OHIO CITY, OH - As 2025 enters its winter season, Saint Ignatius Basketball is back in action under a new coaching regime. Tom Parker '10 took the reins from Cam Joyce during the offseason, aiming to return to the state tournament. In his first weekend of games as head coach, Parker fared well against formidable competition.

On Saturday night, the Wildcats travelled east to begin their 2025 campaign against Bedford. The Bearcats, who came in at 18th in Cleveland.com's preseason rankings, were led by senior guard Kevin Woodgett III, who averaged over 13 points a season ago.

The first quarter was dominated by seniors from both teams, with RJ Jones making four early buckets for the Cats, and Woodgett nailing two threes. Alex Mack added a triple and a dunk for the Wildcats, who entered the second quarter with a 17-13 advantage. 

Mack did not slow down during the second quarter, coming away with a steal and a fastbreak that led to another vicious slam. Earning SIBN player of the game honors, Mack finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The Bearcats, however, stayed composed and cut the Wildcat lead to five points, 29-24, at halftime.

Carlos Vaughn Jr. performed like a seasoned veteran during his first varsity start. Along with four steals, Vaughn finished with 10 points, 8 of those coming in the Wildcat's third-quarter offensive explosion. Saint Ignatius pulled away in the third, outscoring Bedford 20-10 during the frame. The Cats took a 49-34 lead into the final period.

However, the Bearcats were not done. Relying on Woodgett and A.J. McGuinea, the Bearcats came roaring back to within two scores after a Jones technical foul. With just over a minute to play, Sami Dari found an open Mack at the top of the key, who hit the dagger three to ice the game for Saint Ignatius. The Wildcats came away with a 62-54 win, starting the season off on a high note.

Less than 24 hours later, Saint Ignatius was back on the hardwood, competing in the Great Lakes Classic in Cleveland Heights against Glenville. The Tarblooders were a bit shorthanded in their first game of the season, as three key players were still competing on the gridiron as Glenville prepares for the State Championship. Still, Glenville set the tone for the game, leading the Cats 18-17 after one. 

It was all Jones for the Wildcats, as he went a perfect 8-8 from two-point range. He finished with a game-high 22 points, earning the Akron Commit game MVP honors. 

Contributions from sophomore Denahi Melton (8 points) and senior Keith Seide (6 points, 9 rebounds) helped the Wildcats to a 64-54 win and a 2-0 start.

Looking ahead, the Wildcats will host the Berlin Hiland Hawks at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th. The SIBN will have full video coverage.