The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain Titans show they ‘know how to win’
Lorain grinds out the tough victories on the way to an 8-1 record
Plenty of questions surrounded Lorain before the start of the season, but one thing coach John Rositano is never worried about is winning.
Every time the Titans manage to steal a win at the buzzer, the fifth-year coach always has this to say: “These guys, they just know how to win and they don’t care about anything other than they’re just used to winning.”
Clearly the team has taken that to heart.
Lorain is 8-1 to start the season, including a 4-0 mark in the Lake Erie League where, for the first time in recent memory, the Titans weren’t favored to win a conference title they’ve defended the past three seasons. Part of that is due to the graduation of the entire starting lineup from the 201617 season. The other part might be the Titans’ lack of size with four
players standing at 6-foot or shorter.
However, none of that seems to matter as the halfway point approaches — though confidence and composure are markedly higher than during a sloppy, season-opening win against Vermilion on Dec. 5.
A little over a month later, inexperience is no longer an excuse as the Titans have seen significant contributions from all over the roster simply because they’ve had no choice. Other than a 73-62 setback to Cleveland Central Catholic on Dec. 19, Lorain has learned to grind out the tough wins, most recently against Maple Heights (64, 1-2 LEL) and defending Division IV state champion Lutheran East (3-6, 0-4), which both came down to the final seconds.
“They’re just winners, and winners always figure out ways to be successful and that’s what these guys are doing,” Rositano said. “We’re very confident down the stretch in close games that we’re going to come out on top because we’ve been in so many close games — not just this year, but in the past we’ve found ways to win and this is just another example of that.
“It’s unbelievable. Usually young guys will get a little bit rattled, maybe lose their composure a little bit, but these guys, it’s unbelievable. The youth of our team does not show out on the court. It really doesn’t. You’d never know we’re young and inexperienced.”
Juniors Devone Grant and Taevon Pierre-Louis have led the way as the only two players with any significant varsity experience.
Grant boasts a Lorain County-leading 22.3 points per game, including 18 3-pointers, and adds 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists, while Pierre-Louis is averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Sophomore Jordan Jackson has emerged as a breakout player, contributing 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds and often coming up with a clutch play down the stretch to put his team in a position to win.
“Everybody knows we’ve got two elite players (Grant and Pierre-Louis) and they’re going to score a lot of points, but to win games you’ve got to have contributions up and down the lineup,” Rositano said. “That’s how we’re winning, is guys are contributing.
“I don’t care what the scorebook says about points. They’re getting the big rebounds. They’re getting a big loose ball. They’re getting a big stop. They’re doing little things that help us win basketball games.”
Jackson knew heading into the season all eyes would be on Grant and Pierre-Louis and has worked tirelessly to take some of the pressure off their shoulders.
His teammates are certainly impressed by his level head.
“Last year was my first year and (the team) expected more from me, and this year we’ve got young people and we expect more from them, so (the composure) is big because I know how it feels,” Pierre-Louis said of Jackson. “It’s a lot of pressure.”
The Titans are gearing up for what’s sure to be their toughest LEL game thus far in a Jan. 18 showdown with Cleveland Heights (6-3, 3-0). But even with first place on the line, it’s business as usual at Lorain.
“Everybody thinks, ‘Lorain’s young, Lorain’s this, Lorain’s that,’ but we didn’t pay attention to what they were talking about,” Jackson said. “We’re the same Lorain we’ve been the past four, five years.”
“We just keep our head up and play hard,” PierreLouis added. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Milestone
Avon Lake coach Eric Smith earned his 200th career victory Jan. 5 in a 65-55 win over Southwestern Conference foe North Ridgeville.
The Shoremen are 7-3 (5-1 SWC) and have improved over the past two seasons, finishing 4-18 (26) in 2015 before posting 16 wins the following season and have been showing no signs of slowing down thus far.
Avon Lake travels to Berea-Midpark (4-4, 2-4) Jan. 12, then hosts firstplace Olmsted Falls (9-1, 6-0) Jan. 16.