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Nasseri comes up big for Ursuline
By Curtis Pulliam
Youngstown
Most teams are aware of the talented guards in the Ursuline backcourt.
But Garrettsville Garfield found out the hard way the Irish also have an inside presence.
Armon Nasseri finished with 16 points to lead the Irish to a 76-29 and a Division III sectional championship.
Nasseri set the tone early by scoring eight points in the first quarter.
“We played really aggressive coming out,” Nasseri said.
After building a 25-8 lead the Irish looked for Nasseri again. The 6-foot-5 sophomore got the ball deep in the paint and finished with a left hook.
“I’ve been working on that,” Nasseri said.
The hook set the theme for the night as the Irish dominated the G-Men (2-21) on both ends of the court.
Ursuline head coach Keith Gunther was impressed with the move.
“We have been working on his quick spin, his left and his right,” Gunther said. “I think tonight is the second time he’s really been effective with it.”
Gunther was also pleased to see Nasseri step up.
“He is going to have to be big for us in the tournament,” Gunther said. “Armon has been playing a lot better. We are telling him when the ball goes into him he has to make some things happen and if he can continue to do that, it makes it easier for our guards.”
Mark Hughes had 14 points and backcourt partner Greg Parella finished with 13 for Ursuline
Defensively the Irish (19-5) smothered the G-men holding them to just 11 field goals.
Garfield head coach Andrew Olesky knew going in the task at hand.
“We wanted to protect the basketball,” Olesky said. “They pressure all over the place. They have so many strengths that we struggled to match up with. They are the No. 1 seed in the tournament for a reason.”
The Irish turned on the pressure in the second quarter causing numerous turnovers and allowing just two points.
Even with a big lead, Gunther was vocal from start to finish. That’s something Nasseri has learned to embrace.
“It makes me get better as a player,” Nasseri said. “I actually love it.”
Guther says Nasseri didn’t always see it that way.
“He thinks I yell because it’s a dislike, and it’s not a dislike,” Gunther said. “You need to worry if I’m not yelling at you.”
The Irish advance to play LaBrae, Gunther’s alma mater, in a district semifinal at Warren Harding on Monday.
“We know they have a good point guard and they are well-coached,” Gunther said. “It’s going to be a big one for me.”