The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Titans: Small crowd wasn’t reason for loss
AKRON » During the Lorain Titans’ recent run of basketball success, which has seen them win four district titles in six years and make a trip to Division I state semifinal in 2018 one thing has been constant: They’ve been able to feed off the energy of what’s become a rabid fan base.
Two years ago, when the Titans knocked off St. Edward in a regional semifinal, thousands of Lorain hoop heads made the trip to Akron for the game and helped fuel the squad to a win.
Lorain received no such support in a 76-55 loss to St. Edward on March 11.
Because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the game was played before about 400 fans — a group made up of friends and family of the players and cheerleaders from both teams.
So instead of a capacity crowd of 5,500, in James A. Rhodes Arena, this most recent contest was played before a considerably smaller crowd.
Lorain senior forward Jordan Jackson and his teammates didn’t use the lack of fan support as an excuse for the loss. But Jackson did note the atmosphere in the arena during Lorain’s loss was in stark contrast to what it felt like in the same building two years ago.
“It was definitely different,” said Jackson, who scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. “Two years ago, you saw the whole community out. It made you want to play harder, play for the Lorain community.”
Lorain coach John Rositano agreed.
“I was disappointed for these guys because you look forward to playing in front of big crowds,” Rositano said. “You feed off the intensity, the adrenaline, the excitement of what a crowd brings. The fans play a huge part in it and that was definitely missing tonight.”
Crowd size had little to do with the loss, ultimately. Instead, the fact Titans were outscored, 54-30, in the paint, 17-8 on secondchance points and allowed St. Edward senior guard Grant Huffman to score 24 points and grab 11 rebounds were far bigger factors, the Lorain contingent agreed.
“These are not excuses for why we lost,” Rositano said in discussing the crowd size. “But it was a missing component.”
Prior to the game, St. Edward coach Eric Flannery sat on his team’s bench watching his players warm up.
When asked if the game played in front of a few hundred fans instead of a few thousand would take on more of the feel of a hyped scrimmage, Flannery chuckled.
“A hyped scrimmage with a lot on the line. I don’t think the intensity or effort is going to be any different. We’ll be able to hear a lot more. It might not have that outside intensity. But on the court I don’t think it will be any different.”
For those who thought there would be no atmosphere with just friends and family in attendance, it didn’t take long for that theory to be dispelled.
Lorain fell behind 6-3 early, but back-to-back buckets by Jordan Jackson launched the Titans on top 7-6.
On the next St. Edward possession, Lorain forced a turnover after a loose ball scramble and the contingent of fans behind the Lorain bench erupted in noise that bounced off the arena walls and sounded way louder than the 400 fans who were given tickets.
And the effort of those fans did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
“It was really different and we were used to the community supporting us,” said Lorain senior guard Deonte Benejan, who scored 11 points. “But we still had some people in there for us, as much as we could get, and we really appreciate them still for coming . ... We just came up short.”
“These are not excuses for why we lost. But it was a missing component.” — Lorain coach John Rositano