Prep Basketball BOYS : ‘Ugly’ Press Makes Cleveland Glow as It Wins 4-A League

Cleveland High basketball Coach Greg Herrick says his team’s “mission is transition” this season.

The Cavaliers accomplished their mission often enough Wednesday at Kennedy High to beat the Golden Cougars, 73-56, clinch their second straight Valley 4-A League title and hand Herrick a much-appreciated, if not pretty, birthday present. He’s 32.

“We do what the Chicago White Sox did a couple of years ago. We win ugly,” Herrick said after his team improved to 9-0 in the Valley 4-A and 20-1 overall with its 16th straight victory. The Cavaliers, ranked second in The Times City poll, have won 20 consecutive Valley 4-A League games over three seasons.

Herrick had promised his club would come out at the start and press the Cougars “worse than a dry cleaners.” That would have been in stark contrast to the first meeting between the teams three weeks ago, when the Cavaliers waited until the third period to press and struggled to a 55-44 win.

This time, Cleveland pushed the tempo from the outset, sometimes with less-than-positive results. But the Cavaliers forced enough turnovers and got their fast-break offense in gear often enough to pull away from the stubborn Cougars, who are 7-2 in the Valley 4-A and 13-7 overall, in the second half.

Cleveland led, 11-10, after one period and 30-22 at the half, then assumed command of the game in the third quarter, leading by as many as 16 points before settling for a 50-37 edge heading into the final period. In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers showcased their transition game and led by 22 points on one occasion.

“Their press hurt us. We had to try and adjust to their game,” Kennedy Coach Yutaka Shimizu said. “We gave them a little run, but not enough.”

“I think they had more confidence the first time we played,” Herrick said, referring to the Cougars. “I don’t think they felt they could win the game psychologically.”

The Cougars put the shackles on Cavalier star Trevor Wilson, limiting the junior forward to four baskets and 16 points. Cleveland guard Tyrone Mitchell led all scorers with 18 points and had 10 assists, while teammate Andre Washington chipped in with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.

Forward Greg Fontenette scored 14 points for the Cougars and grabbed 7 rebounds.

As the sign on the Kennedy High gymnasium wall said, it is indeed “The Year of the Cavalier.”