St. Vincent-St. Mary boys basketball Coach Dru Joyce surprised even the most faithful Fighting Irish fans with his starting five in last Tuesday’s home game against Brush. 

 

A number of players from the ‘second unit’ made their appearance in the starting lineup that night against Brush.  Chaz Brantley, Jarel Woolridge, Jordan Hargrove and Angelo Cugini found themselves as starters against the Arcs.  Nick Wells remained in the starting lineup.

 

Was Joyce trying to make a point to his normal starting five?  

 

“We have a lot of good players,” Joyce said.  “I made a statement in practice that if this second group could handle the first group that they would start.  I kept extending it giving the first group a chance, but the second group played with energy.  

 

"I made that statement and I couldn’t go back on it."

 

The Fighting Irish won, 97-81.  This past Saturday, St. Vincent-St. Mary defeated Buchtel 64-52.  Hargrove continued in the starting lineup on Saturday.  In his first two starts this season, Hargrove has scored 11 and 15 points.

 

Did the shakeup work?  Only time will tell. 

 

Suburban League Outlook

 

The Nordonia Knights begin the second half of the Suburban League season with an 8-0 record.  But coach Matt Cash is not ready to proclaim his team as the SL front runner.

 

“There are no gimmies in the Suburban League,” said Cash.  “In the second half we have to play at Wadsworth, at Green and at Copley.  Night in and night out it’s going to be a battle.  My team has to be ready.”

 

Highland coach Mike Marcinko thinks the Knights are the team to beat.

 

“They have one of everything -- a post, an athlete, a shooter and a point guard," he said. "They have all the ingredients to be a good team."

 

He leads in 3's

 

Stow guard Kyle Scelza is having a very good season.  Scelza is averaging over 20 points a game for the Bulldogs. He leads the area in most 3-pointers made with 54. 

 

Dunk 4 Diabetes

 

This past Sunday’s “Dunk 4 Diabetes” Classic was a success at Alumni Arena at Walsh University.  According to organizers, the Classic will be held next year on Jan. 26 and 27.   Among the area teams that could be extended an invite for next year’s event are Firestone, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Massillon Jackson. 

 

The performance of Stow guard David Walker was outstanding against Pittsburgh Allderdice.  Walker had 27 points in the Bulldogs' 53-39 victory.  He’ll play next year at Northeastern University in Boston.

 

Division II Polls

 

The East Dragons are ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll.  East is undefeated in the City Series at 8-0 and are 12-1 overall.  The backcourt of Davonte Brunson and Mycle Shadie is averaging over 40 points and nine assists a game. 

 

St. Vincent-St. Mary is rated 13th in Division II.