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Meadowbrook avenges loss to Steubenville

Colts answer every second half run by Big Red in capturing 4A trophy

Michelle Whitt GRABBING A REBOUND — Weirton Steubenville’s Javon Davis goes up for a rebound during Saturday’s OVAC Class 4A championship game with Meadowbrook at Ohio University-Eastern.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Following Tuesday’s OVAC semifinal victory over Buckeye Local, Mike Haney predicted his Big Red would need a better defensive effort in the Class 4A title game.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Second-seeded Meadowbrook took the ball to the hoop early and often on its way to an 81-73 victory Saturday inside Ohio University Eastern’s Health and Physical Education Center.

The high energy and lightning quick Colts shot a blistering 60 percent for the game (they were 16 of 25 from the floor in the second half) to repeat as champions in the Wheeling Hospital sponsored tournament.

“We talked about playing good defense the whole week,” Haney said after watching his Big Red fall to 16-5. “We spent three days preaching about the need to stop the three. We gave them up early (Meadowbrook drained three triples in the first quarter) but stopped it after that. Every time we’d make a run, we knew we had to find a way to get a stop on the defensive end. We never did.

“Credit to them — that’s a great offensive team. We’d work to get the lead down and they would go on a run. You have to pick your poison with Meadowbrook. We played tight on them outside the three point line and that left the drive open. They’re good shooters, they made their shots and their free throws.”

The Colts, who dropped an 83-79 verdict to Steubenville (the top seed in the conference event) earlier this season, opened with a 6-0 run and led 21-14 after eight minutes. During the quarter, Meadowbrook was eight for 12 from the field.

Meadowbrook’s lead reached nine (27-18) early in the second but Big Red rallied behind six Javon Davis points (the junior connected from behind the arc before getting three the old-fashion way). Trey Singleton scored for the Colts then Alec Davis drilled a three-ball and Steubenville trailed by just two (29-27).

Justin Cork sparked a 9-0 Meadowbrook scoring run and the Colts led 40-31 at the break.

Midway through the third, Isaiah Lee-Granatir swished a triple to help Big Red creep to within four (46-42). Once again, however, the Colts responded, outscoring Steubenville 15-4 to take a 61-48 lead with eight minutes to go.

Cork and Parker Black scored nine points each during the final period as Meadowbrook hung on to record its 19th victory in 22 starts. Seven of Black’s points came from the line.

“It always feels good–winning never gets old,” said first-year Meadowbrook coach Lou “Scooter” Tolzda, a native of the Ohio Valley. “My hat’s off to my seniors. It’s my first year here and it wasn’t the most perfect situation when I came here. The kids bought into our staff and what we wanted to do.

“It was in their hands today. We didn’t do anything special. We wanted to spread things out, pass it and be patient. We were able to do that. When things go right, it makes you look like a great coach.”

In the first meeting, Big Red’s defensive pressure forced Meadowbrook into 15 turnovers. On Saturday, the Colts were guilty of just three miscues, none in the first half.

“There’s no quit in our guys,” Haney stressed. “They played hard the entire game and got after it. There were a couple of times when we didn’t take very good care of the basketball. We had three defensive stops but we threw our outlet passes away each time. Instead of going down on a fast break, they’re coming down to score points.”

Five players did all the scoring for Meadowbrook. Cork, who was named the game’s MVP and Singleton had 24 points each. Singleton had 12 in the third, all coming on drives to the basket. Black contributed 18 and Wolverton 10.

“He struggled a little in a couple of recent games but he played well today,” Tolzda said of Cork. “We have the knack to do that. You forget about a couple of our guys and boom–they step right in there and show what they can do. I’m proud of them.

“What I like about us is we dribble well, we shoot it well and we make our foul shots. We have overcome a lot of adversity this season. We lost two starters halfway through the year and we didn’t blink. Not too many teams can do that.”

Javon Davis came off Haney’s bench to lead Big Red with 16. He scored 11 during the second period. Alec Davis totaled 13, Lee-Granatir 12 and Davon Smith, who encountered early foul trouble, 10. Charles Reeves added seven points, seven rebounds and three blocks before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injury.

Big Red will conclude its regular season Tuesday when New Philadelphia visits The Crimson Center (the junior varsity tip is set for 6 p.m.). Haney’s club then will begin Division II East District action Friday with a 7 p.m. home game against Claymont. Steubenville earned the top seed in the district with Meadowbrook second.

The rubber match between the schools could come on March 11 in the district championship game.

“We would love to see them again because that would mean we are winning in the tournament and they’re winning,” Haney noted. “They’re in the other bracket but we both have a long way to go.”

Tolzda predicted Steubenville “will be heard from” in the tournament.

“We have to go through New Philadelphia (the tournament’s third seed) and some other teams before we’d face them again,” he said. “It’s not easy. High school basketball is unpredictable.

“I would not be excited about playing them (Big Red) in the district finals.”

Meadowbrook 81, Steubenville 73

Meadowbrook 21 19 21 20 — 81

Steubenville 14 17 17 25 — 73

MEADOWBROOK (19-3): Roberts 2 0-0 5; Singleton 11 2-3 24; Cork 9 4-4 24; P. Black 5 7-9 18; Wolverton 4 2-2 10; D. Black 0 0-0 0; E. Black 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 31 15-19 81. 3-pointers: Cork 2; Roberts, P. Black; Rebounds 22 (P. Black); Turnovers: 3.

BIG RED (16-5): Petteway 2 2-2 6; J. Davis 5 3-3 16; Lee-Granatir 4 2-2 12; Zimmerman 0 0-0 0; Reeves 3 1-2 7; Smith 4 0-1 10; Marx 1 0-0 3; Robinson 3 0-2 6; A. Davis 4 4-4 13. TOTALS 26 12-16 73. 3-pointers: J. Davis 3; Lee-Granatir 2; Smith 2; Marx; A. Davis; Rebounds 23 (Reeves 7); Turnovers: 8.

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