BACK TO CANTON

March 8, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

McDonald returns to regional tourney for first time in five years

Tonight in Canton, the McDonald High School boys basketball team will make its fourth regional appearance under head coach Jeff Rasile.

It’s the Blue Devils’ first regional appearance since the 2010-11 season.

The opponent will be Lutheran East (18-5). There are many similarities between the two teams, yet Rasile is quick to point out that his Blue Devils must play their very best if they expect to advance to Friday’s title tilt.

He also feels that his Blue Devils (23-3), winners of five straight, enter play as decided underdogs.

“Lutheran East is a really good team, one that is very athletic with nice depth,” Rasile said. “They have a couple of 6-foot-3 kids and we expect them to rotate eight players.

“They’ve played several Division I teams over the course of the season so they have been tested,” Rasile said. “Our system is based on what we’re doing in order to win so it will come down to execution.”

The Blue Devils averaged 89.7 points per game during the regular season, allowing just 60.5 for a plus 29.2 differential.

Rasile will use five seniors, three juniors and a sophomore.

Five players are double-digit scorers offensively, two of whom are non-starters.

Expected to draw tonight’s starting assignment will be guards Jake Reckard (15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Lucas Garland (5.0 points). At forward will be Matt Howard (8.4 points), Evan Magill (12 .5 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Dylan Portolese (10.3 points).

Reckard averages seven assists and five steals.

“The last time we made it to regional play, I was in seventh grade and my brother, Jared, was a senior on the team,” Reckard said. “I’ve wanted this moment that long.”

Last Friday in Struthers, McDonald defeated Wellsville, 68-47, for the district title. That game marked the 13th consecutive year that a Rasile-coached team has played for a district championship.

According to Rasile, the key to the Blue Devils’ success has been his team’s work ethic, ability to defend and overall balance.

“We’re a team that comes to play every night and will rotate nine players,” Rasile said. “We rely on pressure defense and offensive rebounding.

“If you look at our three losses this season, to Girard, Lowellville and Lisbon, it’s pretty clear that we didn’t perform well in those areas.”

Magill and Reckard are the teams’ leading rebounders.

“It’s been a long time since our last regional appearance,” Magill said. “Controlling the boards and getting them in foul trouble early will be big.”

Off the bench, senior Zack Fedyski (10.1 points) and sophomore Braedon Poole (10 points) are the top scorers with David Rebraca (6 points), also a senior and junior Joey Ragazzine (8.2 points) rounding out the rotation.