Huskies are playing better after 0-4 start

Expectations ran high in Middlefield as the winter season began.

Although Cardinal won six games in the 2016-17 season, coach Jon Cummins returned the entirety of his seven-man rotation. Helmed by seniors Luke Timas, Robbie Mulh and Hayden Cummins, the Huskies were primed to take a leap forward.

Cardinal struggled to deliver on its potential to start the season. The Huskies dropped their first four games of the season.

“I think they just thought they could step on the floor and we were going to be unstoppable out there,” Cummins said.

After the fourth loss — a 66-63 defeat to Independence in overtime — Cummins’ group required soulsearching team meetings. During those sessions, Cummins saw his senior captains assume the onus of turning Cardinal’s season around.

The Huskies responded to their bumpy start with a four-game winning streak, and have won six of nine since their 0-4 start.

“I think we’re finally starting to play much more together as a group and kind of believing in each other,” Cummins said.

Cardinal won its first game Dec. 19 against Garrettsville Garfield. Victories against Fairport, Southington Chalker and rival Berkshire followed to even the Huskies’ record at 4-4.

Cardinal dropped backto-back games against Kirtland and Richmond Heights. The Huskies sandwiched wins over Fairport and Independence around a loss to Cuyahoga Heights to pull their record to 6-7.

Past the season’s midpoint, Cummins has found his rotation and his players have better-defined roles. The ability to close out wins is the emphasis over the coming month before the postseason begins.

“We’re going to be in every game,” Cummins said. “There’s no doubt. Any team we play against for the rest of the year, we’ll be in it. It’s just a matter of if we figure things out late in the game and we’re able to execute late in the game.”

Timas leads the Huskies from the point guard position with 12.8 points and 4.8 assists per game. Cardinal features four players who average double-digit scoring between Timas, Matt Carney’s 12.3 points per game, Mulh’s 10.8 and Robbie Bruncak’s 10.5. Mulh and Hayden Cummins anchor the Huskies frontcourt, each pulling down 8.8 rebounds per game.

Cardinal faces its most daunting three-game stretch of the season. The Huskies visit Kirtland Jan. 26, host Richmond Heights Jan. 30 and visit Hawken Feb. 1.

“We’re right there,” Cummins said. “I’m looking forward to playing these teams again.”