The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
39 reasons it was red letter day for Cardinal
Mentor remains unbeaten, topping Euclid
Luke Floriea posted 22 points and 11 assists in Mentor’s 21-point win at Brunswick on Jan. 8. Cardinals coach Bob Krizancic called it the best game of the junior’s season.
Floriea followed that performance with the highest-scoring game of his career.
Against Euclid on Jan. 8, Floriea made eight 3-pointers and poured in a career-high 39 points in Mentor’s 72-61 victory.
“It was just my teammates getting me the ball and getting me good shots,” Floriea said. “They were running that zone the first three quarters. I would just move around and try to find pockets, open areas.”
Floriea is the Cardinals’ most experienced varsity player, now in his third year playing for Krizancic and his second as a starter. He recorded 11-assist games in three of Mentor’s previous four contests prior to the Euclid game. The backcourt tandem of Floriea and sophomore Luke Chicone serves as the foundation for the Cardinals’ 9-0 start.
Krizancic expected Floriea’s play would elevate in January. He joined the basketball team in late November after the football team’s playoff run ended. Floriea’s rounded into basketball shape, and his experience has led to the best basketball of his high school career to date.
“I think it’s a combination of both,” Floriea said. “My legs are starting to come under me from football. It happened the past week or two. I think as the season gets on, we’re going to be better.”
Mentor and Euclid were tied, 12-12, midway through the first quarter before Floriea sparked the Cardinals. He hit two 3-pointers in the quarter’s final minute to lift Mentor a 23-14 lead headed to the second period. Floriea finished the first quarter with as many points, 14, as the Cardinals’ opponent.
Floriea’s fourth 3 followed Chad Rogers’ layup to stake Mentor to a 14-point lead early in the quarter. Chicone’s two 3-pointers swelled the Cardinals’ first-half lead to 19 before Euclid pulled within 13, 45-32, by half. Floriea made four more 3-pointers in the third quarter as Mentor maintained a comfortable lead, 64-46, headed to the final quarter.
Chicone opened the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws that gave the Cardinals their largest lead, 66-46. Euclid switched out of its zone into a man defense and limited Mentor to eight points in the quarter. The Panthers cut their deficit to nine, 68-59, with two minutes to play before Floriea iced the Cardinals’ ninth win at the foul line.
Senior Alex Edwards added 13 points and made three 3-pointers. Mentor finished with 13 3-pointers as the team’s offense continued to operate efficiently.
“We’re turning defense into offense all the time,” Edwards said. “I love playing with Floriea because he’s able to get me buckets any time down the floor.”
Mentor, 5-0 in Greater Cleveland Conference play, hosts Medina on Jan. 11, visits Elyria on Jan. 18 and Massillon Jackson on Jan. 19. Krizancic is optimistic about his team’s direction as the season’s midpoint approaches.
Now, Krizancic’s challenge is to help the Cardinals understand a target is forming on their backs.
“We’re still a very, very young team,” Krizancic said. “To be 9-0 right now and still learning, I think our window is huge.”
Garvin Clarke led Euclid with 20 points, Mario Lacy Jr. added 18 and Reggie Priah chipped in 11. The Panthers dropped to 4-5 and 2-3 in the GCC.
Euclid coach T.J. Kwasniak didn’t fault his players for Floriea’s career game. The Panthers’ game plan for the Mentor junior revolved around limiting his ability to penetrate and play make.
When the Panthers switched to a man defense in the fourth quarter at the players’ urging, Kwasniak hopes their execution in the period can translate to improved effort in their zone.
Euclid owned doubledigit leads in three of their five losses this season. If the Panthers’ fourth-quarter effort Jan. 8 is consistent, Kwasniak is confident they can beat anyone.
“Hopefully, they start to learn that,” Kwasniak said. “I don’t question my kids’ heart. They play hard.”