018.
Their only setback this season came on New Year's Eve afternoon, 52-50, to the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary's Jayvees in The LeBron James Arena.
Since that game in the Rubber City, in which some key calls did not go the way of the team from the Forest City, the JV 'Cats have run off five consecutive victories, including Saturday night's 43-27 victory over the JV team from Cleveland Central Catholic.
Now standing 12-1, Saint Ignatius' Jayvees found themselves trailing the JV Ironmen, 8-6, after the first quarter in Father Sullivan Gymnasium. Central Catholic took that early lead off a 3-pointer from Charles Knuckles.
The second quarter was also highly competitive, as a layup by multi-skilled forward Erik Daugenti off an assist from endless-hustle guard Jack Whelan and a 1-hander along the baseline by Whelan put Saint Ignatius in front, 10-8.
Central Catholic came to play in Ohio City, however, as the Ironmen rode two free throws by La'Marr Bowen and a strong move to the rim by Rayshawn Ford to a 12-10 lead.
Enter Wildcats guard Rory McConville.
In what was a game-changing sequence, Rory knotted the score at 12 off a give and go, gave Saint Ignatius a 14-12 lead off a steal and a layup, forced a turnover and, after his authoritative offensive rebound, Rory fired an on-the-money assist to Whelan, who buried a 3-pointer.
Trailing, 17-12, Central Catholic closed to 17-16 on some more strong work down low by Ford only to watch the 'Cats take a 19-16 lead heading into the halftime break courtesy of a driving 1-hander high off the glass by Daugenti.
Saint Ignatius scored off the first possession of the second half on a backdoor layup by Daugenti off an assist from Wildcats gifted forward Griffin Hanna.
The Ironmen closed to 21-18 on a steal and a layup by Josh Ortiz, but Hanna answered with his own layup.
After Central Catholic cut the deficit to 23-20 it was time for the team from Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School to flash those 12-1 colors.
In closing out the third quarter with a 10-0 run, Saint Ignatius was the beneficiary of another Daugenti basket off a Hanna assist, a picture-perfect bounce pass from Hanna that helped produce two more points for Daugenti, a steal and two free throws by Whelan and two more baskets from the ever-present McConville.
As was the case with Daugenti and McConville, the Ironmen had no answer for Hanna and Saint Ignatius walked away with a 16-point triumph.
Daugenti led the scoring column with 12 points, Hanna and McConville each had 10-point nights and Whelan finished with seven points.
The JV 'Cats will now focus on the Junior Varsity Lawyers from John Marshall, who will try to make their case when they visit Father Sullivan Gymnasium on Thursday at 5:30 PM, and then it's a trip to Benedictine High School on Saturday evening for a 5:30 tip off versus the JV Bengals.
Saint Ignatius will be looking for a Junior Varsity season sweep over St. Edward, when the young, but oh so talented JV 'Cats visit the Eagles Nest on Friday, February 9th. The tip off on Coach Jim Connors Court will be 6 PM.
THE FRESHMEN 'CATS WERE GOLDEN AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
From Father Sullivan Gymnasium - Josh Lanier set the defensive tone and Declan Mangan and Emmett Hanna emulated Josh's hustle as the Freshmen Gold Wildcats defeated the Freshman Team from Cleveland Central Catholic, 55-35.
In improving to 11-2, the Gold 'Cats were led offensively by talented post Aidan Hubbard and the endless energy Hanna, who each scored nine points, and savvy guard JP Tijanich, who finished with eight points.
Up next for the Gold 'Cats is Thursday's trip to Massillon Jackson for a 6 PM encounter with the Polar Bears' Freshmen.