
HARWELLPHOTO.COM
Stow-Munroe Falls senior guard Kyle Scelza, left, hit a school-record 11 3-point shots Tuesday to lead the Bulldogs to a 65-39 win over Bruce Thomas and Kent Roosevelt.
The SportsInk.com Athlete of the Week for March 13-19 is Stow-Munroe Falls junior basketball guard Kyle Scelza..
Scelza hit two-game winning shots for the Bulldogs this year, including a big one in the waning seconds of the regional semifinals to beat Canton GlenOak, thus getting his team to within one game of a trip to the Division I state tournament in Columbus. Scelza averaged 14.5 points per game for the team, which finished 22-3 with a loss to Toledo Central Catholic in the regional title contest, but he was much more than a scorer for the Bulldogs.
"He was our go-to guy, but he worked so hard on the court that it helped all the other players get open and work," Stow coach Dave Close said. "He was a true leader for us."
Scelza also hit a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left in overtime to lift Stow past Wadsworth in a district semifinal.
Said Scelza, "I just happened to be in the right spot for those game-winners, and I got lucky and I made them. I've been playing the game since I was real young, and you kind of live for those moments."
Scelza scored just one point in the Bulldogs' elimination game at the University of Toledo, but that does not take away from the outstanding accomplishments he and the team had this season.
"We had great chemistry," Scelza said. "We loved the fact the no one was talking about us all season."
But Close has been talking about the popular, personable, and productive Scelza for some time.
"To know Kyle off the court is to know him on the court," Close said. "He carries himself very well and is well-liked, but the best part of having Kyle on the team is that he is coming back next season."
Scelza also is the starting shortstop on the Stow baseball team and is looking forward to a fun experience with that sport as well this spring.
"I love basketball, but I really enjoy being part of the baseball team," Scelza said.
Kyle Scelza
Junior
Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Basketball
TV: Sportscenter
Pizza: Pepperoni
Home Cooking: Spaghetti and meatballs
Class: Math
Bucket List: Sky dive