Preppers start strong to defeat Tigers

University used a big first quarter to upend Chagrin Falls, 72-62, on Feb. 21.

University (13-6) opened the game with high energy. The Preppers moved the ball and played stout defense as they forced eight turnovers to open up a 2711 lead. Junior guard Faris Dahman was a spark plug for the offense as he scored seven points in the opening quarter.

“We have a lot of respect for Chagrin and we know they’re very good when they play with a lead so we wanted to try and get out in front and we were lucky that we did,” University coach Sean McDonnell said.

The Tigers (15-7, 11-2) turned things in their favor in the second quarter. The defense tightened up and they started swinging the ball from side-toside to go on a 7-0 spurt. Suddenly the Preppers had the slippery fingers as they coughed the ball up six times.

Chagrin Falls senior forward Kyle Zaluski battled down low and scored nine points to help cut the deficit to just six points at halftime.

“We got some good contributions off the bench,” Tigers coach Dave Bargar said. “We had a little foul trouble in the first quarter. We had to do some different things. I thought our energy picked up and it got us back in the game.”

The Preppers’ offense picked up steam in the third quarter as they built the lead back up. Chagrin Falls refused to go away and ended the third quarter on a high note as junior guard Xavier Perez’s corner three-pointer trimmed University’s lead down to single-digits.

The Preppers continued to keep Chagrin Falls at arm’s length throughout the fourth quarter. The Tigers actually made it a four-point game with about a minute to go thanks to consecutive three-pointers by Zaluski and senior guard Cam Owen. Chagrin Falls couldn’t get a stop on defense though and University clinched the victory.

“Every team has runs and comes back from a lot,” Dahman said. “We just like picked it up in the third and said, ‘Keep our head up,’ and we kept on going hard.”

The Preppers’ guard had the hot shooting hand all night as he poured in 24 points with five made three-point baskets along with two rebounds and three assists. Junior big man Ricky Radtke followed up with 13 points, 11 rebounds, one assists and one blocked shot. University concludes the regular season Feb. 22 against Collinwood at home.

The five-foot-ten Zaluski led Chagrin Falls with 17 points and five boards. Perez was second with 11 points, four rebounds and dished out three assists. The Tigers will now gear up for the postseason as they face Ravenna at home on Feb. 25 in a D-II Stow District sectional semifinal.