The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
VASJ works extra hard to defeat Benedictine
The North Coast League’s realignment for the 2018-19 season placed the league’s top four basketball schools into the highest of its three divisions.
For this season, the Blue division consists of powerhouse programs — Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Benedictine, Akron Hoban and Cleveland Central Catholic.
When the Vikings beat the Bengals in overtime Jan. 11, they affirmed their status as the top team in the conference’s premier division. VASJ defeated Benedictine, 95-83, and now owns victories against each member of the NCL Blue.
The Vikings are 9-2 overall with a 5-0 record in conference play.
VASJ’s balance and depth has helped the Vikings win all three of their overtime games, and gives VASJ the look of a contender capable of winning more than its league.
“With our team, man, I think we’re very special,” senior forward Latrace Jackson said. “I think we can go all the way if we just keep our composure, stay with it being good teammates and leaders.”
Sophomore Jaden Hameed led the Vikings with 27 points and senior Graham Koppelman added 18. Jackson and sophomore Jonah Waag scored 16 apiece.
Jackson was a force at each end of the floor Jan. 11, especially in overtime.
He posted seven of his 16 points in the extra period, scored twice off offensive rebounds and finished an and-one layup to permanently shift momentum in the Vikings’ favor.
“He was big-time,” Hameed said. “Rebounds, scoring, he did everything.”
Koppelman made a pair of 3-pointers to help VASJ open a 21-12 lead after a quarter. Another make early in the second quarter swelled the Vikings’ lead to its zenith, 32-14, before Benedictine pulled within nine, 42-33, at halftime.
As the teams headed to the locker room, players from each side met in a fracas near midcourt that resulted in disqualifications of two players from each team.
Junior Andy Barba kept the Bengals within striking distance throughout the second half. He made six of his game-high seven 3-pointers in the half. On the third quarter’s final possession, BJ Busbee forced a five-second violation and knocked down a 3-pointer to cut VASJ’s lead to seven, 65-58, headed to the final quarter.
Davin Zeigler’s back-toback layups tied the score at 74.
Eric Buckner followed with a steal that resulted in a 76-74 edge for the Bengals, their first of the evening after more than 30 minutes of game time. Barba’s putback lifted Benedictine to a lead in the final minute before Hameed’s hanging layup tied the score, 79-79, and ultimately forced overtime.
Second-chance baskets from Jackson and Koppelman quickly gave VASJ the upper hand in the extra period.
The Vikings proceeded to outscore Benedictine, 16-4, in the additional four minutes.
“I feel like we’ve got good chemistry,” Hameed said. “Our team plays together, so I feel like we can go a long way if we keep playing like that.”
Barba led the Bengals with 27 points, Zeigler added 14, Buckner scored 13 off the bench and Busbee chipped in 12. The Bengals made 15 3-pointers but dropped to 6-5 and 2-3 in NCL play.
Benedictine head coach Rob Stircula said the Bengals played their hardest of the season in an encouraging performance.
Stircula’s presence was a welcome sight to each sideline after Benedictine’s coach missed three games due to health issues in December. He returned for the Bengals’ game against Padua on Jan. 4.
Similar to Benedictine’s loss to St. Edward on Jan. 5, the Bengals’ efforts Jan. 11 were derailed by their opponent’s success on the glass.
“Everybody chipped in and did what they had to do,” Stircula said. “We just didn’t get offensive rebounds to start the game and start the overtime.”