By John Fanta ’13
Derek Sloan and the Wildcats took care of business on Friday night at Solon High School, when the 1st-seeded Saint Ignatius Wildcats cruised past 7th-seeded JFK.
Sloan scored 19 points as sophomore Jaylin McDonald contributed 12 points for the 20-3 Wildcats. It took the Wildcats some time to begin dominance over the Fighting Eagles, but they would wear away JFK once the second quarter hit. Francisco Santiago hit on back-to-back three pointers and Kyle Berger had a swift move in the second quarter. A big highlight of the second quarter was junior Jake Strippy’s entrance into the game. Coach O’Toole (5th season) was yelling for any sub, and Strippy, who hasn’t had any major highlights this season, stepped up to the challenge. Jake put in a bucket, but it was his attitude of knowing his role that stood out in the contest.
In the third, there weren’t many changes. Derek Sloan put in his first one-hand authoritative jam of the postseason and the Wildcats hit on three consecutive triples by Jaylin McDonald, David Black, and Austin Sterpka.
The Wildcats advance to the District Semifinals, where they will meet the #4-seed, Cleveland Heights Wednesday night at 7 pm. The Tigers and ‘Cats last met on February 14th, when Saint Ignatius outlasted the Tigers, 58-54. Andy Suttell’s Tigers rolled through Kenston on Friday night, 69-49.
In the other District Semifinal match-up, 5th-seeded Bedford, who upset 2nd-seeded Garfield Heights, will meet 3rd-seeded Shaker Heights on Thursday night at 7 pm.
