St. Ignatius basketball 2023-2024

tom 48

Well-known member
 
Schedule

Dec. 2 Medina
Dec. 8. Louisville
Dec. 12 Villa Angela-St.Joseph
Dec. 16 Richmond Heights @ Tri-C (Cleveland Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic)
Dec. 17 Reynoldsburg @ Capital Univ.
Dec. 23 Maple Heights
Dec. 27 Buffalo NY Canisius @ Jesuit Invitational - Tampa FL
Dec. 28 TBD (either Philadelphia PA St. Joseph Prep or New Orleans LA Jesuit) @ Jesuit Invitational - Tampa FL
Dec. 29 TBD @ Jesuit Invitational - Tampa FL
Dec. 31 @ Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
Jan. 5 St. Edward
Jan. 7 Brunswick @ John Carroll Univ. (Cleveland Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic)
Jan. 13 @ Centerville
Jan. 14 Orlando FL Oak Ridge HS @ Flyin' To The Hoop - Kettering OH
Jan. 19 @ Benedictine
Jan. 20 @ Lutheran West
Jan. 26 Lutheran East
Jan. 27 @ Akron Buchtel
Feb. 2 @ St. Edward
Feb. 3 Avon
Feb. 14 Walsh Jesuit
Feb. 20 Brush
 
I was at the game. The Cats were ok, considering it was the opening game of the season.
Medina was ranked #14 in NE Ohio by Cleveland.com and had some height in their starting line-up with two listed @ 6-5 and one listed @ 6-6.

Here are links to game summaries by the Medina Gazette and the Ignatius’ athletics website. Both are good write-ups.



The Cats have a good core of 9 in their primary rotation. 7 of them return with experience - major minutes played last season in the primary rotation. The 2 new players to the rotation are Quinn Woidke (out last year due to injury) and Kalli Johnson (son of the new CSU assistant coach). Four players are D-1 recruits (seniors Springer and Robinson, juniors Friery and Quinn Woidke). PG Zapolnik is getting D3 offers. Lamirand, Ellis, Martin are really solid players. I like the talent of this core group and there is good height with 6-7 Springer, 6-8 Robinson and 6-10 Friery.

Much of the Cats’ points came on steals from Medina turnovers off the Cats’ full court, trapping press. However, I think the ‘jury is out’ on that ‘new’ version of their press – it can create steals, but also generates a lot of fouls and opportunities for the opposing team to break the press for easy baskets. The Cats should get better at it, but its value is mixed between the pluses and minuses. The Cats’ half court defense was very solid.

Offensively, it was good to see the ‘bigs’ get more touches in the half court game. Outside shooting was not good during the first half, but the Cats did better in the 2nd half with a good shooting % and four 3-pointers.

JVs won 57-45 vs Medina and won again on Sunday 61-41 vs Cleveland Heights.
Freshmen Gold won 68-27 vs. Medina. Freshmen Blue won 51-22 vs. Cleveland Heights and won 58-21 vs. Euclid this past weekend.

On the JV team, the 2 freshmen, Sami Dari and Stephen Bohanon are pretty good. Sophomores Alex Mack (who must have made six 3-pointers), RJ Jones, Caleb Cupp and Daniel Chalhoub were solid.

Next are Louisville and VASJ before a really tough back-to-back on Dec. 16-17 with Richmond Heights and Reynoldsburg (who beat Richmond Heights by 2 this past weekend)
 
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Ignatius gets a split in their back-to-back games this weekend versus 2 of the best teams in Ohio. All considering, this was a satisfactory weekend.

Sat. night - lost to Richmond Heights, who are really, really good. The game ended up a 5 point differential and was a 1 point game with <1 minute left, but the Spartans were in control the entire game after breaking out to a 21 point lead by early 2nd quarter. At least the Cats came back to compete. The Wildcats had balanced scoring with Friery (19), Springer (15), Robinson (13), Quinn Woidke (12).

Sun. night – won at Reynoldsburg, 98-97 in 2 OTs. Reynoldsburg beat Richmond Heights by 2 points, 2 weeks ago.
Tonight was one of the most wild and fun games that I’ve seen the Cats play in. The lead went back-and-forth the entire game, with (I think) the biggest being 6 pts by both. Tied at 77 in regulation, Tied at 83 at the 1st OT. Both teams played aggressively and the refs called it tight around the basket. The Cats had 6 players foul out, including 4 starters, and the Raiders had several players foul out. It was a battle of attrition (and exhaustion). At the end of the 2nd OT, with ~10 seconds left, Reynoldsburg went up by 3 with a foul shot. The 2nd foul shot was missed, the Wildcats got the rebound in a scramble, one pass down side of the court, … and with 3 seconds left, Matt Ellis hit a long 3 pointer while being knocked down to the floor. Ellis made the free throw for a 4 point play and the final lead. The Pirates made a long pass to the Ignatius end of the court and missed a long 3-point shot. Game over.
Again, the Cats had balanced scoring with Friery (11), Springer (11), Robinson (12), Zapolnik (16), Woidke (21) and Ellis (18).

These games are fun to watch.
 
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Any insight from anyone on the scuffle that occurred post game? It looked like some pushing and shoving, but the camera panned away as it escalated.
 
Any insight from anyone on the scuffle that occurred post game? It looked like some pushing and shoving, but the camera panned away as it escalated.
Have not heard anything. Emotions were obviously pretty high on both sides when considering regulation + 2 OTs of a hard fought game along with a hard to believe ending during the last 10 seconds of the game.
 
The Wildcats head to Tampa next week for the Jesuit Invitational tournament on Wed-Thurs-Fri.
Looking at the records of the 8 teams, the tournament should be pretty competitive.

