Message received: Struthers’ big second half clips Champion


By Steve WILAJ

sports@vindy.com

Struthers

At the 5:53 mark of the second quarter, Struthers’ entire starting lineup found itself on the bench after a five-in, five-out swap.

Trailing Champion by 10 points and playing with little energy, the Wildcats’ coaching staff aimed to get a message across.

“[We wanted to] let the guys know that there are guys behind them that can step up at any minute,” said first-year Struthers coach Jimmy Franceschelli. “We were flat, so we went with a different lineup.”

The move got the attention of the Wildcats’ starters.

Erasing a nine-point halftime deficit, Struthers outscored the Golden Flashes by 18 in the second half to earn a 62-53 victory Friday at the Struthers Field House. Ray Phifer led the way with 29 points, Andrew Carbon scored 12 and Austin Yemma added 11.

“We talked about it at halftime that the main thing we had to do was pick up our intensity,” Franceschelli said. “We just started attacking the hoop and going for offensive rebounds.”

Struthers used a 20-10 third quarter — capped by a 3-pointer from reserve guard Jaret Jacubec — to take a 46-45 lead into the fourth.

The Wildcats (6-3) then opened the final quarter on a 15-2 run to put the game away. Phifer and Yemma each scored six points during the run.

“We knew we were bigger and stronger than them and we had to outrebound them in the second half,” Yemma said. “And we hit some shots. Jaret Jacubec (six points) came in and hit some big 3s for us and gave us some energy.”

Champion (2-7) supplied all the energy early.

The Golden Flashes — who connected on 6 of 14 3-pointers in the first half — outscored Struthers 19-14 in the first quarter and 16-12 in the second. But Champion — hindered by 14 turnovers — managed just 18 second-half points.

“It was a combination of things,” Golden Flashes coach Ryan Fitch said. “We lost our aggressiveness of attacking the high post of their 1-2-2 trap and they picked up their intensity in the second half. They covered gaps well where we were getting the ball in the first half and momentum got on us.”

Lucas Nasonti paced Champion with 16 points. Chris Miller added 12 and Michael Turner scored 11.

“We’re starting four sophomores, so we’re still trying to figure out our identity,” Fitch said.

Champion finished the contest at 43 percent (20 of 46), while Struthers shot 50 percent (29 of 58). The Wildcats, who lost to Poland on Tuesday, close their week with a matchup at Salem tonight at 7:30 p.m.

“We should definitely come out more focused,” Yemma said. “We know we can’t come in and just expect to win. We have to think it, believe it and do it.”

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