by Aaron Riley of the Green Wave put on a scoring clinic, nailing 3 after 3 after 3 finishing the first quarter with 13 points. His teammate Drew Styers showed he was no slouch either, nailing a pair of free throw shots finishing his first quarter with 8 points.
At the end of one, the score was 25-19 Holy Name while the Bulldogs continued to fight the good fight with senior guard Ryan Raich and junior guard Cole Odon leading the scoring with 8 points and 3 points respectively.
The 2nd quarter started off as a defensive showdown with multiple blocking and charging fouls being called on both teams from the get-go. Free throws were the name of the game for the Green Wave, as they could not seem to miss.
Falls did not have an answer for Holy Name’s offensive penetration and passing. Styers led his team during the second quarter with 4 points on the line. Falls did however hit a big three from Jake Pasiak off the bench to narrow the lead to 6 points with 1:30 left in the first half.
With the 3rd quarter underway, #21 Mason Cerovac put on a display of his rebounding heroics. Proving himself a key asset to his team, Cerovac could not be stopped as he went on a run scoring a quick 4 points in less than a minute.
Jeremy Pivonka of Holy Name treated the fans to his prowess as a three-point shooter, with Stephen Curry-like ability, he nailed three after three. Riley continued to rack up points, this time from mid-range jumpers and layups. At the end of 3, the Green Wave led the Bulldogs 52-46.
Pivonka brought the lead up to 7 with a 3-pointer with 6:30 left to go in the game. Styers came up big on defense early with a critical steal and forced jump ball. Holy Name continued to maintain its lead despite fierce Bulldog defense and hustle.
Raich brought it within 3 points with a clutch shot beyond the arc, but this young man Pivonka could just not be stopped. 61-55 with 3:30 to go and Cerovac still had some fight left in him, snatching up rebounds on both sides of the floor.
As the game went down to 1 remaining minute, a critical foul occurred which allowed Timura of Olmsted Falls to sink a game-tying free throw, sending the game to overtime.
Holy Name won the tip, but Falls guard Cerovac continued to be a beast on the boards. Styers was a beast in the period, putting his teammates on his back making a clutch free throw and showing tenacity on defense.
With 1:10 to go, the game had its first lead change, with Falls in front by 6. Late game heroics plus wise clock management equaled the Bulldogs edging out the Green Wave 72-62. Yet another exciting game here at Baldwin Wallace for the Cleveland Basketball Classic.
Leading the scoring for the Bulldogs was Cerovac with 21 and Raich with 20.
Leading the scoring for the Green Wave was Pivonka with 24 and Riley with 20.
