Senior Brady Toth and junior Nathanael Sulka combined for 49 points in lifting Chardon past Chagrin Falls, 75-73, inOHSAA Sectional Semifinal action.
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Senior Brady Toth and junior Nathanael Sulka combined for 49 points in lifting Chardon past Chagrin Falls, 75-73, inOHSAA Sectional Semifinal action.
The Hilltoppers improved to 10-9 on the season with the win.
Chagrin Falls (8-5) led 19-15 at the end of the first quarter. But the Hilltoppers would then use a 16-2 run in the second quarter, led by eight points from Sulka, to take a 37-33 into halftime.
Asked about his big second quarter, Sulka said, “I was feeling good and was able to get to the rim — that is my strong suit — and I was able to make my inside shots.”
The Tigers continued to battle in the third quarter using a 9-3 run to take a 42-40 lead with four minutes left in the quarter, thanks to back-to-back baskets by Jack McMullen.
The third quarter ended with a flurry of Chardon points that started with a Josh Bruce basket plus a free throw. Later, a Toth 3-pointer extended the Hilltopper lead to 52-48.
Toth and Sulka field goals gave the Toppers a 56-51 lead at the end of the quarter.
“Brady (Toth) and (Nathanael) Sulka, it’s expected for them to score as much as they score,” Chardon Head Coach Chad Murawski said. “All season, it’s been who is going to tag along with them. We saw in the fourth quarter, Alex and Josh made some huge plays, we rebounded well, total team effort. I was really proud of them.”
Toth opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Hilltoppers their largest lead of the night at eight points. Chagrin senior Xavier Perez kept the Tigers in the game, though, making seven straight points to bring the score to 62-60 with only six minutes left.
The Hilltoppers then extended their lead to eight (70-62) with an 8-2 run, led by six points from Sulka. Six straight points from the Tigers made it 70-68 with a minute left to play.
That’s when Alex Henry hit Bruce with a well-timed pass that led to an and-one basket and extended Chardon’s lead to 73-68.
Henry added two free throws with just 30 seconds left to clinch the victory for the Hilltoppers.
Asked about making a few big plays including clutch free throws, Henry said, “I knew those last two free throws, I had to make them. The free throws came up big. On late-game timeouts, Coach talked about scheme, not over-closing out, not jumping for anything, and being smart. Sulka was slowed down late in the game, and we had to count on other players. Everyone contributed and we got the win.”
Chagrin was led by Perez with 23 points including four 3-pointers. Fellow senior Josh Norton contributed 18 points.
Chagrin Falls Head Coach Dave Bargar spoke highly of his 10 seniors after the game.
“I can’t say enough about our senior group,” he said. “We didn’t have any issues, we have some of the greatest teammates you will find in that locker room. They love being together. I have coached for 31 years — this is as close of a group of seniors that I have been a part of.”
After the win Tuesday, Chardon pulled an upset over fourth-seeded Perry, 79-66, advancing to the District Semifinals for the first time since 2009 and only the second time since 1996. Toth led the way for the Hilltoppers with 25 points, while Sulka added 24.
The Hilltoppers led 35-30 at halftime, then used a 44-point fourth quarter to top the Pirates.
Chardon would next travel to take on 10-seed Canfield on March 4. The winner plays in the District Final on March 6, taking on the winner of Struthers-Canton South.
