The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
West G elevates expectations after CVC Chagrin title
West Geauga surprised spectators outside the program in 2017-18. The Wolverines won 19 games and claimed the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Chagrin Division championship, their first conference title in 13 years.
Behind star sophomore Josh Irwin, who averaged a double-double last year, West Geauga won’t catch anyone off guard in the 2018-19 winter season. Likewise, the Wolverines’ expectations are adjusted.
“To be honest with you, we want to get to districts and win it,” Irwin said. “We fell short last year in our first game of the playoffs. We fell short and we felt horrible after that game. We worked too hard for that.”
West Geauga’s first game of the postseason was a onepoint, sectional final loss to Glenville. The Tarblooders proceeded to push Villa Angela-St. Joseph to the brink, before the Vikings finished as a regional runner-up.
Still, coach Jeff Javorek said the breakout season imparted belief throughout the program.
“It’s a toss-up in the postseason,” Javorek said. “We’re pretty confident if we’re playing at a high level, we can play with anybody. The way we shoot the ball, any given night we can get hot and we can get consistent and we can really make some noise, taking it one game at a time.”
West Geauga graduated a handful of seniors who produced last season, yet Javorek remains high on this year’s team. He expects the team chemistry to be better among a group of players who know their role.
Peyton Bissler, who scored 12.5 points per game as a sophomore at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, will join the starting lineup after his family moved into the district this past offseason. Bissler battled shoulder and thumb injuries last season, and was plagued by an ankle issue during the preseason.
Marco Formichelli, Aiden Pitcok and Elijah Cutting are in line for the available minutes next to him in the backcourt. Formichelli is an athletic guard who can defend and catch fire from the perimeter. Pitcok is a hardnosed player with a knack for attacking the basket. Cutting played on the junior varsity team last year after he transferred from Cornerstone Christian.
Javorek’s cousin, Stephen, returns after starting for West Geauga last season. He adds toughness in the post next to Irwin.
As for the Wolverines’ 6-foot-6 forward, he says his goal is to attain All-Ohio recognition while leading West Geauga to further success. Although Irwin and Bissler first met this summer, they’ve already developed a fast rapport.
“He’s a scorer, you know,” Bissler said. “Flat out, he can shoot, knock down his shots. He’s a leader, too, better leader than I am, to be real. He’s pretty vocal.”
Leadership and defense are the coaching staff’s challenges for Irwin this season. During practices, he’s the most vocal player on the floor between defensive communication and encouragement directed toward his teammates.
“(Javorek) gets on me,” Irwin said. “When I’m not talking or being a leader, he gets on me every single day... (Bissler) almost gets on me more than coach does.”
Irwin’s role was uncertain playing alongside multi-year starters last season. Headed into his sophomore year, he’s undeniably West Geauga’s alpha dog — beneficial, considering his capability to surpass 30 points in any given game.
Irwin averaged 15.2 points and an area-best 11 rebounds per game last year en route to winning CVC MVP and third team all-district honors. The night before the first day of school in August he received his first Division I scholarship offer from Bowling Green.
Javorek and assistant coach Doug Irwin, Josh’s father, motivate him to surpass prior achievement.
“We tell him nobody cares,” Javorek said. “You’re going for All-Ohio, you’re going for Mr. Basketball, you’re going for that Division I scholarship. It’s only going to come with being on good teams.”