OHIO CITY, OH: The Saint Ignatius Wildcats took care of business to round out the month of January, dispatching Lutheran East and Lutheran West on back-to-back days. According to Martin RPI, the Wildcats, rated #2 in Division I, continue to dominate some of the fiercest opponents in the state.
The Cats traveled to Cleveland Heights to take on Division V #1 Lutheran East, marking the fifth time in as many years that the two programs have faced off. The Wildcats, who took care of business 69-54 a year prior, looked to continue their winning streak against the highly touted Falcons.
The Wildcats had an advantage from the start, as the Falcons were missing their best player, four-star ranked TJ Crumble. Nonetheless, the Falcons were still extremely talented despite not having any seniors on their roster.
The Cats led out of the gate, scoring quickly on multiple Damon Friery and Kalli Johnson buckets. But, Lutheran East kept it close in the first quarter, with sophomore guard Ty Harrison draining three triples. The Cats led 20-13 after one.
For the rest of the first half, the Wildcats played with the same intensity. However, the Falcons outscored the Cats 17-15 in the second quarter, cutting Saint Ignatius' lead to five points entering the break.
The Wildcats battled hard in the second half, with contributions from the whole roster on both ends. In the fourth quarter, though, Johnson came away with a vicious block, leading to a Cats fast break and score. This suffocating defense helped anchor a 66-51 victory.
Friery led the way for the Cats with 25 points and five boards. Johnson and Thomas added 14 and 12 respectfully. Quinn Woidke dished out seven dimes in the victory.
The Wildcats did not have time to rest as they battled the Falcons' western counterparts, the Lutheran West Longhorns. This contest would mark Senior Night for the Wildcats, and the atmosphere in Sullivan Gym was unmatched.
All five Wildcat starters were seniors, leading to high emotions and intense energy on the court. The Wildcats were flaming out of the gate, claiming a commanding 15-1 run and ending the frame up 23-12.
The Wildcats had different contributors, with Pearce Gibbs scoring in double figures for the first time in his career and leading the Cats after one half.
Despite the hot Wildcat start, the Longhorns never wavered. Contributions from Matt Meyer and Ryan Calo kept Lutheran West in the game, down 37-29 at halftime.
The Cats and Longhorns battled hard down the stretch, with the Cats lead shrinking to only four points during the fourth quarter. A clutch Quinn Woidke bucket and an untimely Longhorn technical foul led to the Wildcats having possession up 11 with three seconds left. Friery posterized Meyer for the exclamation point, securing the 18th straight home victory for the Wildcats.
Friery's 21-point night puts him 32 points away from entering the 1,000-point club. The future Flyer also added six boards in the win. Junior RJ Jones also filled the stat sheet, scoring 14 points, grabbing six boards, and collecting two steals and three blocks.
The Wildcats are back in action this week, with a pair of home games on schedule. Tuesday, Saint Ignatius will take on Richmond Heights, hoping to avenge their loss from a year ago.
Friday, the Cats will rematch their rival St. Edward, looking to sweep the Eagles for the second consecutive year. The SIBN will have live coverage of both contests.
