GAME PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/1WGiwJk
When snow and cold caused the boys basketball game between Kenston and Chardon to be set back a day, it didn’t appear to matter much.
Yet it turned out to be the highlight of Chardon’s season. It was Senior Night and a series of lasts for those in the gymnasium as it was the last game at The Barn, the nickname of Chardon High School’s two-tiered gymnasium.
A trio of seniors played a huge role for the Hilltoppers in the 76-75 win that saw controversy among the officiating, and plenty of heckling from the students on both sides.
“I am happy for all our kids and proud of them to get a hard-fought win against a quality opponent,” said Chardon coach Doug Snyder. “Our message to the team has been ‘Stay the Course’ and ‘Stay Together.’ They have done a good job of that throughout a difficult season, and this is their reward.”
The Bombers are having a solid season under first-year coach Matt Vespa, and a youth-dominated team for coach Doug Snyder hasn’t gone as well as planned.
Senior guard Cooper Snyder nailed a trio of long 3-pointers in the first quarter as Chardon opened a double digit lead, keyed by a stifling defensive effort on Kenston guard C. J. Maynard.
Senior guard Nick Scerbo, who didn’t have much of a statistical night or season but was in the face of Maynard enough to cause nightmares, knew slowing the Bombers star was key.
“Our plan was to face guard Maynard all night,” Scerbo said. “We know how he can score in a hurry, but we were able to execute our gameplan to near perfection, especially in the first half.”
He was on the money with that comment, as Maynard got off only a single shot and made but two free throws early in the second quarter, Chardon opened a double-digit lead that eventually was cut to just six points at the half.
A 7-2 run to open the third quarter gave Kenston its first lead of the night at 33-32, as Kenston senior Parker Gdula stole the ball and went coast to coast for a layup and the lead.
After Alex Sulka put in a missed shot off an offensive rebound, Chardon regained the lead. Kenston scored five more in a row to retake the lead. Then, Chardon ran off the next 13 points to assume command again,
The back-and-forth was like a late flurry in a boxing match as the game went to 65-64 in the fourth quarter, Kenston just hanging on to its lead.
The game had been played at a frenetic pace, and the legs finally got tired for both teams, leading to turnovers and fouls late. Free throws became key, and finally, with 22.9 seconds left and the score tied at 73-73, Morgan Powell, who hit a pair of free throws moments earlier to extend a brief Hilltopper lead, nailed the second of a two-shot chance for a 74-73 lead that Chardon grasped the rest of the way.
“This was important for us tonight,” Powell said. “I was glad to help my team win the game and play the role of spoiler. It’s really important to end the home season on a high note for the kids for next year, and this was a great thing for me to remember for a long time as well, hitting a game winning shot.”
“I told the kids that this game was an important one for everybody.”
GAME PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/1WGiwJk