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Remmick, McClellan lift Lakeview
By BOB ETTINGER
CORTLAND
Lakeview guard A.J. McClellan didn’t doubt the outcome of a Division II sectional final battle with Cardinal Mooney at any point.
He knew if the Bulldogs played the kind of game they know how to play, they’d be victorious. He proved to right following a 75-57 home win over the Cardinals on Friday night.
“When we start to do the right things, I feel it,” McClellan said. “The whole team feels it. We feel the crowd reacting. When we do things right constantly, [our system] works and we play our game better.”
The second-seeded Bulldogs (19-4) will play third-seeded Chaney in a district semifinal at Boardman at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“I’ve only seen them on film once,” Lakeview coach Ryan Fitch said. “They’re athletic. I know they’ll be ready to go. We’ll have a battle on our hands.”
The Bulldogs used an 11-0 run, in which McClellan netted five points, beginning a little more than midway through the opening period to take a 19-11 lead.
A 7-0 spurt to close the first half, put the Bulldogs up 10, 37-27, and a 7-0 stretch in which Jeff Remmick scored five points had Lakeview ahead, 46-33, midway through the third quarter.
“[Mooney would] cut it to five or six, then we’d bounce it back out to eight, nine or 10,” Fitch said. “It was huge (to be able to do that). We’ve played a couple of games we let leads slip away. Tonight, we were able to hold them off.”
The Cardinals (9-15) made several runs at the Bulldogs, however, they fell short of regaining the momentum each time.
“That is our kids,” Mooney coach Carey Palermo said. “They’re going to battle. The kids care about one another. As far as their heart and desire, I can’t question that.”
Remmick scored 27 points — 19 in the second half — to lead the Bulldogs while McClellan scored 26.
“I had the hot hand at times and Jeff had the hot hand,” McClellan said. “We were feeding the hot hand tonight. We kept playing our game. We didn’t let their pressure get in heads. We were running our offense and doing what we know to do.”
Anthony Fire paced the Cardinals with 17 points, Mike Pelini scored 11 and Pete Haas chipped in with 10.