The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Rini’s heroics lead Avon past Strongsville
Rini finishes with game-high 38 points, including nine 3-pointers
For the duration of Avon’s Feb. 24 Sectional Semifinal against Strongsville, Dominic Rini was unstoppable.
His dominance started in the first quarter when the senior coolly dropped in 10 points to stake the Eagles to an early 20-16 lead. It was made abundantly
clear in the third quarter when he scored 18 points in eight minutes.
And lastly — and most importantly for the Eagles — it was on display in the final second, as he made two technical free throws with .08 seconds left to give Avon a 67-65 win over the Mustangs in the Division I, Northeast
6 Sectional Semifinal.
“You’ve just got to focus,” Rini said of his game winning free throws. “I worked all offseason and all season to be able to make those shots in that moment. I knew I had to make those.”
Rini’s heroics capped off what a wild final quarter. Despite holding a 17-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, the Eagles found themselves tied at 65 with Strongsville with a minute left after the Mustangs broke loose for a 23-4 run over the first seven minutes of the final frame.
“That’s a great team, Avon coach Mike Fitch. “That’s a great team, you knew they were going to battle back. If Dom hadn’t caught fire it would have been a close game, all the way.
Disaster nearly struck for the Eagles (12-10) when Rini had the ball knocked loose with 33 seconds left, but Fitch was smartly able to call a timeout to save losing possession on a jump ball.
After dribbling most of the clock out, Avon’s Niko Pappas drove in the waning seconds and was fouled by Strongsville’s Tristan McCrann with .08 seconds left. While Pappas missed his two free throws, Rini was able to step to the line after Strongsville’s bench was whistled for a technical.
With Strongsville gym the loudest it’s been all year, Rini stepped to the line, took three dribbles and calmly sunk his first free throw.
After it went in, he took a step back and waved to the Strongsville fans before sinking the second one. As he walked back to his bench, he nodded his head in celebration.
“I worked all offseason and all season to be able to make those shots in that moment,” he said. “I knew I had to make those.”
Rini finished with a game-high 38 points on
nine 3-pointers.
“I see Rini play every night and I think he’s the best player I’ve seen on the court in a long time,” Fitch said. “He forces stuff sometimes, but you can’t get mad at him for that because that’s what scorers do.”
Despite being face guarded for most of the second half, Rini was still able to get good looks, thanks in large part to the drive and kick passing from Pappas and fellow guard Mike
Matlak.
“I just tried to find the open spot,” Rini said. “I knew my teammates were going to drive and get me opportunities.”
Avon junior Jacob Siegert joined Rini in double figures with 11 while Mex Emerine was close behind with 8 points. When Rini went cold in the second quarter Emerine picked up the slack with five points of his own to keep Avon’s lead steady.
Rini’s scoring prowess
came as no surprise to the Strongsville bench, as Mustangs’ coach Kevin Sapara spent the past eight years coaching at Avon.
Last year, he, with Fitch by his side as ana assistant, coached Avon’s core in the playoffs. This year, that core was his undoing.
“He was good tonight,” Sapara said of Rini. “I know he can score, and he was able to get loose and get hot.”
The Mustangs were led by sophomore Justin Wypasek’s 21 points while juniors Justin Lyn (14 points) and Cole Smith (13 points) also finished in double figures.
That trio, along with junior Jack Vargo (two charges taken late) make up a dangerous returning class for the Mustangs (1110).
“We fought against a really good team; we just didn’t start off the way we wanted to start. We know we’ve got a lot of guys coming; I’m really excited about the future.”
With the win, Avon advances to the Sectional Final against Garfield Heights Feb. 27.
“I told our kids it doesn’t matter if you win by 18 or win by one, you move on,” Fitch said. “We’ve got two days of practice and then we’re back at it.”