The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor boys clinch share of GCC crown
The first time Mentor played Solon, early foul trouble forced Chad Rogers off the floor and the Comets took advantage to beat the Cardinals.
The defeat served as Mentor’s second Greater Cleveland Conference loss in four games and left their hopes at winning the league threadbare.
Coach Bob Krizancic told the team Jan. 7 the Cardinals needed to run the table the rest of the way to have a chance at their third league title in four seasons.
When Solon visited Mentor Feb. 21, the Cardinals accomplished the daunting mission laid out by their coach in early January.
During a 74-54 victory over the Comets, Rogers was the most vital component as he scored a game-high 28 points.
“I mean, I knew none of them were even close to as big as I was,” Rogers said. “I knew I had at least 30 pounds on every single one of them. I just wanted to stay inside and try to get my points and my boards inside, I just couldn’t let them get to my head and get me in foul trouble.”
Luke Chicone added 20 points and Andrew Witte chipped in 11 for the Cardinals.
Mentor improved to 16-5 and finished 12-2 in the GCC. The Cardinals shared the conference title with Medina, which defeated Brunswick Feb. 21.
The 10-game GCC winning streak required two wins against Shaker Heights and a victory over Medina. The Cardinals lost to the Bees by double-digits in their first game, but won the rematch when Luke Chicone scored nine points in the final minute of the game played at Mentor. For much of that span, the Cardinals were without senior wing and Lake Erie signee Caleb Piks.
All the while, Krizancic said, his team showed character.
“We usually progress and we usually get better,” Krizancic said. “The Caleb injury really threw a wrench into things. That really made it doubly-satisfying, that we can do it without him. I think Andrew Witte has become a player, Kyle Culler, our bench has become strong.”
Witte recorded the first two baskets of the game and, after Solon cut its deficit to a point, Luke Floriea’s 3-pointer put Mentor up, 15-11, after a quarter.
The Cardinals opened the second on a 12-2 run to quickly build a doubledigit lead. Witte hit two more 3-pointers late in the half to help send Mentor into halftime ahead, 34-19.
Midway through the third, Rogers made his fourth 3 of the game and Chicone followed with a pair of free throws to push Mentor’s lead to 20, 49-29. The Cardinals took a 19-point edge into the fourth, where Krizancic’s reserves spent most of the period on the floor.
Senior Timmy Shea, who was limited by an ankle injury in recent weeks, came off the bench in the final minute to knock down a 3-pointer on his senior night to close out the game.
Mentor concludes its regular season Feb. 22 against nearby Lake Catholic. The Cardinals look like a vastly different team than the one that lost to Solon Jan. 7, a game that prompted the team’s captains to meet ahead of the next contest.
A 79-70 victory against Shaker Heights followed and sent Mentor on an upward trajectory. The Cardinals have won 13 of their last 14 games, the lone loss coming at Lakota East — Division I’s No. 8-ranked team.
“From there, we just kept improving and getting better every single day,” Chicone said. “Now we’re here and hoping to make a big run in the playoffs.”
Marcus Steele led the Comets with 18 points, Rayquan Thompson scored 11 off the bench and Jimmie Williams chipped in 10. Solon finished the year 16-6 and went 9-5 in GCC play.
Coach Tony DeCesare pointed to the matchup problems presented by Rogers, which forced Solon’s defense to either leave him in one-on-ones or double and leave shooters open. Moreover, he saw a team prepared for March.
“They didn’t make mistakes tonight offensively,” DeCesare said. “The ball moved, guys got good looks every time down. We told guys after the game, that’s the execution and mental focus you need to advance in the tournament. They looked like they’re ready to do that.”