Upper bracket:

St. Ignatius (5-1) vs. Buffalo Canisius (5-0)

New Orleans Jesuit (15-1) vs. Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep (3-2)
St. Joseph’s Prep beat Richmond Heights by 11, two weeks ago

Lower bracket:

Dallas Jesuit (14-2) vs. New York Regis (5-0)

Tampa Jesuit (8-3) vs. San Juan PR Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola


Go Wildcats!
 
Wildcats beat Buffalo Canisius (5-1) easily, 80-23

Next: Philadelphia St. Joseph Prep (4-2) - Thursday @ 6 pm
The Hawks defeated Richmond Heights by 11 earlier in December


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What are the chances for the wildcats advancing to final four and beyond? I know they lost a couple players but seems like they have been building this team since Joyce arrived.

Lastly, do you think they best the eagles both times this year? I am hoping for a split.
 
Lost to SJP 73-70. Thats a nice showing. It's early but this team should go far
Tough loss against a very good Philly St. Joseph Prep team, especially when having a 5 point lead with under 2 minutes left. The game was back-and-forth the entire time. I can see why SJP beat Richmond Heights by 11. They are that good.

This afternoon - vs. Dallas Jesuit (15-3)
Sunday - at Akron SVSM
 
This is definitely the best, most bought in team Cam has had in his tenure. Without knowing who else in D1 is loaded, I have to assume they're title contenders.
 
Ignatius 71-59 over Dallas Jesuit.
After being down by 5 in a lethargic, sloppy 1st half, the Wildcats outscore the Rangers 47 - 30 in the 2nd half.
Couple of key players are either injured or seemed to be slowed down with injuries during the past 2 days. Hopefully they can recover and get healthy for Sunday's game vs SVSM and another big weekend coming up next week vs St. Edward and Brunswick.

The coaches need a different version of a full court press. This 'trap' version just does not work versus good teams.
Louisville, Richmond Heights, Reynoldsburg, Philly St. Joe's Prep and Dallas Jesuit all scored on way too may easy breakaways.
Medina and Maple Heights scored easily too during their first quarters, then Ignatius backed off into a half court trap that stifled those teams.
For the few steals it may get, that version of a press gives up way many more points.
The coaching staff just seems to be obsessed with that 'trap' version. Find a different version for the full court press
The Wildcats' half court trap defense is very good. Stick with that. That is what's winning ball games.
 
Ignatius 71-59 over Dallas Jesuit.
After being down by 5 in a lethargic, sloppy 1st half, the Wildcats outscore the Rangers 47 - 30 in the 2nd half.
Couple of key players are either injured or seemed to be slowed down with injuries during the past 2 days. Hopefully they can recover and get healthy for Sunday's game vs SVSM and another big weekend coming up next week vs St. Edward and Brunswick.

The coaches need a different version of a full court press. This 'trap' version just does not work versus good teams.
Louisville, Richmond Heights, Reynoldsburg, Philly St. Joe's Prep and Dallas Jesuit all scored on way too may easy breakaways.
Medina and Maple Heights scored easily too during their first quarters, then Ignatius backed off into a half court trap that stifled those teams.
For the few steals it may get, that version of a press gives up way many more points.
The coaching staff just seems to be obsessed with that 'trap' version. Find a different version for the full court press
The Wildcats' half court trap defense is very good. Stick with that. That is what's winning ball games.
What types of full-court and half-court traps are they running?
 
Ignatius 71-59 over Dallas Jesuit.
After being down by 5 in a lethargic, sloppy 1st half, the Wildcats outscore the Rangers 47 - 30 in the 2nd half.
Couple of key players are either injured or seemed to be slowed down with injuries during the past 2 days. Hopefully they can recover and get healthy for Sunday's game vs SVSM and another big weekend coming up next week vs St. Edward and Brunswick.

The coaches need a different version of a full court press. This 'trap' version just does not work versus good teams.
Louisville, Richmond Heights, Reynoldsburg, Philly St. Joe's Prep and Dallas Jesuit all scored on way too may easy breakaways.
Medina and Maple Heights scored easily too during their first quarters, then Ignatius backed off into a half court trap that stifled those teams.
For the few steals it may get, that version of a press gives up way many more points.
The coaching staff just seems to be obsessed with that 'trap' version. Find a different version for the full court press
The Wildcats' half court trap defense is very good. Stick with that. That is what's winning ball games.
Me and my buddy kept saying they need to get the hell out of that press vs Richmond. A team with good guards will eat ot up everytime. Just play half court like you said because it was very good in the second half at CSU
 
Feel like there was quite a bit of angst about Cam Joyce at Ignatius. But the Cats have won 5 regional titles in the school's history. 2 of the 5 happened in 21 and 22. And this year's team might be one of the best in the school's history. Hats off to Coach Joyce!
 
Feel like there was quite a bit of angst about Cam Joyce at Ignatius. But the Cats have won 5 regional titles in the school's history. 2 of the 5 happened in 21 and 22. And this year's team might be one of the best in the school's history. Hats off to Coach Joyce!
I think many were worried that Ignatius would become an AAU team. They are gone and the team has players who are performing for the school and each other.
 
I think many were worried that Ignatius would become an AAU team. They are gone and the team has players who are performing for the school and each other.
What is an AAU team? AAU players don’t perform for the school and each other? Wonder why the football team doesn’t try this method…
 
I think many were worried that Ignatius would become an AAU team. They are gone and the team has players who are performing for the school and each other.
I think if the team/program was going to compete for championships, they needed a fresh approach. Of course that was always going to look and feel a little different, but change isn't always negative.
 
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