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Graziano steps up for Girard
Indians hold Rasile to 19
in regular-season finale
By Dan Hiner
Girard
Girard was looking for a go-to scorer after Austin O’Hara was sidelined with an injury. Christian Graziano answered the call.
Graziano scored 16 of the Indians’ 23 second-half points in their 48-42 win over McDonald on Wednesday at Girard High School.
He finished with a game-high 24 points. Adam Connelly scored eight points and Dom Malito added six. Terrance Davis finished with three points and 12 rebounds.
Graziano credited his increase in production to his teammates.
“[Matt Payich and Austin Claussell] are always driving. There’s always kickouts,” Graziano said. “Anything to get me open, and my other teammates too.”
Zach Rasile was double-teamed all night, forcing the Blue Devils’ other players to step up.
But the help never came.
Rasile was held to 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Josh Celli, Ryan Scala and Cam Tucker each finished with five points.
“Until we get consistent production from our other guys, teams are gonna [double Rasile]. Chaney did it,” McDonald head coach Jeff Rasile said. “You gotta get consistent production.
“I think that first quarter ended 15-4, maybe. It should have been 25-4. We missed layup, after layup, after layup.”
The Indians (12-10) turned the game around in the second quarter.
Girard trailed 14-5 at the end of the first quarter, but took a 25-22 lead at halftime.
Girard head coach Craig Hannon thought the slow start was due to playing back-to-back games. The Indians beat Springfield 64-59 on Tuesday.
“Took us a minute to get out feet under us,” Hannon said. “And I think once were there, once we got settled into the game, we were OK.
“I got a ton of seniors. They gotta understand, I know they’re tired and it’s a back-to-back. We’re getting ready for tournament play. They stepped up when they had to.”
The Blue Devils had a chance to tie the game at 41 with two minutes left, but Jake Portolese’s 3-pointer was too strong. Graziano scored six straight points to break the game open over the next 30 seconds.
McDonald shot 2 of 12 from the field in the fourth quarter and finished 15 of 52 for the game.
“Consistency across the board. Jake Portolese has had a great three weeks — not tonight. But he’s a sophomore ... that’s tough. That’s asking a lot,” Jeff Rasile said.
“Josh [Celli] is kind of playing a little out of position because we’re asking him to handle the ball. Josh gives us everything he has, but it’s hard on him.”
Graziano has posted strong outings in back-to-back games. He scored a team-high 16 points in the Indians’ win over Springfield.
The Indians are done until the first round of the Division II tournament. They are the sixth seed in the Boardman district and will host Howland on Tuesday.
“It’s taken Chris a minute,” Hannon said. “We’ve been on him. He’s listened and now he’s finally starting to be the aggressive kid we know he can be.
“He’s as athletic as anyone out there, and in the last two [games], he’s stepped up.”