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Rasile’s B-Devils continue unbeaten
McDonald subdued Western Reserve for the second time this season, 48-38.
MCDONALD — With a perfect season on the line, the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two championship wrapped up and a number-one seed in the upcoming Division IV District tournament at Struthers secured, the McDonald High boys basketball team has a huge target on its back for the remainder of the regular season.
Western Reserve took its second shot at McDonald Tuesday and came up short, 48-38.
Western Reserve lost to McDonald early this season 65-60 in overtime.
“Our kids played hard. They really got after it,” McDonald coach Jeff Rasile said. “When you are 16 and 0, you’re going to get everybody’s best shot and that’s what we got tonight.”
McDonald (16-0, 12-0) plays 32 minutes with reckless abandon every game, including Tuesday, wearing down Western Reserve with a 21-12 fourth quarter that turned a one-point game after three quarters into a 10-point win.
“People say we play like Poland,” Rasile said in describing his team’s style of play. “Poland can shoot. We focus on defense.
“Poland plays full court pressure defense to create their offense. We play it to wear people down.”
McDonald worked its strategy to perfection by forcing Western Reserve into 24 turnovers. McDonald put the game away by knocking down nine of 11 foul shots in the final period.
Sophomore Mathias Tayala led McDonald with 14 points while Lance Ronghi added 10 points and eight rebounds. Zach Puntel and Devin Bansberg each chipped in with nine points.
“[McDonald] pressures the heck out of everyone. We knew that coming in here,” Western Reserve coach Steve Miller said. “Points were hard to come by and we were both in the lower 30s midway through the fourth before they went on their run.
“It was an ugly game but that’s how we wanted it,” Miller said. “They spread their zone out late and we couldn’t knock down any shots.”
Neither team got much of a lead for the first three quarters after McDonald opened the game with a 6-0 lead.
Western Reserve (8-8, 5-7) fought back but trailed 10-4 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Western Reserve got five points each from Jake Barker and Randall Ludwiczak and stormed back to take a 19-18 lead at the half.
The teams traded baskets and lead changes in the third quarter before McDonald pulled away in the final quarter.
“We had to get after it in the second half,” McDonald guard Lance Ronghi said. “I think we were a little lazy in the first half. We came out flat but turned things on in the end.”
Rasile said that his team has to continue to work hard in the last four games.
“We don’t think we have a bunch of superstars,” Rasile said. “We just have guys who work hard. Pretty much we just try to create 32 minutes of chaos every night.”
Justin Lude led Western Reserve with 12 points.