Mentor opens 1-0, is working on lineup

Cardinals open with win, welcome back three football players

The Mentor boys basketball team opened with a win, and now it is welcoming several football players back into the lineup. That, the Top of the Crop and more from Nate Barnes.

The start of the 2017-18 season is unique for Mentor’s basketball team.

Four of the Cardinals’ five preseason scrimmages were on the road, as are nine of their first 11 regular-season games that in- clude trips to Columbus and Youngstown. And, as a result of Mentor’s run to the Division I football state final, coach Bob Krizancic was without three key ro- tation players in the Cardinals’ first game.

Still, the product on the floor looked similar to Krizancic’s brand.

Mentor opened its season with a 89-82 win against Olentangy Liberty in the All Ohio showcase at Whitehall Yearling on Dec. 3. Matt Koski scored 21 points, Shane Zalba added a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists and Caden Kryz and Luke Chicone scored 13 points apiece.

“We were able to establish tempo,” Krizancic said. “We have some pretty good shooters but truthfully we had 21 turnovers and didn’t do a great job on the boards. We were still able to win.”

Tadas Tatarunas, a returning starter at forward and Mentor’s quarterback, Luke Floriea and Mason Trubisky were not with the team a day after the Cardinals fell to Pickerington Central. The three players rejoined the team in practice this week and will play in Mentor’s game against Boardman at Poland Seminary on Dec. 9.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals delivered an encouraging performance — especially Chicone, a freshman who was named MVP of Mentor’s game against Olentangy Liberty. He scored 13 points, made three 3-pointers and showed off the high basketball I.Q. befitting the grandson of legendary John Carroll coach Mike Moran.

“It’s a confidence-builder for a freshman to have a game like that,” Krizancic said.

Following the graduation of Jack Korsok and Manning Trubisky, Krizancic remains assured of Mentor’s ability in the backcourt.

The Cardinals benefit from Floriea’s return, who started a handful of games as a freshman last season. Zalba, a senior, also added seven rebounds as he nearly compiled a tripledouble against the Patriots.

“I feel with all three of them, they’d be as good a point guard on any team in the area,” Krizancic said. “I think we’re that solid. Shane’s a senior but when you have a sophomore and a freshman on the floor and you have total confidence, that’s a great feeling as a coach.”

Kenston impresses

Kenston opened its season

Records through Dec. 6

Dropped out: Chardon Watch list: Andrews Osborne, Chardon, Kenston, Chagrin Falls

Crop comments: Benedictine opens its season Dec. 8 with a home test against Garfield Heights — a matchup featuring two of Northeast Ohio’s top teams . ... VASJ opened its season with a convincing 32-point win against neighborhood rival Euclid . ... Cornerstone Christian dropped its first two games to Cleveland Heights and Cleveland Central Catholic. The Patriots play one of the state’s toughest schedules this season . ... Lake Catholic looked sharp in all areas in a 22-point win over South . ... Mentor opened its season with a 89-82 win against Olentangy Liberty in Columbus and travels to Youngstown this weekend for a matchup with Boardman . ... Brush won its first two games by an average of 34 points, including a 27-point win against a Glenville team that knocked the Arcs out of last year’s state tournament with a 30-point defeat . ... Gilmour opens its season Dec. 8 at Trinity . ... Beachwood opened its season with a tough slate of games, losing big to Solon and playing better against defending Division IV state champion Lutheran East . ... Euclid lost big to VASJ but rebounded the next day to beat Shaw for coach T.J. Kwasniak’s first win . ... West Geauga enters the crop after freshman Josh Irwin’s 26 points led the Wolverines to a road win over Chardon.

with two victories in the Great Lakes Classic at Cleveland Heights last weekend.

The Bombers defeated Cleveland Rhodes, 75-64, on Dec. 2 and New Day Academy, 63-52, on Dec. 3.

“I thought we went to a pretty prestigious showcase and we represented ourselves well,” coach Matt Vespa said. “Playing Cleveland Rhodes and New Day Academy, who are two super-athletic teams, it was good for us to get the season started in the right way.”

Vespa was encouraged by Kenston’s ball movement and distribution of scoring in the Bombers’ first two games.

Kenston featured different leading scorers in each game. Senior forward Ben Batista scored 22 points in the win over Rhodes, and senior guard Michael Swartz led the Bombers with 22 points against New Day.

The play of Batista and Swartz is a good early sign for the supporting cast of senior forward Ryan Kooser, Kenston’s best player, who scored 15 and 16 points in the two games.

Vespa likes the depth the Bombers possess and feels he has multiple players capable of stepping up for 20-point games. Kenston’s scoring diversity is aided by its ball movement as Vespa says the team is looking to pass up good shots for great ones.

“I’m not smart enough to figure all this complicated stuff out,” Vespa said. “I just know when we move the ball, better things happen and we get good shots.”

Kenston opens conference play on Dec. 8 with a home date against Madison.

“I’ve never had an easy game against Madison,” Vespa said. “I can’t imagine tomorrow’s going to be one. We know they’re going to come out here and play their aggressive, trapping style.”

A litmus test follows against Benedictine, one of Northeast Ohio’s premier teams.

“They don’t have a whole lot of weakness,” Vespa said. “It’s a really good, early test for us. In our district and districts all over, those are the types of teams you have to beat if you want to advance. It’s nice for us to go measure ourselves and see where we’re at against one of the premier teams in the area.”

Grand old time

Chardon senior Alex Sulka scored 32 points in the Hilltoppers’ loss to West Geauga on Dec. 2 to surpass the 1,000-point plateau in his career.

Sulka was the area’s third-leading scorer in 2016-17 at 20.2 points per game and pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game. The 6-foot forward was a third-team News-Herald All-Star and earned all-district honorable mention as a junior.

Reminder to area coaches

Coaches are reminded to report game scores — win or lose, home or away. The deadline for player of the week nominations is 8 p.m. Mondays. Email scores and nominations to scores@ News-Herald.com or fax to 440-951-6731.

Area statistics will begin running on Dec. 29.

“I just know when we move the ball, better things happen and we get good shots.” — Kenston coach Matt Vespa