Rebels fall in the last battle on their home court

Despite the departure of All-Ohio guard Sincere Carry, now starting at Duquesne, many expected Solon’s dominance would continue as the Comets returned four of their five starter’s from last year’s Division I state runner-up team.

Coach Tony DeCesare knew it wouldn’t be so easy.

Solon needed to determine how its players’ roles would change and an injury to starting guard Trent Williams didn’t help the process. He returned to health for the Comets’ game on Feb. 8 and, as Solon found its identity in the season’s final month, the Comets haven’t lost since.

Mike Bekelja led all scorers with 30 points, David Marbury added 19, Williams scored 15 and Marcus Steele chipped in 11 as Solon defeated South, 7857, in a Division I Euclid District sectional final on March 2.

“I think earlier in the year we took some lumps,” DeCesare said. “I think I did a pretty poor job of putting guys in places to be successful. Now that we’re healthy and guys really understand how to play, we’ve kind of figured out what kind of works best for us, we’re starting to take off.”

Solon advances to a Euclid District semifinal against Mentor, a rematch of last year’s district title game.

The Comets outscored the Rebels by 22 points in the second half to take control of its sectional final victory.

Solon ended South’s season for the third consecutive season.

Solon and South were tied, 11-11, after a quarter. Marbury’s 3-pointer stood as the Comets’ only field goal while they made all eight of their attempts from the foul line.

The Comets went up, 2619, before Xavier Hopps keyed a 10-2 South run that put the Rebels up, 29-28, at halftime.

Damion Williams opened the second half with a layup, Alvin Sloan III scored, Hopps knocked down a 3 and Williams scored again to give South its largest lead, 38-30. Solon plays Mentor on March 6 at 7 p.m.

Solon took a timeout and proceeded to outscore South, 25-7, as Bekelja made three 3-pointers in the period to help the Comets assert command of the game. Solon’s fullcourt, trapping pressure bothered South and prevented the Rebels from capitalizing on their size advantage in the halfcourt.

The Comets’ lead peaked at 24 points, 78-54, when Bekelja capped his 30-point night with a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

Williams led the Rebels with 19 points, Hopps scored 14 and Sloan chipped in 13. Williams, signed to play basketball at Lake Erie College, and Hopps, committed to play football at Tiffin, played their final games for South. The contest was also the last in the Rebels’ gymnasium, as they will move into a new school building for the 2019-20 school year.

Coach Doug Barber commended the work ethic and leadership of his seniors this season.

Williams averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game to earn second team all-district honors. Hopps led the team in scoring at 17 points per game.

“They carried us and they played a great game tonight,” Barber said. “We just didn’t have an answer for their guards.”

Eight seniors graduate from South’s roster, which will seek new contributors this season. Barber will have his point guard in place, though, as sophomore Will Hagwood emerged to provide steady play and 3-point shooting this year.

“Will stepped up this year,” Barber said. “That was a question mark headed into the season and he was a pleasant surprise, because we didn’t really know who was going to be the point guard headed into this season. He kind of asserted himself and handled himself pretty well as a sophomore, playing some of the teams we played.”