Some teams try to outrun you, some teams try to outgun you. Some teams run a pattern offense, some teams feature a single guy you just have to stop.
Then there’s Cardinal Stritch, who simply tries to beat you into submission. Their coach Dave Reicker is a tough nosed individual who expects his players to bang the glass and dive for every loose ball. If you get in their way, well that’s why they invented ice bags.
On the Cardinals senior night, the home team was hoping to knock some sense into the visiting Hawks and have them behave like good guests. This strategy worked well into the second quarter until Maumee Valley turned on the heat and began to fight back.
In the second half, Coach Robinson made two defensive adjustments, and the Smashmouth-ee became the Smashmouth-or.
Game Summary
Maumee Valley put a damper on Cardinal Stritch's Senior Night, beating the Cardinals 57-39 in Oregon, Ohio. The hosts appeared ready to send their Seniors out with a bang early, jumping on the Hawks for a 16-4 first quarter lead. But the Rip van Hawkles would awake from their slumber near the end of the first half on three consecutive steal/conversions in the last minute to trim their deficit to four at the break.
Coach Robinson made two defensive adjustments in the second half, unleashing an aggressive half court trap, and switching Dixon Stoddard on defense to guard hot-shooting CS guard Justin Staler. These two moves led to a 21-4 third quarter advantage for the Blue and White. The fourth quarter featured more of the same, with the Hawks sealing the victory.
First Quarter – CS 16 – MV 6
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Jonathan Krueger (’12) and Julius Turner (’12)
Cardinal Stritch Starting five – Michael Blazevich (Jr), Matt Guy (Sr), Justin Staler (Sr), Nick Fuller (Sr) and Kyle Hatfield (Jr)
Cardinal Stritch started the game in a 2-3 zone and stayed there much of the night. MV played man defense, with some key variations in intensity.
Justin Staler got free early for the first basket on a runner from the right hand baseline. The Cardinals tried an early 2-2-1 press, but it was not effective. However, MV did not score and CS went to a four corners-style offense. Despite a big block by Jared, Staler scored again. A steal and then a basket by Matt Guy and Coach Robinson called time out with 5:05 left and his team quickly down 6-0.
The Hawks continued their sluggishness on offense until Julius Turner stole the ball and pushed to the hoop drawing the foul. He made both ends to get his Hawksquad on the board at 4:33. Cardinal Stritch responded with a layup by a wide open Kyle Hatfield and it was 8-2 CS.
MV missed another three point shot and then watched as Staler again drove in for two, this time down the middle. Another MV miss and Michael Blazevich nailed a three pointer from the right corner. The home crowd was in a frenzy as their team had grabbed a 13-2 advantage.
Jared Sturt calmed things down slightly with a two pointer courtesy of a Jon Krueger assist. Jared stole the ball on the next Cardinal possession and the visitors got the ball to Dixon at the right hand block for two more.
With time running down in the quarter Rick Deichert nearly stole an inbounds pass for Staler, but missed, leaving the Senior guard a free path to the hoop from the left corner. He made the basket despite being fouled by Jared. He made the free throw to up the lead to ten.
MV had the final possession but did not convert.
At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks were fortunate to be down by only 16-6. The Cardinals were perfect from the field (7-7, including one three-pointer) and 1-1 from the line. MV was 0-4 from behind the three point line and 2-2 from close range.
On Senior Night, Justin Staler started off with nine points in his last home game for the Red and Black.
MV struggled again from beyond the arc, going 0-4 from long range.
Second Quarter MV 13 – CS 7
Starting the Quarter – Jon, Dixon, Julius, Dave and Rick.
The initial break of the second quarter went the Hawks’ way when Justin Staler picked up two fouls in the first 1:20. The hottest shooter in the building was sent to the bench.
Play was unproductive for both teams during the first three minutes of play, and it wasn’t until the 4:42 mark that Jared scored the first points for either side, making one of two free throws.
Cardinal Stritch came right back with red hot play. Three point specialist Robbie Bekier drained in a three from the right corner.
Rick finally connected on a deep shot for MV to cut the gap to 19-10 with 4:10 to go. On the ensuing CS possession, Connor Kelsey craftily bumped Rick off of rebounding position, enabling him to grab an offensive rebound and score two more Cardinal points. Rick hung in and drove powerfully to the basket, drawing a foul on Kyle Hatfield. He made one of two and it was 21-11 with 3:23 remaining.
MV became more lively as the quarter went on. Dave Brown made a spectacular pass to Julius from the left wing for a basket.
Sensing a turning tide, Coach Dave Reicker brought Staler back into the game and he outran the Hawk defense on an inbounds pass for two points. That would re-establish a ten point lead for the hosts at 23-13. It was also the pinnacle of the evening for CS.
Julius Turner would earn two free throws getting to the basket and make both. On the next play, Rick Deichert knocked the ball out of a Cardinal’s hands and dove to retrieve it, calling time out before he could be called for traveling.
