EP fights fever, leaves United cold

Despite the flu, Nick DiCello helped the Bulldogs rally for a 55-53 win.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

EAST PALESTINE — It’s safe to say that the best East Palestine High basketball player Nick DiCello felt all week was on Friday when he was passing the ball to Ben Gysin under the basket or taking a shot.

After a slow start against United, DiCello’s Bulldogs closed the second quarter with a 13-1 run to take charge.

The Bulldogs’ defensive dominance continued in the third quarter as the Eagles were limited to two baskets.

And in the fourth quarter, Gysin took over, scoring 10 points in East Palestine’s 53-33 victory.

The loss ended United’s (9-6, 7-4 Inter Tri-County League Tier One) hopes for a league title.

DiCello finished with 10 points and six assists in one of the hardest challenges of his varsity career.

“This was real tough,” DiCello said of the flu bug that is pestering him. “I practiced about five minutes [Thursday] and that was the only practice I got in all week. I went to school [Thursday] — probably shouldn’t have.

“Today, I went half a day — those were the only times I was in school [this week],” DiCello said.

The Bulldogs’ offense began a bit sickly as they trailed the Eagles 11-6 and then 15-10 early in the second quarter.

Then momentum shifted to the Bulldogs (11-4, 7-4).

“All five guys on the floor executed their roles to perfection,” Bulldogs coach Tom Bingham said of the second-quarter run. “Our defense has been pretty good and it’s kept us in some games when we haven’t shot well. We take pride in it.

“Nick played outstanding,” said Bingham who said the decision to let him play was made right before tipoff. “For him to play the way he did feeling the way he did showed a heckuva lot of heart and leadership. He’s a pleasure to coach.”

Gysin finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. J.C. Bollinger and Wes Best contributed 10 and nine points, respectively.

DiCello said patience helped turn the tide.

“We stepped up the defense a lot and started to be patient of offense finding good shots,” DiCello said. “[Gysin] played big in the fourth quarter. He’s our bread and butter. In the beginning, they had two or three guys on him.”

The difference in the second quarter? Gysin said, “Just the offense being patient, waiting for good shots.”

Asked whether it’s more fun to score 19 or block three, Gysin smiled.

“Blocks are always more fun,” the 6-foot-4 sophomore said. “They always get the crowd into it.”

McCavitt Carter led the Eagles with eight points. Bill Prosko had seven points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Jeremy Walker pulled down six rebounds while Taylor Phillips made three assists.

United coach Rob Clunen said the Bulldogs didn’t throw any new defensive schemes at the Eagles from their first game, a six-point United victory.

“Unfortunately for us, [our game plan] didn’t work for us early and our guys lost confidence in what we were doing and started to force a lot of shots and a lot of passes,” Clunen said. “That led to a very ugly offensive night for us.

“Give the credit to [East Palestine] — they outcoached us, they outplayed us, the outworked us,” Clunen said. “They dominated us tonight and really took it to us all night long.”

williams@vindy.com