Warren JFK tops Hillsdale, will play for district title for 5th straight year
Eagles to play for district title for 5th straight year
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ORWELL -- For the fifth time in as many years, the John F. Kennedy Eagles are playing for a district crown.
Kennedy pulled away in the second half to take down Jeromesville Hillsdale and advance to the Division IV, Grand Valley District title game, dispatching the Falcons 81-49.
While Kennedy held the lead for nearly the entire contest, Hillsdale nipped at its heels throughout the first half.
If Kennedy scored, Hillsdale found a way to match it. A "rat race" was brewing, something that Eagles coach Mark Komlanc wanted to avoid.
"We couldn't keep trading baskets," Komlanc said. "I didn't want a rat race, I wanted (a controlling lead) in the second half even though the first two minutes, (Hillsdale) got back, and then we just went on a run. That's how we'll play. We'll try to run fast and free.
"Our bench was huge tonight. Christian Swogger, Henry Phillips, and Avto (Khanishvili), they all came in and gave us huge minutes. I thought Christian stepping in when Nico got foul trouble was huge, right. We didn't lose a step as far as defense with him and I thought he did a heck of a job."
It wasn't just the bench. Kennedy's stars shined just as much. With double-figure nights from Nick Ryan (22 points), Michael Condoleon (16 points), and Nico Ciminero (16 points), it was a top-to-bottom effort.
Hillsdale rallied in the opening 90 seconds of the third quarter, cutting the score to under 10.
That'd be the last time the Falcons had a chance to wrestle the lead away, as Kennedy stole momentum and ran with it the rest of the way.
"They cut it to single digits to start the third and my coaches were like 'Call a timeout, call a timeout,' and then Christian (Swogger) hit a three and I just turned and looked at them and shook my head. Then we got a steal for a layup, and then we got a rebound and we came down and hit another layup. Once we got moving, I think they just needed to get a little comfortable offensively to start the third quarter. But honestly my message at halftime was that I didn't want to trade baskets. I wanted to get stops, and I wanted to get up by 25. It didn't look like we were ready to do that right off the rip, but they responded after the first 90 seconds in that third quarter."
The Eagles (18-6) are back in the district title game once again. The crown has eluded them the last two, dropping contests to Mathews and Dalton.
With another year of experience and seasoning for Kennedy's core group, the senior-laden Eagles think this is the year they get over that hump.
"I don't think anything's different, but I think we had bad nights, and I think that that is something that gets into your mind," Komlanc said. "That was one of the things before the game. We talked about not letting that stuff creep in, because it's just a game. As silly as it sounds, if you make it more than what it is, you're going go get tense and you're feeling the pressure and there's really no reason for them to feel pressure, they've been here before. They know what to expect and I think that showed tonight."
Now, they'll face the winner of Bristol and Heartland Christian in the championship bout, who square off today.
Start time is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.
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