Speedy Red Hurricanes storm past Ursuline

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Following Tuesday’s 69-57 loss to New Castle, Ursuline High boys basketball coach Keith Gunther said his team got out-toughed, didn’t play with enthusiasm, didn’t scrap, didn’t play with effort — “totally embarrassing,” was the exact phrase — and summed it up with this: “That’s what you call a royal behind-whupping.”

So, yeah, he wasn’t thrilled.

“It’s like we thought we’d walk on the floor and win or something,” he said. “It was bad right off the rip.”

And New Castle was good — right from the tip.

Led by a 26-point night from junior guard Corey Eggleston, the Red Hurricanes stormed out to a 20-point lead late in the third quarter en route to the win.

Playing with mostly freshmen and sophomores, New Castle (11-5) used its four-guard attack to pressure Ursuline into 21 turnovers while using its quickness to overcome a size disadvantage at nearly every position.

“I used the word before the game that we have to be more gritty,” Red Hurricanes coach Ralph Blundo said. “We had to have toughness and play hard all the time.

“For the most part, we did that. Those 50/50 balls? We got those.”

Sophomore Shawn Anderson had 15 points and seven rebounds, sophomore Brandon Domenick had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, freshman Anthony Richards had eight points and freshman Malik Hooker had five points and four steals.

Those four underclassmen all play basketball year-round — only two key Hurricanes also play football, and they’re both juniors — and the extra work allows them to play faster than most teams.

“It just shows you that if you have four really, really good guards, it’s tough to beat,” Gunther said. “And the scary thing is, they’re young.”

Blundo credited the team’s “culture,” the willingess to buy into the program and play unselfishly.

“They care about each other,” he said, “and it shows.”

Ursuline (9-4), meanwhile, is still a work in progress. The Irish were coming off one of their best outings of the year on Saturday, holding Warren JFK to 10 points in a half and 29 for the game in a 24-point victory.

But after missing two practices due to bad weather, the Irish started Tuesday’s game flat. Aside from a brief stretch midway through the fourth quarter, they never matched New Castle’s intensity.

“That’s not even a good excuse,” Gunther said of the time off. “You would think after two days off, you’d come in fresh and have unbelievable effort.”

Senior guard Khiree Gregory was an exception, scoring 20 points with three steals. Devonte Jenkins added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“The one thing I’ve learned in coaching is if you dwell on it too long, you kill your program and it kills you for the year,” Gunther said. “You’ve got to be smart enough to kick them in the rear and get them to play harder and you’ve got to put this one behind you.”