The most recent edition of the DeSales-Watterson boys basketball rivalry included something all great ones should.

A share of the Central Catholic League championship was on the line for the Stallions (16-3, 9-1 CCL) as they squared off against the Eagles Friday, Feb. 8, at Otterbein.

DeSales used big-time play from sophomore guard Nick Kellogg, sharpshooting from junior Nick Goff and a solid presence from senior center Sean Hobbs en route to a 67-54 win.

"They're a hard team to defend," Watterson coach Vince Lombardo said. "They can hurt you. Obviously, Kellogg does so much for them. They have a couple of kids who can shoot it well and they have the big guy inside.

"Getting all that guarded is tough and I thought the effort from our kids was tremendous. We had a stretch in the latter part of the second quarter that definitely hurt us."

Watterson (11-9, 5-5) wouldn't be run off the floor in a rivalry game, and led 16-14 after the first quarter.

"I think it's something that you come to expect every time you play Watterson," DeSales coach Blair Albright said. "Vince is as good as any coach in our league. They have a special appreciation for how to defend us and to take us out of everything we do.

"It's a battle of tempo every time we play them and no matter what we try, we can never seem to get a hold of the game right from the start. And that's a credit to them."

As good as the Eagles were at establishing tempo in the first quarter, Albright's Stallions were equally or more effective in the second half.

"The key in the fourth was being more consistent defensively and being more patient offensively," he said. "Once we did that, we gained control of the game.

"The decision we made (coming out of halftime) was we thought our man defense was the best we played in the first half. I didn't want to let them have long possessions and give them a chance, after we had worked hard, to make a couple of key shots and gain some momentum.

"So we tried to jump some passes early in the (third) quarter and it really worked to our benefit. It's a risky move, but sometimes you have to take risks to win these big games."

DeSales had scored the final five points of the second quarter, then took the margin to 10 by the end of the third.

The Eagles made one more surge, closing to within six points on a three-pointer from junior Chris Grabosky with 6:52 remaining in the game, but the Stallions closed with a 12-6 run to finish things.

"The guy that really hurt us tonight was Goff," Lombardo said. "He hit a couple of big threes when we still were within striking distance and that kind of sealed the deal."

Kellogg led all scorers with 19 points, 13 of which came in the second quarter, but Goff was just behind him with 18 of his own.

Watterson got 18 from Grabosky and 16 from junior Colin Boone.

DeSales shared the CCL title with Worthington Christian (19-1, 9-1), which defeated Hartley 81-66 at home Feb. 8.

After losing its first league game of the season at WCHS 59-58 Dec. 7, Albright had to have his squad ready for the final nine games.

"We knew that basically we were going to have to answer the bell each night," he explained. "It wasn't likely that Worthington Christian was going to slip up and these guys rose to every challenge."

The championship is the third straight for the Stallions, who retooled their lineup by having to replace three starters this season.

"We knew losing those guys last year that we'd have a chance to make a name for ourselves," Kellogg said. "I think we were the only ones who believed in ourselves. There were a lot of questions about whether we could do it again, but we knew we could with a lot of hard work -- and we got it done."

Albright had similar sentiments about this year's squad.

"What I was most proud of is that this team doesn't do it exactly the same way," he said. "They're not trying to reinvent the past, outside of doing the intangible things that are important... . I think this team is as balanced, if not more, than the teams we've had."

DeSales ended its regular season by winning 76-51 at Massillon Washington Saturday, Feb. 9.

Junior Zak Gaborcik and senior Ike Ariguzo led the way with 15 points apiece. They were joined in double figures by Hobbs (13), Goff (11) and Kellogg (10).

The Stallions are the No. 3-seeded team in the Division II Central District tournament and will play either Lakewood or East Saturday, Feb. 16, at Olentangy (8 p.m.).

A win would put DeSales in a district semifinal Feb. 22 at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum (8 p.m.).

 

While it isn't unusual to see famous Ohio State University alumni at DeSales games -- Nick Kellogg's father Clark, played basketball for OSU, and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin's son Adam is a sophomore on the varsity squad -- more than a few heads turned at Otterbein Feb. 8 when Thad Matta walked through the door.

Presumably there to see Nick Kellogg play, the Buckeyes men's hoops coach stayed until late in the game when he and director of basketball operations David Egelhoff exited.

Kellogg is averaging just over 22 points a game in his sophomore season and while no college offers had come as of last weekend, DeSales coach Blair Albright wouldn't be surprised when they start rolling in.

"He's had no offers at this point," he said. "However, I think it's very clear Thad Matta doesn't just walk in the gym.

"The interest level is extremely high and I think the Kelloggs have always been in favor of taking the process slow. I think the Ohio State coaching staff is smart enough to approach it that way, but I think there is clearly some interest there."

Kellogg, who also stars on the Stallions' soccer team, hasn't had college on his mind much yet.

"I haven't even thought about it," he admitted. "Obviously, if Ohio State's interested, I'd give it a look, but I haven't thought about it much.

"If I look at some schools and they show some real interest, I might verbal early, but right now, I'll probably wait it out."

The class of 2010 already has one local verbal commitment to the Buckeyes in Northland's Jared Sullinger.