After starting the season 0-7, Coach Dave Bargar’s squad has won four out of the last five contests that they have played in.
Game photos click here.
After starting the season 0-7, Coach Dave Bargar’s squad has won four out of the last five contests that they have played in.
“Our guys have been doing a much better job over that span competing with more intensity and urgency,” said Bargar, Chagrin Falls’ head coach. “We were obviously pretty inexperienced to start the season, and we have been dealing with several illnesses and some injuries, so it took some time to figure out how we needed to play to be successful.”
During that five-game span, the Tigers collected wins over Chardon, Beachwood and West Geauga, their lone loss in those five games a 71-67 loss against Bristol in the second annual Berkshire Hoopfest.
But on Jan. 16, the Tigers built a 36-13 lead heading into halftime over their rival, the Kenston Bombers. Final score: 59-37.
Pacing the way for the Tigers was sophomore Jacob Kay with 15 points at the half. Brad Russell added nine points, including a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line.
Despite the large lead at the half, Kenston’s grit and persistency would not let them go away quietly. The Bombers started with the basketball, where junior Sam Rogers knocked down his first three of the evening to open up the third quarter. Back-to-back turnovers would put the basketball back in the hands of the Bombers, where sophomore Tommy Seifried knocked down a jumper, his team trailing 36-18 just minutes into the third quarter.
On the next offensive possession, Kenston Head Coach Derrick DeJarnette’s group got the ball inside the paint to sophomore Ethan Black and scored yet again, cutting the lead to 36-20 and forcing Coach Bargar to call a timeout with 4:35 left in the quarter.
“At halftime, we warned them about not letting Kenston generate any momentum in the third quarter,” Coach Bargar said. “We struggled to score in the third, but we thought our defense was still solid.”
The Bombers capitalized on the Tigers’ poor offensive play in the third when they outscored their opponent, 11-3. Rogers led the way with five points, while Brad Russell recorded the Tigers’ only points in the quarter.
“We came off of the third quarter only scoring three points, and we didn’t bring the intensity,” said junior Spencer Kaas. “Coach Bargar told us during that last timeout that we are a much better team than this according to the first half, and it showed.”
Kenston cut the lead to 15 points to start the fourth quarter. Kaas got things started for the Tigers with a little give-and-go and scored two, extending the lead to 41-24. Black answered with a jumper for the Bombers.
Then, with 6:30 left in the contest, the Tigers began to heat things back up. Kaas and Kay went to work and put on a show offensively for the Tigers’ rowdy student section.
Kay finished the contest with 19 points, while Russell added nine. Kaas finished with six points, eight assists and nine rebounds.
“Jacob has done a great job since being inserted into the starting lineup, giving us an offensive boost,” Coach Bargar said. “Spencer does a lot of everything for us — he usually defends the opponents best player, he can score, he leads our team in assists, and he’s one of our best rebounders.”
Said Kaas: “We wanted to bring the intensity since it was a rivalry game. It was important that we came out with a lot of energy and run up and down the floor.”
Leading the way for the Bombers were Spencer Brownfield and Sam Rogers, each with eight points. Ethan Black added six points, while Jackson Allotta finished with five.
“Over the last five games, we have been picking up our energy and effort,” Kay said, “and that has carried over on both ends of the floor, but especially going from defense to offense. It creates good opportunities, and we’ve been playing well.”
Chagrin Falls would have a tough stretch ahead, traveling to Hawken, Wickliffe and Orange. The Bombers would next host Mayfield before traveling to Chardon. With the win, the Tigers improved to 4-8 overall; Kenston dropped to 1-12.