With 1:12 remaining, MV missed a shot at their end, Dixon Stoddard blocked a shot but the Hawks lost the ensuing possession. Then with 17 seconds to play, Dave Brown plucked the ball out of a CS guard’s hands…
…and drove to the hoop, scoring. The Cardinals inbounded the ball, but this time…
…Dixon made a steal with nine seconds remaining and fed it to Jared for the quarter ending score.
What had been a 10 point Cardinal Stritch lead with 1:52 remaining had been whittled down to four. At the end of the half it was CS 25 – MV 19.
The Cardinals looked like they may be susceptible to pressure; this theory would get a test in the second half.
Third Quarter – MV 21 – CS 4
Starting the Quarter – Initial Game Starters
MV started the quarter with the possession and Jared made good on it, throwing in a two pointer off a Julius Turner assist. The Hawks got the ball back off a Dave Brown steal, and the Hawks’ point guard alley-ooped a pass to Jared at the rim for two more. The game was tied at the 6:55 mark.
On defense, Coach Robinson made two key changes at the beginning of the third. First, he switched the defense up to an aggressive half court trap. Second, he switched Dixon Stoddard to man coverage against Justin Staler.
The benefits were immediate; Dave and Julius were on the Cardinals like Hawks on field mice. Additionally, Staler’s bread and butter on the night – the drive to the basket – was taken away by the 6’2” Stoddard.
After a CS basket by Michael Blazevich off an inbounds play, the Cardinals were at a loss to generate offense.
The Hawks got more aggressive on the offensive end as well. Jared continued his strong play, grabbing a rebound off a missed Hawks free throw and was fouled by Kyle Hatfield, his third. Jared made both shots to even the score at 25.
With the half court pressure, the Cardinals backcourt was anxious to get rid of the ball as the trap approached – only to see Jared begin to step into the middle and intercept the cross court passes.
After Jared’s first steal of the quarter he got the ball to Rick, who drove right down main street for the two pointer and the Hawks had their first lead of the game. Coach Reicker called time out at 5:48 and was not pleased.
Rick got in on the press action and jumped a pass next. He fell down driving to the basket and was replaced by AJ King while having his elbow checked out. CS had the ball back, but Dave had another steal and got it to Jared for another two points.
The Hawks post player blocked another Cardinal try and AJ was on the receiving end of a beautiful backdoor pass for two more.
Cardinal Stritch tried to stop the hemorrhaging, but missed on its next trip down. Dixon pulled the rebound and fired it ahead to Dave Brown for two points. After another CS possession in which they missed two tries, Dixon again cleaned the glass and fired a pass to Dave, who was fouled shooting. He would make one of two and the home team called for a breather at 2:56 remaining.
With a few substitutions, the Hawk lineup now included Nick Frasco, Rick, Jonathan, Jared and Dixon.
Cardinal Stritch had the ball, but the trap worked again. Jared stole the ball up high and dribbled coast to coast for the shot, but was fouled. He converted the pair and the whole thing started over again.
This time the Jared steal ended up in Rick’s hands and he broke to the hoop for two.
It was a full-blown hardwood crime wave:
 |
| I was working the day watch out of larceny. |
…and the basketball burglary continued with AJ King, this time firing it over to Julius who scored at the hoop. MV had scored fifteen straight and it was MV 40 – CS 25.
Matt Guy salvaged some respect for the home team with a closing hoop, but the damage was done and the Hawks were up by 13.
Fourth Quarter – MV 17 – CS 14
Starting the quarter – AJ, Nick, Julius, Jared and Jonathan
Jon Kruger opened up the third quarter with a layup off a Nick Frasco pass.
The Hawks will have to be on the lookout the next two years for the Cardinal’s sharpshooting Sophomore Robbie Bekier, who scored next with a three pointer from deep in the right corner.
Jon answered back with a pull-up jump shot, then Justin Staler returned the favor for CS.
Jared powered in for two points – then once more with a basket +1 - here they are through the magic of digital video…
Then Rick got to the hoop and was fouled by Kyle Hatfield, his fifth on the evening...
Robbie Bekier hit another three.
Watch out.
I’m just sayin'.
Then Julius Turner…
…drove down the middle for two.
Justin Staler made another basket, then Dave Brown connected with Jared for two.
Julius made one more shot which was captured for posterity.
On the floor at game’s end were Nick Frasco, Daniel Brandon, Omar Hazimah, AJ King and Thad Woodard.
The final score – Hawks 57 – Cardinal Stritch 39.
Final Game Thoughts
After a 2.5 quarter shooting slump, (last Q vs. Ottawa Hills and first 1.5 Qs in this game), Maumee Valley powered up and played in your face defense to overwhelm their TAAC opponents. If the Hawks keep up this pace, they’ll be tough to stop.
Bonus Music Video
Here's the Cardinal Stritch pep band with the school fight song.
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. Jared Sturt had a big night, leading all scorers with 22. Julius Turner had 12, Rick Deichert 10, Dave Brown 5, Jonathan Krueger 4, Dixon Stoddard and AJ King 2.
Next up
The grueling week of basketball (not to mention blogging) concludes tonight with the second back-to-back stretch of the week ending with a visit from the North Baltimore Tigers to the Varsity Gym.
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