WR’s Hilles leads MVAC team to win
MINERAL RIDGE — After a super tough end to a great season, the Western Reserve Blue Devils were well represented in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference vs Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference All-Star game.
On the boys side, the MVAC dominated to an easy, fun victory over the EOAC, 97-71. Western Reserve’s Kade Hilles led the way with 18 points. He was one of nine seniors in Berlin Center as well as one of three guys that played in the game. Jack Cappabianca and Dom Velasquez also played.
“This is awesome,” Hilles said about the atmosphere of the all-star game. “You get to see new players and see how they play and they are in a game. I know it’s an all-star game and we are goofing off, but we’re being able to connect with guys around the community — just talking with them and getting to know guys and building relationships.”
Hilles led a tough, senior-laden group all the way to the District IV Struthers district final. The Blue Devils would lose a close game to the East Canton Hornets, 53-48.
“It was a senior-led group,” Western Reserve coach Patsy Daltorio said. “Unfortunately, I wish we could’ve had all nine of our guys out here playing. This was a fun way to finish up the year. They had a great year and they were fun to be around. It’s about the kids and the work that they put in for four years or even eight. To come out and honor them like this is a fun time.”
For the Blue Devils, it was all about doing what they should’ve with the group they had. Along with Hilles, Cappabianca and Velasquez, Western Reserve had seniors Cole DeZee, Ryan Demsky, Nic Corbett, Joey Clegg, Marcos Crus, and Josh Slaton.
“Like I told my guys, maybe if I didn’t hold them back all year, they could’ve played like that,” Daltorio said through a laugh about the way his three guys played in the game.
Hilles believes the success the team had this year will help this program for quite a while. Reserve even upset McDonald in the Struthers District semifinals, 52-50. That was its first win over McDonald in 13 years.
“It was a good year,” Hilles said. “Our big goal was to make it to the district final. Of course, you need to win it. We beat McDonald, and we had not done that in 13 years. That was a huge deal. All seniors came together at the start of the season and said, ‘Let’s make this memorable.’ Overall, we did do that on and off the court. We made memories that will last forever for us.”
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