Bombers Continue Dominance in Chagrin Division

Thursday, January 19, 2012

By Jay Scott

The Kenston Bombers remained undefeated Saturday morning after holding off Aurora's huge second half rally for a 63-55 victory. The team is trying to win its third CVC Chagrin title in three years, a difficult proposition given the difficulty of the division.

Night in and night out the Chagrin grind makes what Kenston has done the past three seasons that much more incredible.

Kenston head coach Josh Jakacki said after the Aurora game, "Aurora is a good team, they are going to be tough when Walker comes back," speaking of Aurora's 6-foot-5-inch senior who is out with a cast on his right hand.

In a first quarter that senior Eric Truog did not score at all, fellow seniors Pierce Cumpstone and Cody Shell combined for six; the Bombers still held a slim 14-10.

The next eight minutes the Bombers put together what coach Jakacki called, "The best eight minutes we've played this year."

Truog found his touch for nine straight Kenston points to open the quarter and Cumpstone and Shell both connected from 3-point range. But it was sophomore's Peter Rozman 70 foot heave that went straight in the basket at the end of the first half that gave Kenston a 34-17 lead at the half.

Rozman was candid (sarcasm) after the game, saying, "I just knew it was gonna go in."

Aurora came out of the locker room shooting lights out and playing tough defense. The Greenmen outscored the Bombers 17-12 in the third period and closed to within 12 (46-34) heading into the final quarter. Aurora senior Patrick Dougherty was a good six inches shorter than Truog but kept him in check for most of the game. Dougherty lead all scores with 19.

Truog said following the game, "We missed some easy shots at the basket in the second half and their shots started falling from long range so they were able to climb back into the game."

Aurora continued their long range shooting in the fourth quarter with senior Alex DeLahunta connecting on three of his five in the final stanza, the Greenmen finished with seven 3-pointers all in the second half.

Kenston went 19-30 from the free-throw line and made 11 of 18 in the fourth quarter when they needed them most.

Truog's 18 points (1,047 in his career) led the way for the Bombers while Cumpstone tossed in 12 and Rozman along with Daryll Richards had 11 each. Only three other Bombers have scored 1,000 points in a career.

Kenston moves to 9-0 after the victory last week and will travel to Perry this Friday.

Truog, a Marist College signee, also added, "Last year we were 19-1 this year we are looking to go 20-0."

That will be a little tougher this season, as Kenston has bumped up to Division I due to an increase in enrollment. The Cleveland Regional bracket will include state top 20 ranked: Garfield Hts, Cleveland Hts., Shaker Hts. and Brush.