Division I Final Four Preview

 

When: Saturday, March 20 at the University of Dayton

5:00pm - Mentor (25-0) vs Centerville (24-3) 
8:00pm - St Ignatius (19-6) vs Westerville Central (21-2) 

*Winners will play in the state championship game on Sunday, March 21 at 8:30pm

Mentor (25-0)

Mentor is a team built on seniors. All seven players who saw time in the two regional games were seniors. It starts with All-Ohio guard and Youngstown State commit Luke Chicone. The third all-time leading scorer in Mentor history is having a memorable season. At the regional round, Chicone scored a team-high 41 total points in the two wins over Jackson and Medina. As the team's point guard, top scorer, and emotional leader - the Cardinals will go as far as Chicone can guide them. Seniors Jonah Waag and Steven Key have been consistently strong on both ends of the court all season long. Waag is a 6'3 guard that is physical, athletic, and versatile. He earned 2nd team All-District honors in a season in which he is second on the team in scoring with 18 points per game. Waag scored 19 points in Mentor's regional final win over Medina. Senior guard Steven Key is one of the team's top defenders along with being one of their go-to playmakers on offense. Key helped seal a regional semifinal win over Jackson with a put back off of a missed free throw in the final minute of the game. The return of forward Ian Kipp has been a welcome sight as he helps provide depth in the front court along with 6'5 forward Andrew Smith. Senior sharpshooter Kyle Culler hit a couple of early three-pointers to help build an early lead in the regional final. Guard Cael Gray brings energy, experience, and shooting off of the bench. 

Making their third trip to the Final Four under legendary coach Bob Krizancic, this group will try to win the program's second state title (and third overall for Krizancic as a coach). Their journey to this point has been unscathed as the program seeks a rare undefeated state championships season. Key wins during the regular season included two wins over regional finalist Medina and fellow Final Four team St Ignatius. The district final win saw one of Mentor's finest offensive performances of the season in scoring 91 points against Solon. Even when the offense wasn't at its most efficient at the regional rounds, Mentor found ways to pull out key victories over Jackson and Medina. The team is balanced offensively to go along with a defense that can easily be overlooked. 

Centerville (25-0)

In direct contrast to Mentor, Centerville is a younger team with four of their five starters being sophomores or juniors. Super sophomore Gabe Cupps is a social media sensation and AUU teammate of Bronny James. The son of head coach Brook Cupps, the 6'2 point guard was a First Team All-District honoree as he averaged 16 points and 5 assists a game during the regular season. 6'7 junior Rich Rolf is a versatile scorer and double-double machine. Like Cupps, he earned First Team All-District in a season in which he averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds a game. With 14 points, Rolf was the leading scorer in Centerville's 40-38 regional final win over Moeller. 6'6 junior wing Tom House led the Elks in scoring during the regular season with 18 ppg. Able to score inside and out, House hit two late game three pointers in the regional final to help send Centerville to their first ever Final Four appearance. This trio is as good as any in the state of Ohio. Sophomore guard Emmanuel Deng and 6'7 senior Tre Johnson round off the starting lineup. Key bench players include guards Jayson Hayes and Quinn Hafner. 

Centerville is a young but extremely talented team. They knocked off two of the three top teams (Elder and Moeller) from the mighty Cincinnati Greater Catholic League in their two regional wins. Coming into the regional final, Moeller had not lost a tournament game since the 2017 state final. In upsetting the Crusaders, Centerville avenged one of their regular season losses. Centerville won the GWOC during the regular season, including two key wins over talented rival Wayne. The Elks knocked off NEO power St Edward last month in a big regular season win. Similar to Mentor, Centerville is a strong offensive group that is not shy about shooting the three ball. The Elks are averaging close to 20 three-point attempts per game. They also showed a commitment to defense in limiting their two regional opponents to an average of 40 points per game. 

St Ignatius (19-6)

The Wildcats are making their first Final Four appearance since their 2001 state championship. St Ignatius is guided by second year coach Cam Joyce. It starts up front with 6'7 forward Henry Raynor. The senior averaged 17 ppg during the season and earned Second Team All-District honors. Raynor scored 37 total points in the two regional victories. Fellow 6'7 senior post Will Yontek gives St Ignatius a talented frontcourt duo. Junior guard Jon Effertz, who finished with a team-high 19 points in the district final against Lorain, is the second leading scorer on the team. Talented freshman CJ Little has emerged as the team's point guard and has an excellent future ahead of him. Raynor, Yontek, and 6'10 junior CJ Yarian are key at defending the post and making sure the opposing team's guards have difficulty finishing in the lane. 6'4 sophomore Brayden Szczepaniak and freshman guard Carter Jackson bring depth to the backcourt. 

