ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY
Senior guard David Walker's 27 points were key in a Stow-Munroe Falls boys basketball win Tuesday night at Northeast Ohio Conference rival Cuyahoga Falls. This image is from last season.
STOW, Ohio – They’ve been playing basketball together since the fourth grade. Stow-Munroe Falls senior guards Kyle Scelza and David Walker got to enjoy each other’s company on the home basketball court one more time in the Bulldogs’ 62-52 win over Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday night.
The 6-foot Scelza and the 6-foot-6 Walker, a Northeastern recruit, estimate that they have played somewhere around 250 games together over the past nine years.
“Those two guys are pretty good basketball players, so we try to get them going early, absolutely,” said Stow coach Dave Close.
Scelza and Walker dominated the scorebook in the first period. Scelza had eight points and Walker nine as Stow took a 17-14 lead over the Black Tigers. By halftime the pair had 25 of Stow’s 30 points.
Scelza said: “Dave is a tremendous player. It’s been amazing having him by my side, the things he can do out there. I’ve played with him for nine years. I know what he is going to do.”
Scelza was asked if he watches Walker on the court? Scelza said “No, not really, although we talk about it afterwards.”
“When he (Kyle) drives to the basket I know where to locate, and when I drive to the hoop I know where he will be,” Walker saidr. “Good chemistry helps a team win ballgames.”
At the end of the game, the pair had 45 of Stow’s 62 points. Walker had 27, and Scelza 18.
“They’ve grown up together,” Close said. “They both love the game. They feed off each other. They’re a joy to coach. It’s a nice situation to have two kids like that.”
Opposing coaches know what to expect.
“Those two kids (Scelza and Walker) scored 95 percent of their points last year,” Cuyahoga Falls coach Rob Slone said. “It’s the same this year: those two kids and five or six kids that are great role players. If you have miscommunication or a defensive breakdown, Scelza and Walker will make you pay."
Both Scelza and Walker will graduate this year and their education and basketball talents will take them down different paths. How will they adjust?
“I’m just going to have to adjust to my new teammates and Dave will have to adjust to his. It’s going to be tough,” Skelza said.
Walker added: “Kyle has been a good friend both on and off the court. I’m going to miss playing with him.”
Cuyahoga Falls (7-8) 14 – 6 – 6 – 26 = 52
Stow-Munroe Falls (12-3) 17 – 13 – 9 – 23 = 62
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Cuyahoga Falls: Devin Speicher 4 6-7 14, Joshua Ricker 4 3-6 13, Henry Shaw 4 1-3 9, Jacob Slone 4 0-1 8, Matt Lawrence 2 0-0 6, Cory Asbury 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 10-17 52.
Stow: David Walker 9 7-9 27, Kyle Scelza 6 2-2 18, Matthew Beech 3 5-8 11, Michael Waggoner 0 4-4 4, Blake Podnar 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 18-23 62.
Three-Pointers: Cuyahoga Falls 4 (Ricker 2, Lawrence 2); Stow 6 (Scelza 4, Walker 2)