Carbon, Canfield fly past Mooney

Canfield's 68-34 victory was its fourth straight.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Through its first four games, the Canfield High boys basketball team struggled to put two good quarters together.
That wasn't a problem on Friday.
Senior Joe Carbon scored 20 points and added nine rebounds as Canfield cruised past visiting Cardinal Mooney, 68-34.
"We made shots, we passed very well and we played as a team the whole night," Carbon said. "It felt good to get this one."
After losing eight seniors to graduation, Canfield started the year with plenty of question marks.
Carbon, who averaged 11 points a game last season, and senior guard Sean Baker, who averaged six a game, were among the few returning players with varsity experience.
But Canfield coach John Cullen liked his team's attitude and chemistry and figured those attributes, along with his team's depth, would be enough to overcome the lack of experience.
He was right. After an opening loss to Ursuline -- easily one of the two or three best teams in the Mahoning Valley -- the Cardinals have won four straight.
"Tonight was the first time we were able to put a good first quarter and a good second quarter together," Cullen said. "We passed the ball very well tonight and that makes the game a lot easier."
Big lead
Mooney coach Steve Leslie wasn't feeling well before the game -- he had been struggling with flu-like symptoms -- and left the game at halftime due to illness. He didn't miss much as Mooney never got within 20 in the second half.
"[Mooney] played hard to the end and that's a credit to them," Cullen said. "Once they got down, they had to take some chances. They were just too far behind."
Senior Mike Hoelzel added 16 points and three assists for Canfield (4-1), which had assists on an impressive 17 of its 25 field goals.
Carbon has been averaging close to 20 points a game all season, but he's just a part of the team's success, Cullen said.
"A lot of other guys stepped up tonight," said Cullen, pointing to Hoelzel, Brian Fox and Pat Bellish. "Joe's been steady all year. He's a little too big [6-2] for the smaller guards and a little too quick for the bigger guys."
Baker, who got a late start on the season due to Canfield's football playoff berth, had five rebounds and four assists and has looked more and more comfortable on the basketball court over the past few weeks.
"He's treating ever game like it was Pickerington Central," said Cullen, referring to Baker's 386-yard passing performance in the playoffs. "He's seeing the floor well and he's creating things with his passes."
L.J. Sutton had 11 points to lead Mooney (1-5), which was out-rebounded 42-28.
Looking ahead
Canfield, which went 16-6 last year, now begins play in the Metro Athletic Conference, which should be even tougher with the addition of Campbell (district runner-up to Ursuline in Div. III last year) and East Liverpool.
Poland and Campbell are the early favorites, but Canfield should be in the mix.
"We have to play tough every night," Carbon said. "Some of those teams are bigger than us, but if we work hard and rebound, we should be able to get it done."
And Cullen thinks it's more than a three-team race. Niles and Struthers also have a chance to make some noise in the league, he said.
"It's going to be a big challenge the rest of the year," he said.
scalzo@vindy.com