After a grueling regular season schedule that saw some highs (a nine game winning streak that included wins over St Edward, Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Heights) and some lows (four game losing streak early in the season), the Cats are playing their best basketball in the tournament. Following a big district final win over a talented Lorain team that features West Virginia commit Seth Wilson, St Ignatius clinched their first district title since 2016. After splitting two regular season games with rival St Edward, the two met up in the regional semifinal. Behind strong efforts from Ronyak and Effertz, the Wildcats held on to a 55-54 tournament win. In the regional final, St Ignatius knocked off Lima Senior with a 56-44 win. St Ignatius is a team much more comfortable keeping the score low and letting their defense lead the way. 

Westerville Central (21-2)

The Warhawks were one of Central Ohio's best and most consistent teams all season long. A year removed from the program's first ever district title, Westerville Central followed it up with the program's first ever Final Four appearance. Coach Kevin Martin, a starter on Westerville North's 1994 state championship team, has already made a huge impact on the program in just his third season. They are led by the Central District's Player of the Year in senior Tasos Cook. The 6'2 guard averaged 21 points per game during the regular season. Joining Cook in the backcourt are fellow seniors Quincy Clark and Landon Tillman. Clark is a 6'3 point guard that led the team in assists along with being a regular double digit scorer. Tillman is one of Westerville Central's top scorers and helped the Warhawks secure the district title with a late game three-pointer. MJ Davis is a 6'4 senior that hit three triples in the regional semifinal win over Hilliard Bradley. 6'7 sophomore Donovan Hunter and 6'5 junior Brad Leonard brings some size and rebounding to the team. 

Westerville Central has lost just two games all season. Both games were decided by a single point. They won a district final rubber match with league member Pickerington North, 41-39. After splitting a couple of one-point games during the season, the Warhawks won another rubber match against a league rival in the regional final. Down two with seconds left, Tasos Cook nailed a buzzer-beating shot from beyond halfcourt to give Central a 45-44 victory over Gahanna Lincoln. Westerville Central is a senior-led squad with winning experience in all kinds of ways. They have won eight straight tournament games dating back to last season. This team has strong guard play to go along with size, experience, and a commitment to defense. 

2021 Region 2 Preview

Region 2 Teams Preview

When: Wednesday, March 10 at Twinsburg High School

5:30 -  Medina (17-6) vs North Canton Hoover (17-8) 
8:00 - Mentor (23-0) vs Massillon Jackson (23-3) 

 Medina (7-2 in the GCC, 14-6 in regular season, 17-6 overall)

Medina has established themselves as one of NEO's top programs since Coach Hassinger took over in 2014. They dropped both games to Mentor, but swept through the rest of their GCC matchups. The Bees swept the season series with Brunswick and also knocked off Solon, a district runner-up. With high expectations in 2020-21, Medina upped the difficulty of their non-conference schedule. The four OHSAA teams to beat the Bees this season are all still in the tournament. Medina's tournament path to this point began with a 92-53 sectional final win over Westlake. Following a win over an underrated Copley team (42-35), Medina was matched up with one of the hottest and most talented teams in the area: Cleveland Heights. The two talented squads battled all night before Medina held on for a 54-53 victory. 

The Bees are led by three seniors that started a season ago on a team that won a district title. Corey Tripp is one of the best players in the state. The underrecruited 6'3 guard has proven to be a dynamite scorer inside and out. Tripp, averaging 24 ppg this season, recently became Medina's all-time leading scorer. Senior guard Brandon Geschke is one of the most accurate shooters in the area. Forward Christian Howard brings the size, rebounding, and inside scoring that makes the Bees a difficult team to defend. The 6'4 senior averages 12 points and 7 rebounds a game. Juniors Jajuan Jackson and Matt Spatny, also key starters on the football team, provide depth for Medina's trio of experienced and talented seniors.

