Final Turnover Costs EC Victory Over Avon

January 27th, 2012

Elyria Catholic welcomed WSC rival Avon High School into the Coliseum on Friday night. The last time these two teams met, the game had your heart racing every second of the 4th quarter. This game was built for the same type of ecstatic feeling, and did it ever live up to its expectation.

The drama in this match-up started after halftime, where EC went into the locker room down 23-29. EC was having issues finishing with their shots in the paint in the first half, and the second half was not much different.
"That was a big thing, Jeremy (Holley) when he didn't finish he was only getting one look at it." Coach Kuchta explained, "We have to get other guys to crash the boards, and if we don't get that one initial shot then it could put us back." M.J. Lotko came up huge in the 4th quarter hitting a 3 pointer to put the Panthers down 40-42, then hit another bucket to tie things up at the 4:45 mark. Danny Whitacre led a fast break and hit a bucket to give EC their first lead of the night 46-44. Avon then hit a 3 pointer to take the lead 47-46.

As the final seconds approached, EC had the ball and wasted time. As the final seconds collapsed, EC turned the ball over to Avon, and the Eagles avenged their loss from the last time these two met, and took the match 47-46. "I give (Avon) a lot of credit, they fought hard, both teams battled, and competed extremely well." Coach Kuchta had to say, "I love that my team fights hard, and we know that we're not going to quit. It was a good basketball game, we just couldn't get the job done at the end."

Elyria Catholic is at North Ridgeville on Friday, February 3rd, 2012. "We want to beat Ridgeville, they're stuggling and we're hoping to have a good game."

EC is now 7-9 (5-4 in WSC play).

Stats:
Jeremy Holley - 12 PTs, 9 RB
Danny Whitacre - 8 PTS, 5 RB, 1 AST
Cory Strasko - 5 PTS, 4 RB, 1 AST
M.J. Lotko - 7 PTS, 2 RB
Tyler Riddell - 5 PTS, 1 RB, 1 AST
Andrew Konno - 6 PTS, 2 RB
Xavier Bennett - 2 PTS,


EC's JV Company Cuts Close One vs. Eagles

Coach Corey Taylor still hasn't changed the game plan for the JV Boys for now three blogs in a row. "To put up points" seems to be working. The JV Panthers won 49-46 over Avon's JV on Friday. The JV Boys stayed with the lead they produced after the 1st quarter. Avon jumped close as the final seconds closed in with two three pointers, but EC pulled through. Angelo Cruz and Ceevan Shelton led the JV Boys with 9 points, and D.J. Graham followed with 8.



EC's JV Company is now 10-5 on the season.


EC's New Kids On The Block Spring In 4th

The big story on the night? Freshman James Tirbaso, who had his first in-game dunk of the night. The dunk also sprung a huge pop in the crowd, and a big motivator for the EC Freshman in the big victory over Avon. EC trailed the whole game up until moments before Tirbaso performed his fast break one-handed dunk. The EC Freshman stuck with Avon all game and fought hard. The Panthers beat the Eagles 34-31. Tirbaso had 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his performance Friday afternoon. Ray Contreras followed close by with 8 points.

- Jake Hromada '14
Photos by: Mr. Rob Zidek