by CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio–St. Vincent–St. Mary senior forward DeCarlo Prince delivered a statement performance Tuesday night, pouring in a game-high 28 points—22 after halftime—to lift the Irish past CVCA in a comeback win, one that didn’t see them claim their first lead until the fourth quarter.
“I got a chip on my shoulder this year, people must’ve forgot who I am,” Prince shared. ” So, I had to come out in the second half and perform like I know how I can.”
Turnovers and foul trouble headlined a first half where both teams couldn’t find an offensive rhythm. The Royals opened the game off on a 7-0 run, with the Irish failing to score a point in the first four minutes of the game. Once they got the first one to fall, they started to be more aggressive trying to take advantage of their size inside the paint.
The Irish trailed 10-8 after the opening quarter. From there, it was Royal senior guard Tyler Hysolli knocking down a couple of 3-pointers to help maintain his team’s lead. He led the team in scoring, pouring in 14 points during the loss, scoring eight of the team’s 19 second quarter points to head into halftime with a 29-20 lead.
Both teams traded baskets throughout a physical third quarter. Sophomore guard Terek Harris became a catalyst on the defensive end, sparking momentum in a second half defined by scoring runs and turnovers. His relentless pressure ignited multiple runs and created key second-chance opportunities in the comeback—an impact Prince later pointed to as a difference-maker all night.
“We’ve been preaching to him that defense is going to be his role all year,” he said. “He took part of his role and he gave 110 percent effort…that’s what really got us going.”
The Irish started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run, giving them their first lead of the game and a lead they’d maintain for the rest of the night, headlined by Prince and his ability to knock down open shots.
“Tonight, he was feeling it and when he’s making those shots, he’s making it more difficult (for teams to beat us),” coach Dru Joyce said.
For the Royals, scoring in the fourth quarter was limited to just two players—Hysolli and Connor Gray—who combined for 26 of the team’s 52 points in the loss.
“We’ve been taken one step forward and one step back, so now it’s time for us to take two steps forward.”