Coach Chris Hassinger shared the 2020 Coach of the Year honors in the GCC with Mentor's Krizancic. Hassinger has four district titles in his seven seasons with the Bees. 

Biggest regular season wins: Cleveland Heights, Copley, Chaney, Solon Brunswick (twice), and Green

Regular season losses: Mentor (twice), St Ignatius, Buchtel, Richmond Heights, ISA

 Hoover (6-6 in the Federal League, 14-8 in regular season, 17-8 overall)

Of all the teams that made it to this regional, the Hoover Vikings are the biggest surprise. While the other three regional teams earned the top seeds at their respected district, Hoover was the 4th highest seed at the Northeast 2 district. They started the season pretty shaky after dropping five of their first six. A team with only one senior in the rotation was sure to experience some growing pains. Hoover flipped the switch and has been on a 16-3 tear since Christmas. That included handing Canton McKinley their only league loss as well as four impressive wins at their sectional/district. Three of those tournament wins were rubber match victories against Federal League foes after splitting the regular season series. An "upset" win at the higher-seeded Boardman was sandwiched in between home victories against Lake and Green. Finally, Hoover put together an impressive 64-53 district final win on the road against a highly talented McKinley squad that was the #2 overall seed in the Northeast pool of districts.  

Unlike the other three teams at this region, Hoover is more likely to rely on their size over guard play to carry them to victory. 6'4 junior Trent Ware and 6'5 senior Brock Henne lead the Vikings in points and rebounds. Another big body in the lineup is 6'4 junior Elijah Barker, who scored a team-high 22 points in the district final. Junior Cade Henne has emerged as the team's top scoring guard. The junior Henne made his presence known with a 24-point outburst in Hoover's regular season win against McKinley. 

Coach Mike Bluey is in just his third season at Hoover after a five year stint at Tallmadge. This is Bluey's first district title as a coach, and Hoover's first since 2013. 

Biggest regular season wins: McKinley, Green, Dover, Massillon, and Worthington Kilbourne

Regular season losses: Jackson (twice), McKinley, Green, Hoban, Walsh Jesuit, GlenOak, Lake

Mentor (9-0 in the GCC, 19-0 in regular season, 23-0 overall)

Mentor won their 15th district title since Coach Krizancic took over the program. The 2013 state champions are making their fourth trip to regional play in the last five seasons. During the regular season, Mentor went 19-0 and capped off the first undefeated season atop the final AP poll. Sweeping Medina and routing St Ignatius were the highlights of the regular season. Their path to the district crown included a pair of comfortable sectional wins against North and Harvey. In the district semifinal, Mentor was able to control pace against a Dover squad that did their best to slow down the game. In the district final, Mentor had probably their most impressive offensive performance of the season in a 91-73 win over conference foe Solon. The Cardinals shot a staggering 74% from the field. Through four games in the tournament, Mentor is averaging over 85 points a game. While the offense gets the attention, this team has proven to be very formidable on the defensive end as well. They cause headaches for the opposition in the half court as well as when they use their patented full court pressure. 

Mentor is led by Mr. Basketball candidate Luke Chicone. The three-year starting guard and Youngstown State commit has an 11-1 tournament record since 2019. Chicone is averaging 23 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals a game. Seniors Jonah Waag (18 ppg) and Steven Key (15 ppg) combine with Chicone to form one of the top scoring trios in the state. Waag had a game-high 29 points in the district final. Senior guard Kyle Culler is one of the top shooters in NEO. Key scored a season-high 33 points in a 76-70 win over Medina last month. Forwards Ian Kipp, Andrew Smith, and Sean Collins provide some size and depth in the front court. 

Coach Bob Krizancic has over 600 wins in his career that are highlighted by his state championships (1995 with Girard and 2013 with Mentor). 

Biggest regular season wins: Medina (twice), St Ignatius, Solon, Chaney, and Brunswick (twice)

Regular season losses: None

 Jackson (9-3 in the Federal League, 19-3 in regular season, 23-3 overall)

The Polar Bears were the top seeded team at Northeast District 1, and also the #3 overall in the Northeast pool of districts. After cruising through a couple of sectional wins against Ellet and Warren Harding, Jackson had a grueling district round against two of the better teams in NEO. Standing in their way on the other side of the bracket were the #4, 5, and 6 overall seeds. In the district semifinal, the Polar Bears held off Brush, 51-41. In the district final, Jackson once again demonstrated their grit with a 51-47 win over Walsh Jesuit. In both district games, the Polar Bears had to overcome first half double-digit deficits to grind out victories. Before the tournament started, Jackson snapped St Ignatius' nine-game winning streak with a 57-46 win last month in their regular season finale. The Polar Bears overcame a late deficit to pull out their most impressive regular season win. 

