Bulldogs’ D earns an ‘A’

Poland’s full-court trap forced 28 turnovers en route to an 86-67 win over Boardman.

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

AUSTINTOWN — The Poland High boys basketball team has a lot of the same faces back from last year.

But it sure doesn’t look like the same team.

The Bulldogs played with a defensive intensity more fitting of their 2007-08 team, pressuring Boardman into 28 turnovers en route to Monday’s 86-67 victory in the first game of the Holiday Classic at Fitch High School.

“We were missing leaders last year and it might have taken an extra year to buy into what Coach [Ken Grisdale] was saying,” senior Luke Wollet said. “A district final loss [last March] is not what we want.

“We’re all committed this year to each other and not to ourselves and the ultimate goal is a state title.”

Wollet, a Kent State football recruit, led the way for the Bulldogs (5-0) with 17 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists. Those numbers were more the result of effort — Wollet attacked the rim on offense and was all over the court on defense — than skill, he said.

“I can’t play a slow, half-court game,” he said. “I’m not a good basketball player.

“I just kind of run around like an idiot and try to find the ball.”

Wollet is being modest, obviously, but the comments reflect something deeper, team-wise. First, the Bulldogs know their roles. Second, they know if their effort suffers, there are at least five more players in the rotation who can take their spot.

“On the door in our locker room there’s a sign that says effort plus execution equals success,” Grisdale said. “When you combine those two things and you’ve got talent, you’re hard to beat.”

Seniors Ben Donlow (17 points, eight rebounds, two steals) and Niko Fatimus (16 points, three steals), who both started on the state semifinalist team two years ago, combined to give Poland a terrific inside-outside scoring threat, while 6-foot-6 senior David Baker (10 points, eight rebounds) helped the Bulldogs survive against Boardman’s size and strength down low.

“There were some meetings at the rim tonight that were scary,” Grisdale said.

The Spartans actually blocked three Baker dunk attempts in a 60-second span of the third quarter, but the Bullogs rebounded it each time.

“We gave up 19 offensive rebounds according to our stats and you’re not going to beat anyone giving up 19 offensive rebounds,” Boardman coach Jim Goske said. “A lot of those were just Poland playing hard and getting after the basketball.”

Boardman senior J.T. Moore, an Ohio State football recruit, led the Spartans (3-3) with 12 points and 12 rebounds while Dayne Hammond had 19 points and seven rebounds. His older brother Chase, a Wisconsin football recruit, had nine points and six rebounds.

Boardman trailed just 36-26 at halftime but the Spartans’ smaller rotation caught up to them in the third quarter, as Poland extended its lead to 22 entering the fourth.

“I give them all the credit in the world,” Goske said. “They came out tonight and took it to us.”

Last December, the Spartans gave the Bulldogs everything they could handle before falling 84-76. This year, with Poland playing closer to its potential — especially defensely — Boardman was no match.

What’s the difference?

“Well, [assistant coach] Chad Fender is a much better defensive coordinator than his dad,” said Grisdale, taking a (joking) dig at his longtime assistant, Tom Fender, who stepped down after last season.

“I think they understand it’s their last chance,” Grisdale said. “They’re either going to do it the way it needs to be done, or they’re going to talk about it when they’re old, saying, ‘We should have done this, we should have done that.’”

scalzo@vindy.com