St. Edward High School – With what was already a demanding matchup for Wildcat Basketball, a severe case of the flu created an even grueling scenario for the Wildcats. Friday night’s game was set to be one final test for the Wildcats, who are just weeks away from playoff basketball. The test transitioned from “How will they compete against a talented team?” to “How many players would be on the bench ready to go at 7 pm?”
Dom DiNunzio, Luke Wiskes, Nate Hubbard, Tevin Jackson to just name a few were all under the weather in the week leading up to Friday nights game. It was clear the Wildcats ran out of gas in the fourth quarter as the game slipped out of their hands.
points for the Wildcats Friday night
The Wildcats made some improvements against the Eagles and were able to stay in the game slightly longer than the first time around. The Wildcats only trailed three after two quarters of play, unlike the first time around where the Wildcats trailed by 14 at halftime. Neeko Melendez’s 19 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter helped the Wildcats hover around the 10 point deficit mark during the 3rd quarter. The Wildcats had their opportunities but the deficit was not cut less than 8 points in the fourth quarter and the boys in green ran away with an 86-67 victory. Senior Josh Ozanne helped keep the game close in the fourth quarter with his 13 points.
The three point shooting from the Eagles is what kept the Cats behind for most of the night. Every time the Wildcats looked like they were going to be able to make up some ground, the Eagles fired right back not giving the Wildcats any chances.
What’s next for the Cats:
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats will need to do some deep soul searching in preperation for the playoffs. The Wildcats are now 10-6 on the year with games vs. Beachwood, Massilon Washington, and Kenston coming up in the next two weeks.
Final home game, and senior night for the Wildcats will take place tonight, Febrauary 10, at 7 pm. The final two games will be on the road at Massilon Washington and far east Kenston.
Playoff Preview:
With the playoffs just around the corner for Wildcat Basketball its hard not to take a peak ahead to see whats to come for Coach Becker and the Wildcats. Brunswick who has moved into the Strongsville District with the Wildcats and Eagles have been having a solid season looking to make a statement come playoff time. With how the season is wrapping up, it is looking as if Brunswick would take the two seed and Wildcats would be pushed back to the three or four seed in the district bracket.
With the three seed the Wildcats would have to face St. Edward for the third time this season in the District Semifinal instead of the District Final as it has been the past few years. If the Wildcats fall into the four seed they would have to play Brunswick in the District Semifinal and would face St. Edward in the District Final like usual.
We will know exactly where the Wildcats stand when the seeding comes out tomorrow, Sunday February 11.
