Newton Falls takes on Orrville in regional final

By TOM WILLIAMS

williams@vindy.com

CANTON

Twice in Wednesday’s 60-48 win over undefeated East Canton, the Newton Falls High basketball team withstood strong rallies by the Hornets.

The Tigers (20-5) didn’t wilt, staving off the Hornets with clutch outside shooting and free throws to advance to tonight’s Division III regional final against Orrville at Canton Field House.

“Our team does a great job of facing adversity and getting through it,” said senior Brian Sole who led the Tigers with 20 points.

Sole said the Tigers have adopted the role of underdog and don’t mind the switch.

“Through the whole district tournament, we had a target on our back,” Sole said of the Howland district. “So [East Canton] being undefeated, we knew they were going to be the ones who would feel a little bit nervous and that they would feel like they had the target on their backs.

“We knew we had the advantage there,” Sole said. “We felt like we had nothing to lose out there.”

The Tigers will carry that same attitude onto the court tonight when they face the Red Riders (19-5).

“They are a handful,” said Newton Falls coach Roy Sembach of Orrvile. “They are a really big, really strong team with a guard [Jacob Bolyard] who can really shoot the ball.

“They will be a formidable opponent, no question,” Sembach said. “They are a very good basketball team, they beat the defending state champs. They will be a tough team.”

Orrville advanced to tonight’s game with a 65-59 victory over Cleveland Central Catholic.

“We like to think we have some better games ahead of us,” Orrville coach Sly Slaughter said. “That was pretty close to about as good as we can play, but I still think we can play a little bit better.

“This real special to us because our community has shown so much support for our basketball team and our guys have rallied around each other to play team basketball,” Slaughter said.

Sembach understands how important basketball is to his community.

Asked what it means to get a chance to play for state, Sembach, said, “I feel great for [my players] that they have the opportunity.

Sembach said Wednesday’s win “is part of the evolution of our team ... making little advances every year, going a little bit further.

“Getting to this step is not just this team, it’s the players we had in past years, what they’ve done to show what it means to be a Tiger basketball player, the work you have to put in, in the summer, the weight room, in camps and how hard you have to practice.

“The players who have played before them have shown them,” Sembach said. “I’m happy for all of our kids who have ever played for us that we’ve gotten to this point.”

Sembach will be coaching in the first regional final of his 23-year career. He’s trying not to look too far ahead but the temptation is hard to resist.

“[For] anybody whoever coaches high school basketball or plays, the ultimate goal is to go to Columbus,” Sembach said. “It would be a once in a lifetime dream for anybody. Obviously, yes, I would love to get there.”

Sembach often spends championship weekend in Columbus watching games with other coaches.

“It might dampen our [usual] fun in Columbus but I think we would have a whole lot more fun if [the Tigers] get there,” he said.

The Tigers are likely to start three seniors — Sole, C.J. Peaco and Stephen Page — along with junior Tyler Kernen and sophomore Cody Dillon.

Sembach is not afraid to go to his bench for help.

“We got great contributions from seven underclassmen tonight,” Sembach said of the East Canton win. “At one point, we had three sophomores on the floor.”

Junior Mitchell Czerniak, freshman Dale Kernen and sophomores Brian Moser and Matt Brazin most likely will be the first off the bench.

Sole is hoping his varsity career has one more week of practice.

“I can’t even believe this,” Sole said. “To go to Columbus is something I’ve dreamed of all my life. It would be great to get there.”