Mentor coach Bob Krizancic knew he would learn about his team in the final days of January and first of February.
After the Cardinals outlasted Villa Angela-St. Joseph in a 106-99 overtime win on Feb. 3, Krizancic emerged with a few salient points regarding Mentor’s identity.
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“We’re tougher,” Krizancic said. “They’ve got guts, leadership improved and they believe. That’s huge.”
The Cardinals’ win capped a five-day, 2-1 stretch with a win against Shaker Heights Jan. 30, loss to undefeated No. 2 Solon Feb. 2 and victory over reigning Division III champion VASJ Feb. 3.
Mentor, the defending Euclid District champion in D-I, needed conviction in its own ability.
“I think we can make a run for a district title,” Krizancic said. “Every year we go in, we believe we have a solid shot of getting to state. If you get there, you’ve got to play well that weekend. I think the players really believe after the three games.”
Six Mentor players scored in double-digits, led by 20 points apiece from Shane Zalba, Tadas Tatarunas and Luke Floriea. Caden Kryz scored 12 while Ben Gingrich and Luke Chicone chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, in reserve duty.
Gingrich and Chicone keyed Mentor’s victory after starters Zalba and Matt Koski fouled out. When VASJ took a three-point lead to begin overtime, Gingrich and Chicone made 3s on back-to-back possessions for a 92-87 Mentor lead. The Cardinals led for the remainder of overtime.
“They definitely stepped up,” Tatarunas said. “Especially Luke Chicone, the freshman, making his free throws. They just played hard, they play hard in practice every day so it’s great for them to learn this experience.”
Krizancic says the final minutes of regulation and overtime were vital for Floriea, Chicone, Gingrich and Nick Ventura. Alongside Mason Trubisky, Krizancic is confident in Mentor’s depth.
Alongside the shot-making of Gingrich and Chicone, Tatarunas’ leadership helped the Cardinals stave off the Vikings’ furious rally. As he did for Mentor’s state finalist football team, Tatarunas’ play set an example followed by his teammates.
“That’s the intangibles,” Krizancic said. “Making everybody else play hard, I think giving confidence to the younger kids. Taking the ball out the majority of the time, it’s not easy. He gave all the physicality and he gave all the intangibles I asked him for.”
Mentor made five 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 22-15 lead over VASJ after eight minutes. The Cardinals’ lead ballooned to 17, 50-33, as Chad Blessing’s corner 3 flew through the basket during the half’s final seconds.
Jerry Higgins led all scorers with a career-high 47 points. Jaden Hameed scored 22 and Jason Priah chipped in 11.
Higgins scored 13 points in each of the third and fourth quarters to catalyze the Vikings’ rally.
VASJ cut its deficit to seven, 65-58, after three quarters. Hameed’s free throws with seven seconds to play tied the score. After Mentor’s traveling violation, Higgins attempt from 25 feet caromed off the rim.
Priah’s free throw and layup put the Vikings ahead for the first time since the first quarter before 3s from Gingrich and Chicone. VASJ went 0-for-4 on two trips to the foul line while Mentor’s lead swelled to eight points.
VASJ coach Babe Kwasniak said senior reserve guard Anthony DiNunzio keyed the Vikings defensive effort before he was injured in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously I should’ve been playing him because he had so much impact for us defensively,” Kwasniak said. “We don’t need a whole lot of help offensively. We need guys who are going to mix it up, box out.”