The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
It’s madness for hoops fans this week
“In its purest sense, this is best tournament. I absolutely love it.”
That’s VASJ coach Babe Kwasniak, who’s seen and done it all in area boys basketball. Of course, he’s talking about the Ohio boys basketball tournament. As coach of the Vikings, he’s won a state championship as a player and coach so not much surprises him. However, coaching against Division II Cinderella Geneva on March 8 — a game VASJ won to claim a seventh district title under the coach — was the perfect example for Kwasniak.
“At times (during the game), I felt myself rooting for Geneva,” said Kwasniak. “It was like watching (the film) ‘Hoosiers.’ ”
For area hoops fans, there’s no need to pull out your copy of the 1986 classic sports film starring Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale. There’s no shortage of area teams continuing on at regionals. Each has its own story to tell this postseason.
In Division I, Mentor and Euclid have spots reserved at the Cleveland State Regional. In Division II, VASJ and Benedictine face off March 13 at the Canton Civic Center in a regional semifinal. In Division IV, Richmond Heights needs two victories at the Canton Fieldhouse, starting March 12, to earn the school’s first-ever trip to Columbus.
“When you’re with mentioned with Doc Daugherty, that means the world to me, and it gets me a little emotional.”
– Euclid coach T.J. Kwasniak
Area high school hoops junkies, here it is. This is your week. Not one, not two, not three, not four, but five area teams are competing at regionals.
For longtime Mentor coach Bob Krizancic, who’s made numerous trips to CSU and won the 2012-13 state title, this trip is the sweetest.
That’s because he told reporters this after his team beat Brush to win the Euclid District, and he said it again on March 10:
“I thought we might five, seven games,” said Krizancic. “With our schedule, and with how young we were, I just thought it would be really difficult. And many people thought Brush could go to state and win it and I agreed with them.”
So when fans watch Krizancic on the sideline at CSU on March 13 barking orders while holding his trademark cup of water, remember regional trips aren’t measured the same.
“To get to the sweet 16, to get to Cleveland State, it almost makes the year complete,” he said. “Of course you want to get to Columbus. But that experience of moving on from district, you’ve earned it.”
The five area regional teams cross off most of the boxes during tournament time, save a true Cinderella:
• The surprise team? Check. Of course, that’s Mentor, a team Krizancic’s own father wasn’t so sure of in the preseason. “Before the season, he texted me, and said, ‘Are you sure you want to coach this year?’ “
• The traditional power? Check. That’s VASJ, winner of seven boys basketball state titles, but that doesn’t mean success comes easy for the Vikings. “I talk to (Krizancic) about this all time,” Kwasniak said. “People have no idea how hard it is just to win a district title. One little thing can be the difference.”
• The team peaking at the right time? Check. That’s Benedictine. The Bengals loaded up their schedule, blew out the field at the Stow District, and showed they are ready for VASJ in Canton.
• The upstart? Check. That’s Euclid. Secondyear coach T.J. Kwasniak has turned the Panthers from 2-21 two seasons ago into district champions, and now legendary Panthers coach Doc Daugherty has company. He and T.J. are the only boys basketball coaches in school history to win a district title in boys basketball. “When you’re with mentioned with Doc Daugherty, that means the world to me, and it gets me a little emotional,” said T.J. He might have been emotional talking to his team after the district final win over Shaker Heights while relaying this message: “We’re not a joke anymore, and you guys have done that.”
• The team looking to break through? That’s Richmond Heights, a program that has produced many solid teams in the past but has never made the state tournament. Two more wins would break that drought.
The best thing for hoops fans is all of it plays out in the next few days. There are no seven-game series. Ticket are available and won’t break the bank. The best team for 32 minutes survives and advances.
“The biggest difference between our level and the NBA is there the best team always wins,” said Kwasniak. “Seven-game series, the best team almost always wins. What makes (high school) incredibly special is the best team doesn’t always win. Anything can happen in a 32-minute game. Sometimes there’s bad calls, a bad bounce.”
That played out across town on March 9. Lorain, ranked among the top teams in Ohio all season, is out of the tournament. The Titans lost to Olmsted Falls in a Division I district final at Elyria Catholic.
That example is the most recent. Babe Kwasniak’s favorite example is the 1992-93 season, when Girard eliminated VASJ from the Division II tournament in a regional final.
“I remember after our regional semifinal game, I scouted Girard, and I remember thinking if we played them 100 times, we would win 100,” said Babe. “That was also a dumb 16-year-old thinking that.”
The coach of Girard that season was Krizancic, who led that team to the D-II state title following the VASJ upset.
“That was my biggest lesson,” said Babe.
The stage is set. March Madness is here for area boys basketball fans. A week such as this — with five area teams at regional — might not happen again for a long time. Enjoy it.