Jackson has won two state championships (2010 and 2017), four regional titles, and ten district titles. In a highly competitive athletic region like Summit/Stark County, Jackson has proven to be among the premier area basketball programs. The offense is led by a trio of double-digit scoring guards. After a strong sophomore campaign last season, Kevin James once again is among the players to watch for on the Polar Bears. Senior Michael Skeriotis is a sharpshooting guard that is capable of a big scoring night. Junior Ben Suillivan leads the team in assists and is second in scoring. In the front court, Jackson is not short on length or depth. 6'5 senior Alex Graybill, 6'6 senior Jovan Jovivic, and 6'6 sophomore Owen Woolbert are integral parts of Jackson's success. This is a team built on balance and depth. 

Coach Tim Debevec is in his 10th season for Jackson, which included guiding them to a 2017 state title. Jackson has won four district titles during Debevec's tenure. 

Biggest regular season wins: Hoover (twice), Hoban, Chaney, Brush, St Ignatius, Copley, Green, and Massillon

Regular season losses: McKinley (twice) and Green

Mentor Basketball 2000's All-Stars

Updated this post following the completion of the 2020-21 season

Over the past 20 years, Mentor has proven to be one of the very best programs in the state. With 14 district titles, three regional titles, and one state championship - the 2000's have been filled with many amazing teams and players. Coach Krizancic, 679 career wins and counting, and his staff have built up a fantastic program featuring some of the best players in the area. 

My rankings below represent the best of the best to have played for Krizancic over the past 20 years. Please note that the rankings here are made by me, a fan and follower of the program that has watched at least 200 of their games since 2000. My rankings do not represent the views of the coaches, school, or media. After making my list, I did reach out to Coach K for some thoughts on each player. Please note that the players for each tier appear in alphabetical order. 

First Team

Luke Chicone

One of the most fun and exciting Mentor players to watch over the last 20 years, Chicone was one of the most successful players in program history. As a sophomore, Chicone was a key part of Mentor's record-setting 2018-19 season as he contributed 15 points and 6 assists a game. Chicone continued to turn heads with his incredible skills during a junior season where he earned Second Team All-Ohio honors while averaging 19.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. His season was highlighted by a trio of unforgettable performances against Medina, a district champion and one of the top teams in the area. The first game against Medina was a loss, but Chicone scored 33 points that included six three-pointers. The following month, Mentor found themselves down by eight with roughly 40 seconds to play. Chicone scored the last 9 points of the game, including a long-range triple to win the game at the buzzer. His biggest game came in the 2020  regional semifinal rubber match with Medina. With his backcourt mate (Luke Floriea) fouling out early in the 4th quarter, Chicone put the team on his back with 39 points in a 76-72 double-overtime victory. As a senior, Chicone guided the team to an unprecedented 19-0 regular season. That was followed up by a memorable tournament run that included a district title, regional title, and the program's third Final Four appearance. He earned Northeast Lake District Player of the Year honors and was a Mr. Basketball finalist. Chicone, a Youngstown State recruit, finished his career as the third all-time leading scorer in program history. 

Coach K Says: “He does everything well. Really solid defensively and has developed into a great shooter. An underrated part of his game is as a rebounder. The best handles I have ever coached. He is the whole package."

Jaron Crowe

I remember reading Coach Krizancic say that if he were picking a team from all of his past players, his first choice would be Jaron. He could score (as evidenced by joining the 1,000-point career club), but it was his skill as a pure point guard that separated him from every other player. Crowe played the position better than any Mentor player has before or since. His ability to run the offense, limit turnovers, get to the lane, and hit shots was second to none. Playing alongside all-time leading scorer Cole Krizancic and future Mr Basketball Justin Fritts gave Mentor quite an advantage over the opposition when it came to guard play. Crowe was a three-year starter that was a part of 61 wins. After being a double-digit scorer as a sophomore, he took more ownership of the team as a junior with scoring 15.7 ppg and earning All-District honors. In the 2009 district final, Crowe scored a team-high 23 points in a 59-50 win over Brush as he outdueled area legend Nate Tait. He followed that up by scoring 26 points in the district final win against Brush the following season. Crowe was instrumental in helping guide Mentor to three district titles, which included the program's first trip to the Final Four in 2010. In his final game, Crowe hit a state semifinal record seven three-pointers en route to a game-high 28 points in an overtime loss to Cincinnati Moeller. Crowe was named the Plain Dealer's MVP of the 2009-10 season as he averaged 19 points, 7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a game.

