by TWINSBURG, Ohio–Brecksville (9-0) set the tone early, as its zone defense paired with a relentless full-court press overwhelmed Twinsburg (5-6) from the opening tip.
Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm early, but Brecksville’s defensive pressure forced the Tigers deep into the shot clock as they searched for answers. When Twinsburg did manage to get the ball into the paint, 6-foot-8 senior forward Ben Mehendale was waiting, blocking any shot that came close to the rim.
Mehendale has taken a big lead heading into his senior season and that’s impressed head coach Steve Mahalik.
“He’s not getting into foul trouble; he’s blocking the ball in the air now instead of blocking it out of people’s hands,” he said. “He’s the best defensive player in Northeast Ohio.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Bees had built a 14-5 advantage—a lead that only expanded as the night went on.
Steve Mehalik’s team opened the second quarter on a 14-0 run over the first four minutes. Senior Steven Skaljac sparked the surge with his shooting from beyond the arc, repeatedly igniting scoring runs. Behind forced turnovers, rim protection and timely perimeter shooting, Brecksville carried a commanding 25-point lead into halftime.
“Our first five guys can get after it defensively, they can defend,” said Mehalik. “They have bought in to taking pride on defense and they have been our calling card.”
Skaljac had 21 points at halftime and finished with a game-high 28 points. Junior Anthony Ciocco had nine points along with seven points from Mehendale.
The third quarter was no different. The Tigers settled for 3-point shots to try to cut the deficit, but nothing seemed to go their way. They would end up scoring just two points in the third quarter, as the Bee lead was at 35 points heading into the fourth quarter.
“We might not be the most athletic team out there, but they prepare and that goes a long way,” Mehalik shared.
For the Tigers, seven different players contributed during the loss, with Saiveon Herndon leading the way with five points.
The Bees will look to continue their undefeated start to the season with their next game coming Friday night against Nordonia.
“We got a long way to go, and I think we have the best offensive player in the conference and the best defender in the conference,” Mehalik said with a smile on his face. “I like what we’ve done but it doesn’t mean anything if we go out to Nordonia and lay an egg and that’s a really good team.”
