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Campolito lifts Canfield to first victory of season
By Greg Gulas
CANFIELD
Danny Campolito had a game-high 23 points and Canfield High scored the final 11 points of the game to beat visiting Mooney, 53-49, for their first win Tuesday.
It was also the first win for new coach Todd Muckleroy, whose team had lost four of its previous six outings by four points or less.
“It was really important to get this first win for the kids,” he said. “They won’t have to play tight now and worry about getting that first win. They can just go out and play like they know how to play.”
Canfield raced to the early 4-0 advantage then watched Mooney (5-1) reel off 11 straight points. Canfield then closed with a 15-2 run of their own for a 19-13 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
Campolito then hit two triples and added eight points in the second period, which enabled Canfield (1-6) to build a 36-31 halftime advantage.
“We wanted to start the new year off on the right foot so we challenged everyone to kick their game up a notch tonight,” Campolito said. “We talked as a team that we were better than our 0-6 record, but had to go out and prove it.
“Coach [Muckleroy] told us just to keep the ball moving, look for good shots, cut down on the turnovers and good things would happen. Credit our defense because they played an excellent game as well.”
Neither team could get anything going offensively after the intermission.
Mooney outscored Canfield 9-5 in the third quarter to pull to within a point, 41-40, heading to the fourth.
Doug Caputo then scored the first six points of the final session, capping an 11-1 run by Mooney as they took a 49-42 lead with 4:05 remaining.
They were the last points they scored, as Canfield, led by Campolito’s six points, closed with that 11-0 run.
“The key for us tonight was that we defended when we needed to and even when we went through a drought, dug in and made good things happen defensively,” Muckleroy said. “When we were down at the end of the game we just kept working hard, stuck together and made plays.”
Mooney, who had either trailed or were tied at the half in four of their first five games this season, relinquished a fourth quarter lead for the first time.
Caputo led Mooney with 14 points while Danny Reese, who had 11 points, was the only other player on either team to score in double figures.
“Tonight was not typical of how we’ve played this season,” Mooney coach Chris Kohl said. “We committed 26 total turnovers, some coming in crucial situations and that only comes back to haunt you.
“One guy can carry you only so long so we need for other players to step up. Give Canfield credit because they had an excellent game plan and hung tough the entire game.”