McDonald returns to title game

The Blue Devils, not high on the expectations scale to open the season, gained their fifth straight district title game.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

STRUTHERS — There weren’t many local basketball observers that thought the 2008 McDonald Blue Devils would become coach Jeff Rasile’s fifth straight Division IV district finalists.

That fete was accomplished Monday night when McDonald (18-4) defeated Springfield 69-49 in a district semifinal at Struthers Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils will meet the winner of the Columbiana-Lake Center Christian game Friday night at 7 p.m.

McDonald lost all five starters from last year’s regional team and returned only letterman Mike Thomas.

Thomas, along with seniors Adam Streb, Lance Ronghi and Ron Johnson, combined to score all 69 points in the 20-point win for McDonald.

“They definitely overachieved,” Rasile said of this year’s team. “Eighteen victories. I think it’s our program that focuses on working hard.

“I think we outworked [Springfield] at times tonight and when you work hard good things happen.”

The Blue Devils had their work cut out for them against a Springfield team that was much bigger in the frontcourt.

“We came out in a man [defense] at first because we thought they figured we’d be in a zone,” Rasile said. “We got in a little foul trouble so we switched to a zone.”

Rasile said the key to the win early was to rebound evenly with the bigger Tigers, led by Nate Schuler and Todd Kibby.

“I think we did [rebound with them],” Rasile said. “The margin couldn’t have been much different either way.”

McDonald outrebounded the Tigers 35-33.

The Blue Devils’ success on the boards enabled McDonald to get out and run early.

McDonald got seven points from Ronghi, and six each from Thomas and Streb to enable the Blue Devils to get out to a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Springfield’s troubles started early and continued into the second period as the Tigers (14-9) had trouble putting the ball in the net.

Springfield shot just 7-for-31 (23 percent) from the field in the first half, including 2-for-15 in the second quarter.

Overall, Springfield shot under 30 percent (18-for-64) for the game from the field.

“We missed a lot of easy shots,” said Springfield coach Grant Spaite. “We obviously didn’t shoot the ball very well.

“I don’t know if it was so much their pressure. They played hard but we didn’t knock down shots.”

The Tigers stayed with the Blue Devils for much of the third quarter pulling to within three points several times.

Each time, McDonald pulled away behind impressive shooting of their own.

The Blue Devils shot nearly 60 percent from the field.

After three periods, McDonald led 44-36 and pulled away in the final quarter.

Streb led the Blue Devils with 24 points and nine rebounds, but Ronghi scored 22 points and was the catalyst on both ends of the court from his point guard position.

“This was by far my biggest game,” Ronghi said. “Coach told me I needed to step up my game tonight and that’s what I tried to do.”

Thomas finished with 14 points and Johnson added nine points and seven rebounds.

Kibby led the Tigers with 16 points and seven rebounds while Joe Musial added 14 points.