Irish scores knockout of undefeated Knights in Holy War

 Irish scores knockout of undefeated Knights in Holy War

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

AKRON--Growing up in traditional Catholic families, young men and women are taught to love those as they want to be loved.

There is no love lost between rivals St. Vincent-St. Mary and Hoban in their Holy War.

However, when rivals collide, all forms of respect are put aside and it is about one securing bragging rights over the other. Tonight in front of a vociferous crowd at the JAR arena on the University of Akron campus, in a battle of Summit County powers, it was the Fighting Irish constructing an early 15-0 run to erect an early 16-7 first quarter advantage and didn't allow the Knights to creep no closer than five points as they scored a 51-43 upset of an undefeated Hoban squad who had been winning close contests over the last several weeks. 

The close shaves, one of those included a two point win over Warrensville Heights finally proved to be more than what the undefeated Knights were able to handle as their 10-0 record was extinguished and their early deficit had a lot to do with that.

St. Vincent-St. Mary longtime general Dru Joyce, always a face of calmness and coolness and never the one to be a yeller or screamer acknowledged his team's fast start that parlayed into their triumph.

"We felt that there were some things that they couldn't do in defending John (Whorton) and we have anyone on the team that can shoot. We scored early and that loosened them up and once we did that, we were able to throw the ball into John," he said. "We went 10 deep on the bench and I felt very good about that."

Two early three pointers by DeCarlo Prince ignited the Irish attack that proved to be the catalyst of the contest after Hoban had their only lead of the contest at 7-3. The 41 points scored by the Knights was their lowest output of the season and their vaunted attack, centered around their giant centers in Sam Greer and Kamron Engley never really got going.

The Irish took their largest lead of the contest early in the third quarter at 30-17 with over five minutes remaining when Prince traveled 94 feet after a steal for a two-handed dunk that brought the Irish cheering section to their feet. It seemed that a rout was on the agenda for LeBron James's alma mater before a James McCarthy three-pointer sliced the Irish advantage to eight points with over three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Hoban made one last stand but were never able to get their deficit under five points and the end result was the termination of their undefeated campaign.

A key to the Irish holding on was handling the late pressure applied by the Knights. It also helped out that Joyce was able to see the calmness of his team on the bench, something he expects his charges to have at all times no matter the situation.

"The main thing is they are kids and if I am out of control, then I can't expect them to be in control so I am trying to be that person when it gets down to adversity and I can give them situations to help them out of it," Joyce said. "We rallied and we are getting better. We have been giving up leads early in the season but tonight when we needed a bucket or two, we got it and that was big."

Prince paced the Irish with 19 points while Whorton had a double-double with 17 points and 10 hard earned rebounds. McCarthy was Hoban's leading scorer with 16.

For the Irish, this is a big win for them as they turn their sights to an affair with Fairfield. Hoban will look to rebound after their first setback. When asked if winning close contests finally caught up to the Knights, with his team having a lot to do with that, Joyce concurred as such, especially with as adept as their defense was on the evening.

"We're an outstanding defensive team. We played great teams as I was telling our guys before the game is that no matter what they do, they are not going to do anything we haven't seen so we just had to go out and be the best version of ourselves, we did that and we are fine."

Statistics from St. Vincent-St. Mary's win over Hoban. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Growing up in Catholic families, young men and women are taught to love those as they want to be loved. Tonight, St. Vincent-St. Mary got a huge victory worthy of that love.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Massillon native Farrington thriving as Purple Raiders forward

 Massillon native Farrington thriving as Purple Raiders forward

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

ALLIANCE--Accountability is a trait that was ingrained into Elijah Farrington the day he walked onto the floor at Massillon Washington High School as a freshman.

As a freshman, he was inspired by the 2019-2020 Tigers team that compiled a 19-4 record but also defeated two top 5 and undefeated teams very late near the end of the regular season on back-to-back nights, downing Wooster, who was ranked in the top 5 in Division I and then Ridgewood, who was #4 in Division III.

