The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Patriots outlast Cards in double OT
Cornerstone Christian’s trip to Mentor on Feb. 20, 2017, resulted in 182 points scored by the Patriots and Cardinals.
A year later, the teams combined for only 94 in regulation. They needed two extra periods to determine a winner.
And unlike last year, Cornerstone left Mentor with a victory, 67-60.
This time, the Patriots’ game plan revolved around defense. Cornerstone delivered a defensive effort reminiscent to Coach Andy Weybrecht of the program’s state championship-winning team in 2016.
“If we can hold Mentor to 60 in double overtime, we should be able to defend anybody in Division IV and hold anybody to that same total or less,” Weybrecht said. “We want to play the toughest teams we can possibly play to prepare us for the playoffs.”
Michael Bothwell scored 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half and overtimes to help Cornerstone overcome Mentor’s 32-27 halftime lead.
After the Cardinals took a 44-35 lead into the fourth quarter, Bothwell followed Kendall Saunders’ 3 with two makes of his own to tie the score.
Cornerstone limited Mentor to three points in the fourth quarter. Shane Zalba’s 3 with 1:54 to play in the game served as the Cardinals’ only fourth-quarter offense. The teams headed to overtime tied, 47-47.
“To hold a team like that to that few points,” Bothwell said, “that’s impressive, I think. I just think if we keep playing defense like that, we’re going to be a very, very tough out.”
Bothwell scored 10 of the Patriots’ 11 points in the first overtime. His layup through two defenders sent him flying to the floor and put Cornerstone ahead, 58-56, with 4.8 seconds to play. Zalba drove the length of the floor to tie the game with a layup as the overtime buzzer sounded.
The Patriots led, 60-58, when Bothwell needed assistance to leave the floor. As he felt sickness coming on earlier in the day, his legs and back severely cramped to leave the 6-foot-4 senior prone at midcourt. He attempted to re-enter the game but returned to the bench for the final minutes.
Until then, Bothwell exerted the entirety of his effort. He scored three points in the first half before he refocused at halftime.
“I’m not going to disappoint myself or disappoint my fans that all came out for our team,” Bothwell said. “I wanted to give a little better effort. I just tied my shoes up a little tighter and went after it.”
Bothwell’s teammates closed out the victory. Saunders’ layup, two free throws and a few crucial rebounds helped the Patriots earn their victory. Saunders finished with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Ricky Adams chipped in 10 points.
Zalba led the Cardinals with 19 points. Matt Koski and Tadas Tatarunas chipped in 12 apiece.
The Patriots led, 13-12, after a quarter on Adams’ jumper from the corner. Mentor’s offense appeared to find its footing in the second as the Cardinals scored 20 points to take a 32-27 lead into halftime.
Cornerstone limited
Mentor to two points in the second overtime and 16 total over the final three periods. Coach Bob Krizancic can’t recall the last time, if ever, his team scored three points in a quarter over his 38 years of coaching.
Mentor led by as many as 11 points in the second half before Cornerstone’s rally.
“Hopefully we learn from this,” Krizancic said. “Then it’s not as ugly a loss.”
Cornerstone’s defense prevented Mentor’s ballhandlers from penetrating as successfully as in the first half. The Patriots limited the Cardinals to 25 percent shooting
from 3-point range. Cornerstone’s coaching staff stressed the need to close out on Mentor’s shooters while staying low to cut off potential drives.
The Patriots’ victory adds further momentum to Cornerstone’s approach to the state tournament. Cornerstone added a win against Mentor to a collection that includes triumphs over Garfield Heights and Gilmour in recent weeks.
“Things are going our way,” Bothwell said. “If we just keep this February run and turn it into a March run, Columbus, we’re coming for it.”