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Grisdale reaches 300th victory
Photo
Poland’s Anthony Machi (2) swats the ball away from Canfi eld defenders P.J. Stickle (2) and Jake Ferrier (33) during an All-American Conference Red Tier basketball game Friday at Poland High School. The Bulldogs won 50-41 to give coach Ken Grisdale his 300th career victory.
POLAND 50
CANFIELD 41
Next: Poland at Campbell and Canfield vs. Beaver Local, both Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
By Tom Williams
POLAND
Poland High basketball coach Ken Grisdale’s alma mater did everything it could to postpone the celebration of his 300th career victory.
But after watching a 14-point lead dissolve to two with 2:55 to play, Grisdale’s Bulldogs surged down the stretch, outscoring Canfield 7-0 for Friday’s 50-41 victory.
In his 18th season of a career that has included three trips to the state tournament, Grisdale said emotions took over when the final buzzer sounded.
“I don’t normally feel the emotion well up inside, but it was special because it was Canfield — a big rival and where I come from,” said Grisdale who is 300-112 since his career began in 1993.
“I don’t wish them any ill, I want them to win every game they play except when they play against us,” Grisdale said. “To be successful against them in a big moment of mine is quite special.”
Early in the third quarter, Poland’s Drew Wagner sank two free throws for a 33-19 lead. But Canfield’s Jared Bettura and Matt Yourstowsky scored the next seven points to keep the Bulldogs (12-4, 4-2 All-American Conference Red Tier) within reach.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Cards’ Danny Campolito stunned the crowd with a 3-pointer to slice the Poland lead to 38-34.
Later, Yourstowsky hit a 3-pointer then made a steal and a layup for a 43-41 score. But those were the last points the Cardinals (5-11, 3-2) made.
In the final three minutes, Colin Reardon made five free throws and Wagner sank two.
Junior Jerry Lawman led the Bulldogs with 14 points while Reardon and Wagner each netted 12.
“That was Jerry’s second start, he did a great job,” Grisdale said.
Lawman said the Bulldogs were inspired to “play our hardest” for Grisdale. “He’s been through a lot the past 18 years.”
Of the Cards’ comeback, Lawman admitted the Bulldogs felt a little nervous, “but we came through in the end when we stopped turning the ball over.”
Reardon had 14 rebounds and two blocks.
“He’s the go-to guy,” Canfield coach Todd Muckleroy said of Reardon. “He’s not a guy who’s going to kill you on jump shots, but it’s everything else he does — rebounding, the steals, tips, deflections.”
Reardon said it meant a lot to see Grisdale’s milestone achieved.
“Its an awesome feeling because I was a ballboy when I was little so I’ve grown up being around the Poland program,” Reardon said. “So it’s real nice to be a part of it.”
Reardon said he didn’t know the milestone was close until “we came here today and looked in the program and saw his record. It felt awesome to get it for him.”
Tyler Mettille led Canfield with 10 points. Bettura had eight and Yourstowsky seven.
“They got really aggressive on the ball,” said Grisdale of Canfield’s comeback.
After being outscored 14-6 in the second quarter, Muckleroy said, “We knew we had to beef up the pressure a little bit. We knew we needed to make them feel a little bit uncomfortable and maybe create some turnovers.
“Our pressure definitely got us back into the ballgame,” he added. “Matt Yourstowsky did a real nice job on the defensive end, really coming up and making steals. He and Ryan Abraham really got up and really defended well.”
Grisdale said he’s pleased with the progress his team has made.
“We just had to show a lot of grit,” Grisdale said. “We’re not pretty, we made mistakes.”