LaBrae’s rally falls short, 51-39, to Ironmen

By John Kovach

The Vikings were eliminated by Cleveland Central Catholic in a regional semifinal game.

CANTON — The Cleveland Central Catholic High School basketball team used relentless defensive pressure and dominating rebounding in the first half to take a 15-point lead over LaBrae.

LaBrae decided to apply the same defensive and rebounding tactics in the second half of Wednesday night’s Division III regional semifinal game. The Vikings rallied to cut the Ironmen’s lead to 43-37 to make a game of it with about two minutes left.

However, at that key juncture, the Vikings could do little right and ran out of gas as Central Catholic spurted to a 51-39 win at Canton Fieldhouse to advance to Saturday’s regional final at 7:30 p.m.

The Ironmen (20-3), whose only losses this year were to Bedford Chanel (twice) and Cleveland Benedictine, will meet undefeated and top-ranked Smithville (24-0) in Saturday’s showdown for a state berth.,

“Strong defensive pressure and turnovers and rebounds [in the first half] were the differences in the game,” LaBrae (15-9) coach Chad Kiser said. “[Central Catholic] turned them into quick points in the second quarter and that made the difference.”

Kiser said he decided to do the same thing in the second half.

“We started to press them back,” Kiser said. “In hindsight, we should have done that the whole game.

“We caught them off guard in the second half. We were rebounding and applying defensive pressure,” said Kiser, whose Vikings had a tough time competing against 6-8 sophomore Anton Grady, especially in the first half.

Grady scored 19 points, including 14 in the first half and all 19 through the first three quarters. The big man with a long reach also plucked 11 rebounds and had four blocks.

He was complemented by Derrick Bufford, a 6-4 senior, who added 15 points, four steals and two assists.

Brandon Campbell contributed six points including four key free throws down the stretch that helped to turn back LaBrae’s uprising.

LaBrae was led by Jacob Jaros with 11 points, including three 3-point goals, and Mike Morris with 10 points. Cameron Truss and Bryan Watkins had six rebounds apiece and Tuss four assists.

In the first half, “the big guy [Grady] was blocking shots,” said Kiser, whose Vikings had a tough time bringing the ball down court. And when they did, they usually were held to only one shot.

“We only had two points in the second quarter. Their pressure hampered us.

“In the second half, we did start taking the ball at them,” said Kiser, whose team made the comeback behind Jaros’ three treys that helped to reduce Central Catholic’s lead to 43-37.

“We turned aggressive and we were hitting some big shots. We cut the lead to six,” Kiser said. “Everytime we had a chance to [catch up], something happened.

“It’s tough to press them because they are so athletic.”

LaBrae was outrebounded for the game, 36-31, and made only 1-for-5 from the foul line.

After Jaros hit his third 3 to bring the Vikings within six, Campbell made four straight foul shots and Bufford a goal to pull the Ironmen safely ahead, 49-37.

kovach@vindy.com