The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Glenville routs Brush in sectional final
Brush coach Chet Mason maintained through the ups and downs of the Arcs’ season his young core of D.J. Dial, Andre Harris, Tyler Williams and other underclass talent is a year away from reaching its potential. Whether after one of their four regular-season defeats or the triumph of winning the Western Reserve Conference title, Mason reminded the sophomores and juniors they can’t cheat their process of growth.
While Mason and his assistants try to guide their players through their development, they can’t coach or teach everything. Some lessons are only learned through experience.
Glenville traveled to Brush and the Tarblooders provided the Arcs a seminar in toughness throughout a 92-60 win on Brush’s home floor.
The Tarblooders won nearly every 50-50 ball, shot 32 free throws, guards Brush’s D.J. Dial drives against a Glenville defender on March 4.
outrebounded the Arcs forwards on the offensive glass and Glenville’s fullcourt
pressure prevented Brush from establishing any rhythm.
“You don’t lose at home by 30,” Mason said. “You don’t get pushed around at home. You’ve got to have that mentality.”
Mason said he was still shocked at the drastic final margin on the scoreboard, and knows Brush is a better team than what it showed. But again, there are no shortcuts for where the Arcs hope to go in coming seasons.
“You want to win these games,” Mason said. “I put the pressure on them myself and said you should win these games, home playoff games but you can’t cheat the process.”
Reggie Holmes scored a game-high 24 points for Glenville. Nelson Wheatley added 16, Aaron Loines scored 15 and Hercules Shepard finished with 12. The Tarblooders, whose main rotation consists mostly of juniors, possessed the combination of speed, skill and athleticism in the backcourt which Dial, Harris and the rest of Brush’s guards rarely faced during the regular season.
Glenville coach Michael Holt anticipated his guards would match up favorably against the Arcs. Shepard, Wheatley and Al Curgis controlled the pace, and play, for the Tarblooders throughout the game.
“We have a lot of guards that are fast and quick,” Holt said.
“Sometimes they’re too fast so they have to continue to play at a fast pace but play under control. They did a good job today.”
Brush led, 16-12, midway through the first quarter before Glenville used an 11-2 run to go ahead, 23-18, after one.
The Tarblooders’ lead stretched to 11 at half and ballooned into the 20s shortly after the fourth quarter began as their uptempo play eroded Brush.
If there’s any tactical knowledge to be gained from the loss, it’s the ability for the Arcs to identify an opponent’s strategy while adhering to their own style.
“We tried to play their game,” Mason said. “They pressed and we tried to run. They’re great at running.”
Williams led Brush with 14 points, Dial scored 13 while Harris and Tahj Benton chipped in 12 apiece as the Arcs’ season closed on a fetid note after a mostly successful season.
The Arcs won 18 games and their league title while Dial, Harris, and Williams took significant steps forward from December until March.
They will lead a group including Deion Burton, John Hugley, Dorien Grayer and Tahj Benton that returns to Brush for next season. The Arcs’ best days with this group lie in the future but Mason will ensure they hold on to the memory of a 30-point home loss on March 4.
“Experience is the best teacher,” Mason said. “I always believe in that. In my playing days, coach will tell you something but you only get it when you go through it.”