The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Panthers fall to Falcons in district championship
It has been a season to remember for first-year coach Rob Palmer as he led Elyria Catholic to a Great Lakes Conference championship over stiff competition like Bay and Holy Name. But it’s a season that has come to an end against even stiffer competition just one game short of regionals. After orchestrating a thrilling victory over second-seeded Warrensville Heights in the district semifinals, the thirdseeded Panthers knocked on the door a few times, but could not overcome top-seeded Lutheran East’s size and strength as they fell, 80-71, in the Division III Garfield Heights district championship game at Garfield Heights on March 8.
Though his team never led past the first quarter, Elyria Catholic coach Rob Palmer was proud of the Panthers’ relentless effort as they stayed on Lutheran East’s heels throughout the entire game, a microcosm of how the Panthers (13-10) re- silience all season. “All the credit goes to the leadership of this team with Jarred Logan and David Griffin,” Palmer said. “They put their team first, sometimes sacrificing a few stats to try and do what was right for the team. That’s what happened in early January — and of course we had Lorain — but I didn’t think there wasn’t a team on our schedule that we couldn’t compete with.” In what turned out to be his final game as a Panther, Logan had a quiet first half, but sparked the offense with 10 second half points as the Panthers tried to keep pace with athletic Falcons (15-8). They are a very good team,” Logan said. “They have been to states consecutively for a reason. They are a very good basketball team, and since they beat us, hopefully they can take it all home.” Logan finished with 16 points and two rebounds. Though Jack and David Griffin were the heroes of the hour in the district semifinals, the Falcons found a way to contain the speedy duo, limiting them to five and 11 points, respectively. Being his last game in a Panthers uniform, it was a frustrating loss for David, but one that he can hold his head up high. “Yeah, we have played a lot of great teams,” Griffin said. “They are very athletic and a big team. They’ve got a little bit of everything. We gave it our all, and we definitely think we could have won.” Elyria Catholic traded baskets with Lutheran East in the opening minutes, but slowly fell behind little by little. The Falcons (14-8), who lost in last year’s state semifinal to eventual champion, Cincinnati Deer Park, used a combination of speed and size as 6-foot-4, sophomore E. J. Farmer glided through Elyria Catholic’s defense with dribble penetration while 6-foot-6, junior Nehemiah Benson overwhelmed the Panthers underneath the basket. The combination was tough to contain. “We tried to tilt the defense towards that (Benson) and then E.J. goes off,” Palmer said. We really just tried, and we stuck to our game plan. I give the players all the credit. They never doubted it, they kept going and they believed in each other and in this team.” Benson finished with a double-double, notching 25 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while going a perfect 10 for 10 from the field. “Listen, Nehemiah Benson has been fantastic for us, man,” Lutheran East coach Sam Liggins said.