Poland clinches Red Tier crown

The Bulldogs nipped Canfield, 54-52, on the Cardinals’ court.

Vindicator sports staff

CANFIELD — In a gym with plenty of red because of Canfield High’s school colors, Poland — the team wearing blue and white uniforms — was celebrating its All-American Conference Red Tier championship.

Poland (16-4, 7-1) claimed the title after a 54-52 victory at the home of the Cardinals, who scored only four points in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs led most of the first half until Canfield (14-6, 6-2) came on strong with a 27-point third period.

However, Poland, after scoring 22 in the third quarter with Niko Fatimus and David Baker leading the way, didn’t fare much better with an eight-point fourth.

But, after Canfield’s Justen Vrabel tied the game, 50-50, with two free throws at 4:46, Fatimus put the Bulldogs up, 51-50 at 4:41.

Then Luke Wollet had a steal and layup to put Poland up for good, 53-50, at 4:18.

Just like he deflects passes, Wollet deflected praise.

“It’s just part of the game because you’re always playing hard,” the 6-1 junior guard said of blocking Griffin Todd’s pass, then grabbing it and dribbling for the basket.

“It’s like any other play, you just can’t think of it as a tight game. I’ve got great teammates who had their assignments. You just think about taking your individual spot and not trying to do too much.”

While Fatimus scored 16 points and Baker 14, Wollet only had eight points but made an impact with his intensity.

Still, his words reflected on others.

“I like to get everyone involved because you’re playing with all your buddies and it’s never about yourself and that’s what our team is about.”

Todd kept Canfield in the game with 17 points, via five 3-point goals and a two-pointer.

Canfield was handicapped by Poland’s disciplined defense, which did its job without fouling.

Whether it was by design, the Bulldogs never reached seven team fouls in the second half and, thus, kept Canfield out of the bonus.

The Cards only made two of two free throws. Poland also made two, but had 14 chances.

Poland’s 2-3 zone defense was another factor in the victory,” Canfield coach John Cullen said.

“I’ve never seen them [Poland] play zone the whole game, but they were just trying to give them a chance to win,” Cullen said. “We were expecting periods of full-court pressure, but they didn’t do much. It was mostly softer zones and retreating zones. So they never really opened the floor up for us like they did last time when we scored 85 [in a win at Poland on Jan. 23].”

Poland coach Ken Grisdale said that his team did some things differently.

“We did some things we haven’t done all year,” Grisdale said. “We’re not a half-court team, but we really thought we needed to slow some things up,” he said referring to a weakened lineup due to illness of a backup point guard.

Canfield’s 14 turnovers were uncharacteristic, but Cullen said it was a credit to Poland’s hustle.

“Even though their zone wasn’t as aggressive as it normally is, it still created some turnovers.”

Casey Carroll added 11 points for the Cards, while Vrabel had 10. Vrabel and Mike Podolsky each had six rebounds. Carroll collected five of Canfield’s 25 rebounds. Todd had four assists.

Of not benefitting from from 1-and-1s, Cullen said: “The shots we took inside were pretty much open shots,” he said, meaning that the Cards weren’t an easy target for getting fouled.