It is a reason why he was able to thrive as a Tigers forward and not only is he one of seven Stark County basketball players on the University of Mount Union roster but after seeing vast time as a freshman, he is now one of three Stark products starting on a Purple Raiders team that is 8-4 on the season and undefeated at 5-0 in OAC competition after a bruising 82-77 victory over a gritty Marietta team, whose 4-8 (1-4 OAC) record belies them in terms of being a quality team, a team that has always pushed the Purple Raiders for years.

The 2023 Massillon graduate thrived under the tutelage of current sixth year floor boss Josh Hose, a 1998 graduate and former football and basketball standout, who was part of the Tigers 1997 Division I district final competing team, spearheaded by 6'9'', 235 lb. shot blocking mammoth, Marco Morgan.

Farrington averaged 19.5 points as a senior on a team that finished 14-10, their season concluding with a loss to eventual state champion Akron Hoban. His production was a reason why 14th year Purple Raiders general Mike Fuline, a state championship winning head coach of the Jackson High School boys basketball team in 2010 was able to lure Farrington to Mount Union, where he has flourished.

SHOOTING STAR. Former Massillon Tigers forward Elijah Farrington takes a jump shot during pregame activity before Mount Union's OAC contest against Marietta. The Purple Raiders remained undefeated in the conference with an 82-77 victory. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

"What brought me to Mount Union was that I knew that there was a lot of people that was coming here and I really liked the culture, the winning culture, it's just a great atmosphere with great academics here and it was really close to home," Farrington said.

It is no secret that Farrington has chosen accounting as his desired major. He has always believed in accountability and it is something that he imposed on his teammates as a high school senior and looks to have a future as an accountant once his playing days conclude.

Last season, Mount Union advanced to the OAC title game where their season concluded with an 88-86 loss to John Carroll, who will be departing for the NCAC conference after this season. Missing an at-large berth was something that gnawed at the Purple Raiders for a full year and with another strong team returning, their goal is to capture the regular season and conference titles at the same time while not leaving anything to chance.

Farrington showed some leadership traits in the closing seconds of the Purple Raiders contest against Marietta. After missing two free throws, the Pioneers had a chance to steal away an unlikely victory when Jayden Bradshaw drove hard for a point blank range layup, however Farrington was able to alter the shot attempt and his defense atoned for the two missed free throws near the end and a reason why they are still undefeated in the conference. Farrington finished with 11 points on the evening.

"My mentality there was next play. I told our guys we're going to pull through and do everything we could to secure the win," Farrington said of the decisive sequence that transpired into a victory.

During his four years at Massillon, Farrington developed into a standout athlete who not only succeeded on the floor but in the classroom as well. Playing under Hose ingrained the ferocity that made him the successful Tiger he was on the floor.

A mantra that longtime revered Massillon administrator Butch Hose (the father of Josh Hose) always told his students in his 40-year administrative journey was to always "be the best student you can always be." That was something Farrington took to heart whenever he was in the halls of Washington High School and on the basketball court whether it was in practice or a game. 

Farrington credited Hose for the tough and fierce practices as they helped prepare him for the collegiate level.

"Coach (Josh) Hose coached us really hard and he loves us all. He got us ready for that next level whether it is on the court or off the court, he really built me as a player and as a character, so a huge shout-out to him," he said.

Mount Union begins a pivotal three-game stretch that will start Saturday afternoon at home against a Heidelberg squad that is 4-1 in the conference with their only setback coming to Muskingum and have responded well in the form of a four-game conference winning streak. Challenges also ensue against Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Northern and it is a stretch that will be portentous as to how the Purple Raiders season will transpire as conference play gets deeper.

RAIDER ON DEFENSE. Elijah Farrington (left) defends against Marietta's Jack Main during the first half of Wednesday's OAC contest. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Attending Mount Union is not for the faint of heart. It takes strong academic rigors and the ability to manage time and classes at the same time and if one is not ready for the challenge, their time at the university will be woefully short. Farrington left some advice for anyone, especially in his hometown of Massillon that is looking at Mount Union as a school to attend in the near future.

