The Tigers are off to a 3-0 start to begin their 2022-23 season. In their first three games, they posted 166 points, pulled down 87 rebounds, and dished out 35 assists.
Game photos click here.
The Tigers are off to a 3-0 start to begin their 2022-23 season.
In their first three games, they posted 166 points, pulled down 87 rebounds, and dished out 35 assists.
The team’s Dec. 6 win, 51-32, over West Geauga would be no different.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first, after forcing the Wolverines into a turnover. A quick rebound from Nicholas Vinci, off a missed three from Spencer Kaas, had the Tigers out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter.
Finally, with 2:53 left in the opening quarter, Jerry Kline-Ruminski pulled down an offensive rebound for his team and got his team on the board. With less than one minute remaining, the Wolverines picked up their first lead of the evening, 6-5.
An answer came from Max Crandall, who got three points the old way, scored two, and earned himself a trip to the free throw line to pull ahead by one point. Then an offensive rebound by Aiden Beresford put his team ahead by three at the end of the quarter, 9-6 in favor of the Tigers.
Four Chagrin Falls players scored in the first quarter.
Head Coach Dave Bargar’s team continued the sharp shooting that ended the opening quarter with a 5-0 run in the first minute of the second quarter. Vinci fed big-man James Kosmides for two, and the Wolverines would pull within three, 13-10 with 5:21 left in the half, when Kline-Ruminski connected on two free throws.
West G Head Coach Micah Young called a timeout with two minutes left as his team trailed 22-12. Kline-Ruminski led all scorers for his team with eight points in the first half, including six in the second quarter. For the Tigers, Kosmides led his team with six points in the second quarter, while teammate Vinci led all scorers with eight points.
Asked about his team’s game plan coming into the contest, Bargar said they all tried to focus on the defensive end of the ball.
“Tonight we wanted to contain Kline-Ruminski, and make sure that their shooters didn’t get open looks,” Bargar said. “I thought we did a much better job in the second half defending their pick and roll, which was pretty effective for them early in the game.”
Guard Ryan Curtiss scored the first points of the second half when he got a step on his defender and scored in the paint. The Tigers forced three straight turnovers and converted on two of the three possessions. At the five minute mark, the Wolverines finally scored their first points in the second half. Kline-Ruminski got around his defender and scored two points on the layup. Not only was Bargar pleased with his team in the second half, but “The Zoo” also loved the performance.
“Hearing the student section go crazy after every time we score, it gives us a lot of energy and it motivates us to play for our school,” said senior Ryan Curtiss. “It gives us more motivation to win and beat the other student section.”
The Tigers outscored their opponent 28-17 in the second half. Curtiss scored eight points in the third quarter, while Kosmides added four. Kline-Ruminski led the way for the Wolverines with six.
“Our offense is always predicated on ball movement and unselfishness,” said Bargar. “Our guys do a good job of sharing the ball and finding the open man.”
In the win, the Tigers dished out 10 assists. Nine different Tigers made their way in the scorebook.
“It’s definitely easy when we get the basketball to our big man because everyone else is spreading out and we can screen other players, do flare screens,” Vinci said. “Like I said, getting the basketball to James (Kosmides) in the middle really opened everything up.”
The Tigers won the contest 51-32, with Vinci leading the team offensively with 11 points. Kosmides added 10, Curtiss finished with nine. Max Crandall added eight, and Ozzy DiFranco, Will Rossi, Spencer and Sam Kleid finished with four, three and two points respectively.
Kosmides led with 12 rebounds, while Kaas dished out four assists. They would look to continue their hot streak against Orange on Dec. 14 and Lakeside on Dec. 17.
“We have been playing pretty well on the defensive end of the floor this year,” Bargar said. “We have been active and have done a good job of disrupting the opposing team in our first three games.”
On the other hand, the Wolverines would look to rebound against Beachwood and Painesville Harvey on Dec. 14 and 17, respectively. Coach Young will need to find more offensive support for Kline-Ruminski, who finished with a team-high 16 points. Landon Lear added eight, while Jesse Moriarity finished with four.
