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Quakers use foul shots to oust Cardinals
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
The Cardinal Mooney High School boys basketball team worked hard to reduce a nine-point deficit to two early in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps too hard. With momentum in their favor, the Cardinals had possession. But when senior Andrew Armstrong became tangled up with Salem big man Nick Rusyn on the breakout, momentum evaporated, leading to the Quakers’ 67-57 victory in the Mooney gymnasium in Friday’s Division II sectional final.
“We got our arms locked up together and I was just trying to get [free],” Rusyn said. “He must have got mad and pushed me down.”
Armstrong, who has a football scholarship to Syracuse, had three fouls when he was called for an intentional penalty. After expressing his displeasure, he took a seat to watch Rusyn sink two technical free throws and D.J. Pullie make one of two for a 47-42 edge.
Pullie led the Quakers with 20 points. He made four 3-pointers and sank five of his six free throws in the fourth quarter. Trey Toothman scored 16 points and made six assists while Jon Gerace contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.
“This was pretty hard,” Rusyn said of the road victory. “We just had to stay focused and sink our foul shots.”
The Quakers finished 23 of 27 at the foul line. They made 18 of them in the final quarter.
The Quakers (17-7) advance to Thursday’s district semifinal game against Poland at Boardman High School.
“We didn’t make the plays we needed to make,” Mooney head coach Brian Danilov said. “The kids battled for the whole game, we just didn’t get it done.
“Salem has a great team,” Danilov said. “Pullie has been playing well for them since coming back [from injury]. He’s made them a complete team.”
Armstrong scored 18 points and Trell Thomas 14 for the Cardinals (14-8). Because of their skills, Salem head coach Rich Hart said the Quakers were showing respect.
“We had to play zone because we didn’t think we had anybody who could guard either one of them,” Hart said. “[But] a couple of times when we went [man-to-man], we found we could.”
Minus Armstrong, the Cardinals scored the next three points. Then the Quakers surged. Gerace made two free throws and a basket. Toothman’s two baskets included a 3-pointer for a 56-49 lead. Free throws sealed the deal.
“This is a great year,” said Rusyn, a senior along with Pullie, Toothman, Dan Laut and Alec Economous. “It’s always been one of our goals to go to the district, especially with these guys. We’ve been together all four years.”
Last year, Salem lost in the sectional final to Canfield. Two years ago, they lost to Poland at the same level.
“They are very good and [Ken Grisdale] is one of the best coaches around,” Hart said of playing Poland.
Pat Pelini scored 12 for the Cardinals, who lose seniors Armstrong, Thomas and Nick Koken.
“Trell is going to play somewhere [next year],” Danilov said. “He has several schools looking at him, he’s a great kid. He has really matured and has worked extremely hard.”