Kennedy’s season comes to close in regional final loss to defending state champ Richmond Heights
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CANTON -- Warren JFK's season came to an end on Friday, falling short against a dominant Richmond Heights team, 95-61.
"I’m very proud of them," Eagles coach Mark Komlanc said. "I’m proud that they fought and they battled the entire game. We got it back down to I think 11 and then fouled on the three at the end of the half, and then in the second half they just came out on a 9-0 run, but our guys didn’t give up. They played hard the whole game."
Things never quite clicked for Kennedy. Shots didn’t fall early, and the Spartans seemed unable to miss on the other end.
No matter how the ball bounced, the Eagles kept their collective foot on the gas.
"That’s a really good team. I don’t think they’re 35 points better than us, but I don’t know how many times they got the free throw line," Komlanc said. "It was a heck of a lot more than it should have been. ...
"I’m just proud that they continued to chip away and try and play their hearts out. They didn’t put their heads down, they didn’t pout, they didn’t complain, when it could have been easy to do that. (The seniors) are going to be missed."
The Eagles were able to stifle Richmond Heights in the second frame, outscoring the Spartans 20-16.
As cliche as it sounds, it just came from doing what they do best.
"We needed to get some off the ball cuts and defensively we needed to try and take away the dribble drive. I think in the first quarter, we were helping a little bit late, so in the second quarter, the adjustment was helping earlier and forcing them into mid-range," Komlanc said. "We did that and I thought we rebounded well in that quarter. I think that was the difference.
"Offensively, when you get defensive rebounds, you can get out and run and get in transition, kind of get them scrambling a little bit. That’s all that second quarter was. It was nothing spectacular, just playing good, solid, simple basketball."
Richmond Heights extended its lead in the second half.
Kennedy graduates a group of five, including four starters -- Nico Ciminero, Jaden Rishel, Michael Condoleon, Quinn Meola, and Avto Khanishvili.
Komlanc has talked a lot about legacy in his time coaching the Eagles, making it a point to talk to each freshman class about leaving their legacy.
The Class of 2024 is leaving a legacy that will be hard to match.
"They’re one of only six teams to make it this far. Their legacy is that they’re going to go down as one of the best teams ever in school history," Komlanc said. "They’re probably one of the winningest teams in school history, probably the highest scoring team in school history, probably the most unselfish teams in school history, even the most threes in school history.
"And to top it off, they’re really good students. They’re really good kids off the court and that’s probably what I’m most proud of. I think that’s what our school and our families are most proud of. When they set foot outside this arena, they’re going to go and do great things."
Kennedy’s season ends at 20-7.
Richmond Heights will return to Dayton, looking for the chance to repeat as state champions.
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