CLEVELAND, OH - Off the heels of a 1-3 trip to San Diego, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats traveled back home to Ohio, looking to correct course. On Saturday night, the Wildcats faced off against St. Edward in "The Clash at Public Hall," a one-of-a-kind event that further intensified a historic rivalry. An announced attendance of 4,891 spectators filled the building, with both teams harnessing the crowd's support.
The Eagles, led by coach Eric Flannery, own one of the most dynamic offenses in Ohio. The senior trio of Bryan Vlosich, Zymir Knox, and JT Kelsheimer was what allowed St. Edward to start with a 7-0 record. Vlosich, who averaged 18 points per game coming into the contest, finished with a team-high 21, adding 5 threes.
Saint Ignatius grabbed the lead off of 4
Denahi Melton points, and never looked back.
Alex Mack continued his stellar shooting, pacing the Wildcats with 20 points and six threes. The senior standout has been efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 47% from downtown on 8 attempts per game.
Akron commit
RJ Jones excelled for Saint Ignatius, with two big-time dunks in the third quarter that brought the house down. Jones finished with 17 points and notched three steals.
Despite the Wildcats leading throughout the game, St. Edward never wavered. The Eagles erased a nine-point Wildcat lead in the fourth quarter, with Knox leading the charge. A Mack three with 1:15 left closed the door for the Cats, however, and led to a Saint Ignatius 71-67 victory.
The Wildcats extend their streak in the rivalry to seven, now leading the Eagles 63-53 in the all-time series. They'll meet St. Edward later this season on Friday, February 6, at the Eagles Nest, where they will look to match a program-best eight straight victories against St. Edward.
A gauntlet is in order for the Wildcats, starting with a trip to Centerville on Saturday. The 2024 State Championship rematch will tip off at 2:30 p.m. from Centerville High School. Then, Lutheran East comes to Sullivan Gym in a #1 vs #2 showdown on Tuesday, January 13th. The SIBN will have full coverage of each game.
