Sullivan Gymnasium – It ended with a storming of the court. For the second game in a row, the atmosphere of a packed Father Sullivan Gym did not disappoint and neither did the Wildcats of Saint Ignatius High. With the punch in the stomach from Saint Edward last weekend put behind them, the Wildcats put together a much more sound performance defeating Garfield Heights 72-59 Friday night.
Garfield Heights started off the season as the team to be in Northeast Ohio. Their impressive roster including division I recruits Meechie Johnson (freshman) and 6’9″ Alonzo Gaffney (junior) started off the season with six consecutive wins, including victories over Shaker Heights, Benedictine and St. Vincent-St. Mary. The Bulldogs hit a skid as of late and the Wildcats poured a little salt in their wounds. After taking their first loss at the start of the month, the Bulldogs have now lost four straight.
It started just as it did a week ago, a competive and exciting first quarter that kept everybody inside fully entertained. The difference was, the Wildcats kept it up past the first eight minutes.
“The game plan was to outwork them in the beginning of the game. In the second quarter against Eds we turned over the ball. That didn’t happen tonight,” Dom Dinunzio explained the difference from a week ago following the win.
“Eds was a gut check. We thought we were going to be able to contend and it stung,” Luke Wiskes said how their attitude changed for tonight’s game, “It started this week in practice. We hustled and competed more all week.”
It was a two point lead at the end of the first quarter, then a 32-24 point lead at halftime. The Wildcats looked as if they were a different team from a week ago. Not to mention, leading scorer Neeko Melendez, was out nursing a shoulder injury.
“We do what we do. It was iffy the whole week whether Neeko would play tonight. He’s obviously a huge factor,” Jon Barnes commented on the absence of Neeko following the game.
With their leading scorer on the bench, somebody was going to have to step up big time vs. a very tallented team. It turns out that not only one, but multiple players turned up the heat and took over the game.
Sophomore Tevin Jackson was one to peak out of his shell Friday night. Tevin put up a season high 12 points in what Luke Wiskes called his “homecoming game.” Tevin is close with many players on the Bulldogs roster and has been playing with them for serveral years.
season led Wildcats to victory with
20 pts. and 9 reb.
Wiskes went on to say, “he played out of his mind.”
Senior Jon Barnes had just as much praise for Tevin. “He stepped up. Played with an edge. He wasn’t looking to score in the past, and we all know he can score. With him looking to attack and score it brings a whole new dynamic to the team.”
Jon Barnes wasn’t shy to stand out on the floor Friday night. Barnes led the team with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Even with the highly rated competition, Jon said he just played his game. Didn’t worry about what was in front of him. His motto: doesn’t matter how many offers they have, they are still on the same court playing the same possessions in the same game.
Wiskes had more praise for his teammate following the game. “Barnes is a walking bucket, let’s be real. Amazing defender. Amazing player.” Tevin Jackson added that Barnes is simply “unguardable.”
Wiskes says that the Wildcats didn’t necessarily change things up for Friday nights game, they just woke up. Wiskes finished the game with 13 points himself.
At the end of the third quarter the lead was up to 18. Garfield Heights has come back from large deficits earlier in the season, including a 20-plus deficit against Shaker Heights. The Bulldogs put everything they had into a fourth quarter push. At one point in the fourth the lead was cut to eight, but behind a roudy student section, the Wildcats rallied back and finished with a 13 point win.
Wiskes not only gave praise to his teammates but to the rest of his classmates that filled the seats, “We feed off the student section. We get hyped up. When is the last time the cour was stormed in Sullivan Gym? They need to keep showing up and we will feed off them all season.”
Dinunzio added that the the student section adds so much energy to the atmosphere and hopes to continue to see it again. Dom gave huge credit to the student section following the game.
What’s next for the Wildcats?
Barnes says that this victory is just a stepping stone for the Wildcats. They haven’t got the respect they wanted so far this season from the media or from their fans. He says they are looking for some respect and will build on this victory. When asked how this win affects their rematch vs. Eds in several weeks, Barnes simply said that they have a bigger picture in mind than just that one game. Barnes says he it would be great to beat them at their place but they are looking towards that future District Final game.
The battle continues as another ranked team comes into Sullivan Gym tomorrow night. Cleveland Centeral Catholic, who will undoubdebly put up a fight, will be at Ignatius for a 7pm tip off.
