The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Freshman’s big basket wins it for Riverside
Before this season’s second edition of the Battle of Painesville on Feb. 17 at Riverside, Beavers coach Matt Grendel told his team to go out and make a memory.
It’s safe to say that Riverside freshman Mason Stephens will likely never forget his first opportunity to play in the rivalry game.
After Harvey sophomore Bishop Thomas erased a fourpoint deficit in overtime with a pair of free throws and a layup after a steal by teammate Jaylin Amos, Riverside worked the ball down the court and called a time out with 12 seconds left.
Beavers junior Jaxson Reutter passed out to the wing to a wideopen Stephens, who had only recently earned varsity playing time and wasn’t even listed on the roster.
Stephens caught the pass just beyond the 3-point arc and coolly drained a trey with 3 seconds on the clock for his only points of the game, the winning points in a 63-60 Riverside victory when Harvey missed a lastditch attempt.
The win allowed the Beavers to earn a season split with their crosstown rivals.
“It was a little scary (of a shot) to take, but afterwards it was an amazing feeling,” said Stephens, who was mobbed by his teammates and fellow students on the floor after the game.
The win was the second straight for Riverside, which concludes its regular season at 8-14. The Beavers will have 10 days to prepare for a Division I sectional semifinal at East Tech, one of the top teams in the Cleveland Senate League, on Feb. 28.
“This was a big win for us, obviously the first time we played them, they beat us pretty good,” Grendel said. “Our guys have gotten better throughout the year, and that last shot was exciting because it was a freshman that took it. He hadn’t had a lot of varsity time being only called up recently. It was a big play and a big shot. Hopefully this gives us momentum going forward and gives us a chance against East Tech.”
Stephens would not have even been in the game in the overtime session had it not been for senior teammate Jameson Campbell incurring his fifth foul with
1:20 left. Grendel said Stephens was promoted from the freshman to the JV team during the season, and then was promoted to the varsity on Feb. 13 to help provide depth at guard.
Riverside was in command at halftime, leading 30-19. The Beavers forced 12 turnovers in the first half, often trapping the Harvey shooters in the corners. Riverside junior Andrew Keller scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the first half, and picked up six steals.
Harvey (9-12) turned the tables, though. The Red Raiders did not have a single turnover in the second half or overtime, and adjusted to the zone defense and traps of the Beavers. David Dobbins hit three triples in the third, and Thomas added seven points as Harvey drew to within 45-42 going into the fourth.
The Red Raiders forced seven turnovers in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter. Daylin Davis hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 47-47 with 5:17 left. Thomas gave a great second effort to put back a teammate’s miss and give Harvey a 50-49 lead with 1:50 left, but Campbell converted a free throw to tie and the Red Raiders missed the final shot, sending the game to overtime.
The teams traded scores through the overtime until two free throws by Keller gave the Beavers a 60-56 lead, leading to Thomas’ efforts to tie the game and Stephens’ big shot to win it.
“You gotta give them credit,” Harvey coach Dave Wojciechowski said. “The kid hit a shot, and I thought they were well-prepared to play tonight. It’s always an emotional game here. I was proud of our guys to fight back, they left us for dead in the third quarter. We figured out the zone. This might be like a glorified practice for us (for the postseason), because we’re going to see that at some point. I give them credit for hitting that shot, and it was a great environment tonight.”
Dobbins scored 18 points to pace Harvey, and Davis, Thomas, and Devon Holbert added 13 apiece. Davis grabbed eight rebounds and Thomas seven for the Red Raiders, who will finish the regular season on Feb. 23 at Independence.
Campbell scored 17 points to back up Keller for Riverside, which celebrated senior night. Matt Watson led the Beavers on the boards with five.
“I told the guys to make memories they’re going to be proud of, and they’re going to remember this one for a very long time,” Grendel said.