"Get to know people, there are a lot of great people here that are willing to help you," he said.

Accountability is a trait that was ingrained into Elijah Farrington the day he walked the halls of Massillon Washington High School as a freshman. And he is still abiding by those standards as a starting forward for the Mount Union Purple Raiders basketball squad.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Former Jackson state title winning head coach becomes Mount Union's all-time wins leader

 Former Jackson state title winning head coach becomes Mount Union's all-time wins leader

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

ALLIANCE--14 years ago, Mike Fuline was at the height of his dominance.

In his fifth season atop the Jackson High School boys basketball program, the Polar Bears became unlikely Division I state champions and finished ranked 25th in the nation with a 25-2 record punctuated by a 57-35 pillaging of tradition-laden Cincinnati Moeller in the state final.

14 years later, Fuline experienced another coaching accomplishment, this time at the collegiate level.

Surviving multiple Marietta runs, the Purple Raiders were able to finally close the door on their OAC rival Pioneers and emerge victorious inside the Timken Physical Education Center with a gritty 82-77 victory against a rival they have had a major history with dating back to their 2013 OAC tournament final.

Early on it didn't look like Mount Union would have to sweat out a victory as they led by 10 at halftime and eventually pushed their lead to 13 before the Pioneers rallied to make it a contest. It was Jayden Bradshaw missing a point blank range layup in the closing seconds amid tough defense from sophomore Elijah Farrington that allowed the Purple Raiders to ascend to 5-0 in the conference and 8-4 overall.

The fact Mount survived a testy second half proved advantageous and may do just that down the line.

"This was an impossible game to officiate. There were fouls and it's a rivalry game. They are really good and sometimes emotions get a little rowdy but I am proud of our guys for hanging in there and getting key rebounds when we needed to," Fuline, who became the school's all-time leader in wins with 252 said.

Mount Union and Marietta have met four times in the OAC tournament finals, each school splitting two wins apiece and don't be alarmed if there is a fifth meeting come late February. Although the Pioneers are 1-4 in conference play, that is a deceiving 1-4 and their run may come soon.

COACH' S CONFERENCE. Mount Union head coach Mike Fuline chats with his staff during a media timeout in Wednesday's OAC conference contest with Marietta. Fuline became the school's leader in victories with 252 as the Purple Raiders downed the Pioneers 82-77. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

A Jack Main layup handed the Pioneers their first and only lead of the contest with 50 seconds remaining. However, Purple Raiders freshman Jarrett Taylor converted two free throws after a big offensive rebound following two missed free throws from Farrington.

Mount Union according to Fuline didn't shoot the ball well but were able to get down and dirty on the defensive end to emerge victorious.

"We really didn't shoot it well tonight so that is something we are continuing to work at but I am proud of our guys for continuing to keep fighting and finding a way to get it done," he said.

Mount Union had five players in double figures, led by the 17 points from Christian Parker, the school's all-time leading scorer and the only player to eclipse the 2,000 point plateau. Chance Casenheiser and Jarrett Taylor both had 14, Farrington chipped in with 11 and Marcus Steele had 10.

Frank Waganfeald paced the Pioneers with 18 while Main finished with 16 for the 4-7 Pioneers (1-4 OAC).

It all added up to a seraphic evening that ended with Fuline becoming Mount Union's all-time leader in victories. When asked what was it that brought him to Mount Union after a six-year run as Jackson's floor general, the family atmosphere he preached was the main catalyst.

"The people, the campus and the tradition of winning. If the football team can win, why can't we. That is what it was and now 14 years later, that's a long time. It was also great seeing our former players here too," he said.

14 years ago, Mike Fuline was at the height of his dominance as a state champion head coach at Jackson High School. 14 years later he is at the height of the Mount Union Purple Raiders basketball program as it's all time leader in wins.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.