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WILLOUGHBY, Ohio—Facing adversity is nothing new for Dave Briski and the ISA basketball team as COVID-19 has halted practice and games to start the season.
Thursday night, ISA faced the challenge of overcoming a double-digit first half deficit against YPSI Prep, with the game coming down to the final possession.
Josh Irwin’s corner 3-pointer came up just short, as ISA couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 60-57.
“I think the biggest thing, honestly, is we’ve faced a ton of adversity already,” Briski said. “These are high character kids who just want to compete and they’re not afraid of the moment. So the adversity they’ve gone up against already is like we can play anybody, anytime, anywhere because that’s what this season fr everybody is.”
Emoni Bates— the No. 1 player in the 2022 class according to ESPN— lead the way for YPSI Prep, finishing with a game-high 23 points.
Throughout the first half, ISA’s Mark Rachic made a statement on the defensive side of the ball, containing Bates for most of the first two quarters. He held the five-star recruit to just eight points in the first half, with ISA trailing 35-24 at halftime.
“That was my assignment, coach said to go out there and shut him down,” Rachic said.
“Bates is the most talented player I’ve seen play,” Briski added. “At the end of the day, Mark stayed in front of him, contested everything. That was the best defensive performance I’ve seen in an ISA jersey.”
The second half is when ISA started to cut the deficit. A myriad of players stepped up on the offensive side of the ball throughout the third quarter. A Broden Lien 3-pointer with under a minute left got them within eight heading into the fourth quarter.
“Our team is all about energy, when we have energy, we’re a really, really good team,” Irwin said. “We’re pushing the ball up the court, finding the open guy and getting transition layups. Energy changes everything for us.”
Dillon Hunter and Bates were two of the YPSI players who made big plays late down the stretch. The first four and a half minutes of the fourth quarter, however, were highlighted by Irwin and ISA’s comeback effort.
They helped lead an 11-6 run to get within three with just over three minutes left in the fourth. Lien eventually tied the game at 57 with a corner 3-pointer, his third of the second half.
ISA has stormed back and the game is now tied at 57 apiece following this sequence. 2:10 left to play in the 4th @ISA_Basketball pic.twitter.com/ueLivdCj5g
— Michael Trivisonno (@MichaelTriv_) December 4, 2020
Bates decided to put the game in his hands, as he slithered his way for a go-ahead basket under one minute left in the game. ISA couldn’t answer, turning the ball over and forcing to foul Hunter where he would make one of two free throws, giving ISA the ball back up three.
Irwin’s corner 3-pointer was just off, failing to complete the comeback after trailing for most of the game.
Last-second basket couldn’t fall for ISA, YPSI Prep wins 60-57. @ISA_Basketball @sports_kee pic.twitter.com/v3Us3sH5Zu
— Michael Trivisonno (@MichaelTriv_) December 4, 2020
“This is the first time we played a national team and we saw that with their length and size,” Briski said. “In the first half, especially the first quarter, was just our guys adjusting to that length and then the rest of our quarters were good.
“The last time I remember losing a game like this our team really bounced back and came out with a vengeance so I’m hoping we can do that again.”
