Stallions earn a CCL crown, their 4th consecutive
Monday, February 23, 2009
By SETH SHANER
Two of the area's biggest rivals celebrated
their 100th meeting in boys basketball in grand
style by nearly filling Capital University's
Capital Center in a 60-49 DeSales win over
Watterson Friday, Feb. 20.
The Stallions (17-3, 9-1) nailed down an outright Central Catholic League title with the win -- their fourth straight league crown -- but also equaled the series at 50-50, and notched a 10th straight win over their rival.
"It means a lot to me," senior Nick Goff said. "Both Zak (Gaborcik) and I went 8-0 against them. I can't ask for anything more. It's a great feeling and hopefully next year's class will get wins 51 and 52."
Unlike the first go-around, a 51-50 overtime win for DeSales at Otterbein Jan. 23, DeSales held onto control of this one most of the time -- the Eagles (10-10, 3-7) led by 20 points with just over 10 minutes to play in the first contest.The Stallions opened play with the look of a group that had something to play for, but Watterson used a 20-10 second quarter to take its only lead, and led 27-25 at the half.
"I think the guys came out thinking we still had some things to prove against these guys," DeSales coach Blair Albright said. "It's just not that easy, though. We came out and played pretty well to the game plan early and had a relatively good first quarter.
"Defensively, in the second quarter, we totally got off the gas and they outscored us. They were able to control tempo and I thought when we weren't getting stops our offense really struggled."
Watterson coach Vince Lombardo was proud of his team's effort the entire contest, as opposed to the first meeting.
"For the most part, even though we had the big lead last time, I really felt a little better about our overall effort tonight," he said. "I think we came out great last time, but tonight was a little tougher and I thought our kids responded extremely well."
DeSales went on to score 35 second-half points and maintained a steady advantage until pulling away at the end.
"There was a stretch in the third quarter where the game just kept teetering on a (five-point Stallions lead)," Albright said. "Any break in that, if they get it down to three or one, then the game would've probably been tightly contested down to the close.
"But we continued to answer and continued to rebound and we were able to keep that five-point lead and the next thing you know, at the end of the quarter we're up seven. I thought that was critical, the way our seniors and leaders stepped up."
DeSales had three players in double figures in Nick Kellogg (20), Ike Ariguzo (16) and Goff (15).
The trio scored all of the Stallions' points in the final quarter, with Kellogg tallying eight points.
The Eagles got 13 points from Chris Grabosky and eight apiece from Andy Winters, Matt Schweitzer and Matt Susi.
Watterson senior forward Colin Boone, who missed the entire season following a knee injury suffered against DeSales during football season, started the game, standing back in the paint, before being removed immediately following the opening tip.
"We all think the world of Colin, the fans, coaches and players," Lombardo said, "and we've missed him on the court this year, but he's been a tremendous part of our program.
"It was nice to be able to do that and DeSales was great in helping us."
Players from both teams shook Boone's hand as he left the floor, and the DeSales starters broke from their huddle when he was introduced at the start of the game.
DeSales went on to finish an undefeated home campaign with an 82-58 win over Massillon Washington Saturday, Feb. 21.
Goff led the way with 26 points, while Ariguzo (17) and Kellogg (13) were also in double figures.
Watterson earned the eighth seed in the Division II sectional-district tournament and is to open up play against Mifflin at Centerburg Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m.
A win for the Eagles would put them against No. 3 seed Lakewood at Centerburg Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m.
DeSales, the draw's top seed, took a first-round bye and will play either Amanda-Clearcreek or Whitehall at Grove City Feb. 28, at 8 p.m.
The Stallions (17-3, 9-1) nailed down an outright Central Catholic League title with the win -- their fourth straight league crown -- but also equaled the series at 50-50, and notched a 10th straight win over their rival.
"It means a lot to me," senior Nick Goff said. "Both Zak (Gaborcik) and I went 8-0 against them. I can't ask for anything more. It's a great feeling and hopefully next year's class will get wins 51 and 52."
Unlike the first go-around, a 51-50 overtime win for DeSales at Otterbein Jan. 23, DeSales held onto control of this one most of the time -- the Eagles (10-10, 3-7) led by 20 points with just over 10 minutes to play in the first contest.The Stallions opened play with the look of a group that had something to play for, but Watterson used a 20-10 second quarter to take its only lead, and led 27-25 at the half.
"I think the guys came out thinking we still had some things to prove against these guys," DeSales coach Blair Albright said. "It's just not that easy, though. We came out and played pretty well to the game plan early and had a relatively good first quarter.
"Defensively, in the second quarter, we totally got off the gas and they outscored us. They were able to control tempo and I thought when we weren't getting stops our offense really struggled."
Watterson coach Vince Lombardo was proud of his team's effort the entire contest, as opposed to the first meeting.
"For the most part, even though we had the big lead last time, I really felt a little better about our overall effort tonight," he said. "I think we came out great last time, but tonight was a little tougher and I thought our kids responded extremely well."
DeSales went on to score 35 second-half points and maintained a steady advantage until pulling away at the end.
"There was a stretch in the third quarter where the game just kept teetering on a (five-point Stallions lead)," Albright said. "Any break in that, if they get it down to three or one, then the game would've probably been tightly contested down to the close.
"But we continued to answer and continued to rebound and we were able to keep that five-point lead and the next thing you know, at the end of the quarter we're up seven. I thought that was critical, the way our seniors and leaders stepped up."
DeSales had three players in double figures in Nick Kellogg (20), Ike Ariguzo (16) and Goff (15).
The trio scored all of the Stallions' points in the final quarter, with Kellogg tallying eight points.
The Eagles got 13 points from Chris Grabosky and eight apiece from Andy Winters, Matt Schweitzer and Matt Susi.
Watterson senior forward Colin Boone, who missed the entire season following a knee injury suffered against DeSales during football season, started the game, standing back in the paint, before being removed immediately following the opening tip.
"We all think the world of Colin, the fans, coaches and players," Lombardo said, "and we've missed him on the court this year, but he's been a tremendous part of our program.
"It was nice to be able to do that and DeSales was great in helping us."
Players from both teams shook Boone's hand as he left the floor, and the DeSales starters broke from their huddle when he was introduced at the start of the game.
DeSales went on to finish an undefeated home campaign with an 82-58 win over Massillon Washington Saturday, Feb. 21.
Goff led the way with 26 points, while Ariguzo (17) and Kellogg (13) were also in double figures.
Watterson earned the eighth seed in the Division II sectional-district tournament and is to open up play against Mifflin at Centerburg Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m.
A win for the Eagles would put them against No. 3 seed Lakewood at Centerburg Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m.
DeSales, the draw's top seed, took a first-round bye and will play either Amanda-Clearcreek or Whitehall at Grove City Feb. 28, at 8 p.m.