Tuesday, February 16, 2010
By JOE SCALZO
Vindicator sports staff
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Christian coach Dolph Carroll was lounging in a chair inside the Eagles’ locker room Monday night when he looked over at senior Louis Fatimus and said, “You had 21 before I even knew it.”
Fatimus just smiled and shrugged.
“I didn’t even know how many I had,” Fatimus said.
On a night when Carroll’s son, Casey, was out with the flu and a bum ankle, Fatimus looked for his shot and delivered 20 points in the first half to help the Eagles drop visiting Canton Heritage Christian 95-38.
It was a standout performance from a player who’s spent the past few months just trying to fit in.
“I don’t really worry about scoring,” said Fatimus, who finished with 25 points and six rebounds. “I just go with the flow and whatever happens, it’s fine as long as we win.”
Fatimus spent his first three years of high school at Poland, coming off the bench the previous two years and looking at a similar role this winter. So, last summer, he opted to transfer to YCS even though it meant attending a different school as his twin brother, Niko.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Fatimus, who was joining a Division IV district championship team returning several key players. “But everybody made it really easy for me. Everybody’s been really accepting and [Dolph Carroll] did a great job of fitting me in with everybody.”
Although Niko is known for his offensive prowess — he’s made 10 3-pointers in a game twice already this season and recently passed 1,000 career points — Louis has been a defensive stopper for the Eagles (17-1), whose only loss this season was to Cardinal Mooney.
“I’ll put him on anybody,” said Carroll. “What he brings is such a love of intensity. He always plays hard.
“He doesn’t always have whatever [points] he had tonight, but he’s always there every night and every day in practice.”
Niko, along with Poland senior Ben Donlow, were both in the stands Monday night and Louis said he’s been to four of the Bulldogs’ games this year. The brothers grew up playing alongisde each other — they still play on the same AAU team — so it was a bit of an adjustment to be on separate teams.
“It’s different but I got used to it,” Louis said.
Senior John Pecchia had 15 points and 10 rebounds for YCS, which led just 15-11 after one quarter before pulling away. Caleb Yanno had 15 points, Torrell Grier scored 10 and Victor Shaw had 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Although the Eagles can play full-court pressure, they’re much more of a half-court team than Poland. But Fatimus hasn’t struggled with the adjustment.
“The biggest thing is he had to learn the system,” said Carroll. “He’s just done beautiful job of getting into it and allowing us to coach him.
“He’s just a great kid. He fits in perfectly.”
scalzo@vindy.com