LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Matt Davet left St. Edward High School looking for a Gatorade 12-pack.
Davet and St. Ignatius just played their fourth overtime game in their last five meetings with the Eagles. Davet scored 31 points Friday night, while Austen Yarian added 23 to lead the Wildcats’ rally and 75-72 win.
“They’re an up-and-down team,” said Davet, who also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
He spent much of his night battling inside against St. Edward’s 6-foot-7 Kelvin Calhoun and others. Yarian, a 6-7 forward, defended the perimeter and worked his way inside en route to 10 rebounds and five blocks.
Their collective effort helped the No. 1-ranked team in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25 likely keep that distinction along with an inside track on the top seed in the Division I Strongsville District. Coaches must submit their votes by noon Saturday. Their choices include the Wildcats (13-4) and No. 3 St. Edward (13-5).
Working to that stage is what remains on the minds of both teams.
“This was a great game, but the playoff games are what counts,” Yarian said.
Check back later for complete video highlights and reaction.
St. Ignatius beat St. Edward last season for the district title. It didn’t go into overtime, but was played at Cleveland State following two overtime games in the regular season.
They split those games, but not this time.
St. Ignatius’ win Friday night follows a 90-80 overtime victory Jan. 13 in this rivalry.
That time, Davet forced OT with a 3-pointer that hit glass from the top of the arc and sent St. Ignatius’ home crowd into a frenzy. On this night, St. Edward drew up a play in attempt to win it in regulation with 10 seconds left. Davet and Michael Spear met freshman Grant Huffman as he charged toward the basket, blocking his shot.
The Wildcats then evaded another St. Edward chance to win it in overtime with nine seconds left. A 3-point try by Tommy Schmock missed the rim.
Schmock led St. Edward with 24 points and seven assists. He ignited the Eagles with a dazzling first half that included 15 points and three of his four 3-pointers.
A look in at what @T_schmock22 has been up to: 15 points at the half. pic.twitter.com/JPbuu5wY33
— Matt Goul (@mgoul) February 11, 2017
St. Edward built a 29-17 lead behind Schmock in the second quarter. It led by nine points with four minutes left, but the Wildcats closed on a 13-4 run to force overtime.
“The difference right now is one team is executing down the stretch and the other is not,” St. Edward coach Eric Flannery said. “That’s what’s disappointing.”
Yarian scored all but three of his points in the second half. He had 14 in the fourth quarter and overtime, thriving off transition baskets down the stretch. Sometimes he traded shots with Schmock, who gave St. Edward its last lead at 72-71 with about 30 seconds to go in overtime.
Yarian scored the final go-ahead basket. After St. Edward couldn’t convert, Davet added free throws with 1.4 seconds left to set up one last heave.
It conjured memories of the scenario Davet faced at home four weeks earlier.
“The way that stuff goes down it’s kind of ridiculous it’s like that in this rivalry,” he said.
Davet soon left searching for Gatorade. Last season’s district championship followed with a regional semifinal against Solon, and the Wildcats face them again Saturday.
Weary of another team capable of speeding up games with its guards, Davet needed hydration.
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