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Poland’s skill, depth too much for Boardman
By Ryan Buck
POLAND
The most challenging aspect of Poland boys basketball coach Ken Grisdale’s job this season might be how to distribute minutes.
Like tidal waves of blue and white, the Bulldogs can make legitimate line changes throughout each game, wearing down and confusing opponents with a lineup that realistically runs 10 deep.
Poland (4-0) demonstrated that depth nicely in a 87-48 victory over new All-American Conference foe Boardman Friday night.
Ten of 11 Bulldogs who stepped onto the court made at least one basket and a diverse and deadly mix of shooters and height overwhelmed the young Spartans.
“It was nice for the [11] guys who played,” said Grisdale, now in his 22nd season at Poland. “I thought they played hard for their little shifts and unselfishly. We put a lot of points on the board.”
The Bulldogs raced out to a 25-11 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Junior Mike Gajdos scored five first-quarter points and then hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second on his way to a team-high 17.
Gajdos drilled four 3-pointers and Poland made 13 as a team. From their smallest player — 5- foot-8 Nick Romeo — to their tallest in forwards Jacob Burns, Matt Baker and Tate Duarte (all 6-5 or taller), there is not a spot on their offensive end that should be undefended.
“We’ve got a lot of kids,” Grisdale said. “Our big kids, as well as our guards, can shoot it. [Opponents] don’t realize those kids can step out.”
Like a hockey team constantly rotating series of five players on and off the ice, Poland’s depth overwhelmed the Spartans (2-3) as the game wore on.
Burly forward Dan Black scored 15 points — including two 3-pointers — while guard Jared Burkert went for 13. Three-year starter Kyle Dixon has evolved into a playmaker who can distribute, but also scored eight points.
It is an embarrassment of riches for Grisdale.
“We’ve got to figure out how to play our cards,” he said. “We have 11 kids that can factor in and we’ve got to get some competition from within. I thought tonight that we could go three minutes and [substitute], three minutes and sub and get some competition going.
“If you want to be on the court more, prove it.”
Boardman coach Pat Birch, meanwhile, peered down the sideline to envision his own program emulating the Bulldogs’ operation.
Spartans sophomore guard John Ryan willed his way to a game-high 18 points.
“It’s an understatement to say that’s a good team,” said Birch, now in his third season at Boardman. “That’s a complete team. They have size, shooters and ballhandlers.
“He has consistency and his guys do everything well and we saw that tonight. If they were shooting well, it was going to be a long night for us.”
Fittingly, the two neighbors will now match wits twice per season as league rivals.
“It will be really good to see them again at home and Canfield again at home,” Birch said. “Programs that we’re really trying to be like and build. Having them back at our place, whereas years past we only had one shot at them. For our guys, we’ll like the challenge and for us it will be a measuring stick of how we’re getting better as a program.”