Fallsnewspress.com - Kirtland ends CVCA's season

by Steve Batko

Correspondent

In a back and forth battle, the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy boys basketball team was burned by a 13-4 fourth quarter run that enabled Kirtland to defeat the Royals 59-51 in a sectional final March 5.

The Royals, who finished 10-12 overall, had the lead earlier in the second half at the Painesville Harvey division III sectional championship.

As the sixth-seeded Royals were ousted in post season play, the fourth seeded Fighting Hornets (13-9) lost in the district semis 54-47 at Painesville to top seeded Villa Angela-St Joseph (16-7). It was Kirtland's first division III sectional title since the state expanded to four divisions.

"Come tournament time, it comes down to which team can take care of the basketball and defend," said head coach Jay Peters. "Kirtland is a good team."

Early on, the Hornets vaulted out to a 6-0 lead to start of the game, but CVCA came to life with a 13-7 run to make it 13-13 through the first stanza.

Peters saw his troops build on that momentum by using its strong man defense to hold the Hornets down in the second period to claim a 25-20 halftime lead.

CVCA continued those efforts in the second half as the locals built a six-point cushion early in the third.

Trailing, 26-20, Kirtland used a four-guard set to open things up and fired off an 11-0 run keyed by three 3-pointers -- two by guard Dillon Schenkelberg. He is one of six seniors for Kirtland.

Peters' son, freshman guard Bob Peters tied the game at 34 on a pair of free throws late in the third, but Kirtland's Paul Guhde hit a bucket as the quarter ended. That started the 13-4 run. It was a damaging 23-17 fourth period for the Royals.

Senior post Xavier Douglas capped a brilliant career with 17 points and nine rebounds for CVCA as Peters popped in 17 as well in his first post season.

University of Akron football recruit Anthony Ritossa scored 14 points to pace Kirtland as the 6-4, 220-pound post battled in the paint.

Ritossa, who exploded for 24 points and 21 rebounds in the loss to VASJ, was a first team All-NEO choice while Guhde made the second team.

Kirtland had some athletes and plenty of muscle. Another football standout, Guhde added 11 points along with L.J. Solinsky, while Christian Hauber scored 10.

Senior guard Alex Mosteller netted nine points on three triples for the Royals while junior forward T.J. Heginbotham chipped in seven points. Senior guard Greg Kutchin added a free throw for the Royals.

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