The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor primed for deep tournament run
Why Mentor can make states: The Cardinals have just about everything Coach Bob Krizancic likes in a team.
First in a series of stories breaking down teams from The News-Herald coverage area that are likely to make a deep run in the 2019 state tournament.
Mentor
• Record: 20-2 • Key players: Luke Floriea, 5-10, Jr., G, 19.2 ppg, 7.3 apg, 3.7 rpg, Chad Rogers, 6-4, Jr., F, 15.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, Luke Chicone, 5-9, So., G, 15.6 ppg, 5.9 apg
• Why the Cardinals can make a state run: The Cardinals have just about everything Coach Bob Krizancic likes in a team. Mentor’s guard play is elite behind junior Luke Floriea and sophomore Luke Chicone, who each have improved throughout the season. The Cardinals have size and skill in the frontcourt this season in Chad Rogers and Mason Trubisky. On the wing, Caleb Piks and Alex Edwards are quality defenders, high-caliber shooters and capable of creating their own shots.
Mentor has succeeded frequently in playing at its tempo, and the Cardinals are as dangerous as they’ve been since winning the 2013 state championship.
• What could hold them back: The Cardinals’ weaknesses
are difficult to pinpoint. Mentor’s two losses were decided by an aggregate five points. If anything, a team that handles the Cardinals’ pressure, controls tempo and executes at a high rate in the halfcourt can give them trouble.
• X-factor: Luke Chicone scored 25 points in the Cardinals’ regular-season finale at Massillon Jackson, his first double-digit scoring
game since scoring 12 points at Euclid two weeks earlier. Floriea and Rogers are the Cardinals’ primary scoring options. But when Chicone is able to attack and space the floor with his 3-point shooting, Mentor’s offense takes on another dimension.
Biggest roadblock: Mentor fell to eventual state runner-up Solon in last year’s Division I Euclid District final, and that game
could again be the inflection point for the Cardinals’ postseason. If Mentor advances to the district final March 9, the Cardinals would likely match up with Brush or Cleveland Heights. The Arcs won 19 games in the regular season and are led by a dynamic trio in DJ Dial, Andre Harris and John Hugley that could challenge Mentor’s dominance at Euclid.