The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bengals outlast Lancers
Charleston scores 42
Davin Zeigler is the focus of every game plan compiled by Benedictine’s opponents. If the Bengals plan to compete for their third state championship, he’s going to need some help.
As Benedictine closed its regular season with a four-game winning streak, Zeigler’s supporting cast looks ready for the postseason.
Zeigler led the Bengals with 22 points in a 75-69 win at Gilmour on Feb. 22. The matchup was a potential preview of a semifinal game at the Division II Stow District, where Gilmour is the No. 2 seed and Benedictine is No. 3.
While the Lancers’ CJ Charleston put up 42 points, Benedictine’s role players stepped up. Fellow starters Jashun Cobb added 16 points and BJ Busbee scored 11. Jakeith Scott-Choice, who missed the season’s first month with a meniscus injury, scored 10 points off the bench. Kevin Bishop, in his first game back after he battled a case of mononucleosis, chipped in eight.
The Bengals also anticipate the return of sharpshooting 6-foot-6 junior Andy Barba from a concussion suffered in early February.
“It’s great because we got Davin,” Bishop said. “When, like, when they plan for Davin and try to make a game plan for Davin, we take the pressure off him. We got Jashun, we got Jakeith, BJ, Andy, Rory (Kilbane), we got everybody. Everybody can step up, make a play.”
Benedictine improved to 12-10 to conclude an adversity-filled season played against a challenging schedule. Gilmour fell to 17-5 as the Lancers finished their season with back-to-back losses to the Bengals Feb. 22 and South Feb. 19.
Benedictine led, 16-13, after a quarter. Gilmour’s four field goals in the first quarter were all converted from behind the 3-point line. Connor O’Toole’s 3 midway through the second quarter brought the Lancers within three, 3027, before Scott-Choice made his first 3-pointer, Zeigler scored on a layup, Busbee knocked down a jumper and Zeigler slammed back a missed shot. The Bengals went up, 41-30, by half.
Charleston hauled the Lancers back into the game. He scored 32 of his team’s 39 second-half points. A 3-pointer tied the score, 44-44, and his andone layup gave Gilmour a 47-46 lead. Scott-Choice’s 3-pointer preceded a layup and the Bengals carried a 57-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
Charleston’s fourth 3 cut Benedictine’s lead to three, 68-65, with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining. Bishop answered with a layup and Busbee knocked down a pair of free throws to help put the Bengals’ victory away.
Zeigler channeled Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield postgame, saying the Bengals are feeling dangerous headed into the postseason. Wins against VASJ, Harvey and Gilmour support the sentiment.
“Coach was telling us all week, ‘make a statement, make a statement,’” Zeigler said. “Show them why we’re not a 3-seed, why we should’ve been a 1-seed in the district. We just came out and made a statement the whole night, tried to prove our point.”
Coach Rob Stircula is relieved to put the regular season in his rear view mirror. He missed a handful of games when he was hospitalized before Christmas, and looks forward to the postseason with the Bengals at full strength.
Benedictine begins its postseason at home on March 1 against the winner of Chagrin Falls and Ravenna.
“We can start getting going at the goal at hand,” Stircula said. “We bookended the season really well. Five to start and four to end it, in a row, so hopefully we’re ready to go Friday and just make our push.”
Gilmour opens the postseason on March 1 against the winner of Aurora and Cleveland JFK.
Beside Charleston, who set Gilmour’s program single-season scoring record this year, no Lancers scored in double-figures. O’Toole made three 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
Coach Dan DeCrane thought his team ran its sets well and generated quality shots, but failed to capitalize on opportunities. DeCrane is hopeful tests in the regular season’s final week prepared the Lancers for the state tournament.
“He played a hero game,” DeCrane said. “I don’t know what else to say, he had 42 when we kept getting down. I think the thing we learned from the South game is we have to attack the basket, and he did that tonight well. I was happy to see him scoring at the rim, we need a guy like that to do that.”