The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
PATRIOTS CORNER FINAL FOUR MARKET
CANTON » Cornerstone Christian is headed back to Columbus.
The Patriots advanced with a 72-56 victory over No. 1 Mansfield St. Peter’s in a Division IV Canton regional final March 16 at the Canton Fieldhouse.
Michael Bothwell led four Cornerstone players in double figures with 21 points.
None of the Patriots call their victory over the previously undefeated Spartans an upset.
“We knew we’re the best team in the state,” Bothwell said, “no matter what the AP poll said. We knew we were playing the No. 1 team in the state, so today was more just about proving everyone wrong that doubted us. Today was about showing everybody
who we are and backing up what we thought we were.”
Kendall Saunders and Ja’Shawn Robinson added 16 points apiece for Cornerstone. Ricky Adams chipped in 11.
The Patriots advance to a D-IV state semifinal against Berlin Hiland on March 22 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Cornerstone’s gameplan for the Spartans involved fullcourt pressure and defensive intensity unlike anything St. Peter’s experienced during its first 27 games.
The Patriots forced turnovers on five of the Spartans’ first six possessions. Three 3-pointers from Adams and two more by Bothwell helped Cornerstone capitalize on its defense and take a 21-10 lead after a quarter.
Continued sound defense allowed the Patriots to limit St. Peter’s to six points in the second quarter. Cornerstone opened up a 19-point, 35-16, lead by halftime.
The Patriots limited the Spartans’ leading scorers, Jared Jakubick and Elijah Cobb, to a combined 10 points in the first half. Cornerstone defended the players the length of the floor and double-teamed them in the halfcourt.
“We needed to make sure that we wanted to jump them anytime they had the ball,” Cornerstone coach Andy Weybrecht said, “before they could get comfortable. Then it was just a full faceguard on those two, play 3-on-3 with our other guys and trust those guys to do their jobs.”
St. Peter’s adjusted to Cornerstone’s defense and cut the Patriots’ lead to 13, 50-37, to carry momentum into the fourth quarter. After the Spartans closed within 12, Ja’Shawn Robinson scored 12 of his 16 points on layups to close out Cornerstone’s regional title.
Robinson provided vital minutes in relief of Robinson and Jeremy Owens, who were sidelined with four fouls.
“When I noticed Kendall was in foul trouble, I said ‘Hey, this is my time to step up.’ ” Robinson said. “I had to give it all I got.”
Robinson scored 10 of Cornerstone’s final 14 points. While the Spartans focused up the floor to pressure Bothwell and the Patriots’ guards, they neglected to account for the 6-foot-4 junior forward.
Robinson erased any doubt of Cornerstone’s winning result. His baskets electrified his teammates and Cornerstone’s green-clad fan section in the game’s final minutes.
“When Ja’Shawn’s in a good mood, everyone’s in a good mood,” Bothwell said. “He’s the type of guy you want to cheer for, want to root for because he’s just a great kid.”
Jakubick finished with a team-high 16 points and Cobb added 14. Caleb Stewart chipped in 15 points. The Spartans’ only loss of the 2017-18 campaign ended their season.
“It was a special year and something I’m going to remember forever,” Coach Joe Jakubick said. “I’m not going to let the game today and how it played out tarnish anything.”
Despite a victory over the state’s regular-season champion in the state poll, Bothwell will wait to declare Cornerstone’s supremacy. Such a statement can only occur on the Schottenstein Center floor.
Until then, the Patriots will enjoy a regional title sweetened by their setback last season. Seniors Bothwell, Titus Wheeler and Martel Ferrell accepted their trophy on Cornerstone’s behalf.
“It brought me back to middle school when we won all the time,” Bothwell said. “It was just like ‘Wow, we’re good together.’ I’m never going to forget my high school experience.”