Coach K Says: “His basketball IQ was off the charts. Just as smart on defense as offense. He was the floor general. Jaron's last three seasons (three district titles) were part of a great run."

Justin Fritts

After earning some playing time as a freshman, Fritts jumped into a starting role as a sophomore on the 2009-10 team that was the first at Mentor to make a state Final Four. Playing alongside Cole Krizancic and Jaron Crowe, the trio was as good as any the state has seen. Fritts was Second Team All-Ohio as a junior as he led the regional runners-up in scoring. As a junior, the 2010-11 Mentor team (also featuring Krizancic and Collin Barth) was the highest scoring offense in program history. The following season, Fritts transitioned from being one part of a talented trio to becoming the lead man. As a senior, Fritts set Mentor's single-season scoring mark with 28.1 ppg to go along with leading the team in steals as well as being one of the top rebounders. His biggest regular season game was a 44-point performance in a win over basketball power Garfield Heights, a team that Mentor would share the conference title with that season. During the district final win against Brush, Fritts led the team with 24 points as he outdueled Brush's Pharaoh Brown (future Cleveland Browns TE). Fritts earned the state's most prestigious award in 2011-12: Mr. Basketball. Quite simply, it was the most dominant single season in program history. Fritts is second on the all-time scoring mark at Mentor with 1,697 points. During his three years as a starter, the Cards advanced to regionals all three years and the team won 15 tournament games.

Coach K Says: “He went to the hole as well as anybody, getting to the free throw line a ton. Justin made so many huge plays for us. He hated to lose and it helped him turn into a great basketball player."

Cole Krizancic 

The oldest son of legendary Coach Bob Krizancic had a lot to live up to. A starter since he was a freshman, Cole made quite an impact in the program. A strong sophomore season (15 ppg) helped Mentor win back-to-back district titles as Cole took on more of the scoring. He was a starting guard for 19 tournament victories over his career. None were bigger than the 2010 regional final win over heavily favored St Edward. Krizancic, a junior at the time, scored a game-high 21 points in helping send Mentor to their first trip to the state Final Four. That was part of a season that saw Cole average 27 ppg and earn First Team All-Ohio honors. A shifty and versatile offensive genius, Krizancic is still the all-time leading scorer (1,763 points) at Mentor. With an ability to score inside and out, Cole is in the state record book with 252 career three-pointers. With that much scoring, he had a lot of memorable games. One that stands out is a 41-point performance in a 76-67 win over Brush in the 2011 district final. That was one point short of Cole's career-high 42-point masterpiece against Warren Harding at the Wolstein Center the season before. He is forever a celebrity in Bristol, TN for entertaining thousands of hoops junkies in earning MVP of the Arby's Classic in 2010. A winner in every sense of the word, he is the standard to which all elite Mentor basketball players are measured. 

Coach K Says: “Growing up, he went to all kinds of camps that helped him develop a high IQ. Cole used his body as well as anybody. He shot the three really well. He scored a ton of points in the paint. Cole always came up big in big time games. His junior year, including that game against Warren Harding, was amazing."

 

Adam May

At 6'8 with the skills of a guard, May was a matchup nightmare. He could shoot from three, score inside, and was a master at getting to the free-throw line and converting. May has the program single-game scoring record with 49 points to open his senior season against North. He was the first Division I basketball recruit for the program as May would sign and play with Holy Cross after graduating in 2006. May came onto the scene as a sophomore and was the second-leading scorer on the team behind All-Ohio guard Tony Martucci. During his junior and senior seasons, May was the focal point of the offense. He averaged 23.3 ppg in his junior season and earned Second Team All-Ohio. One thing that had escaped May during his first two years in the starting lineup was winning a district title. As a senior, May helped lead Mentor over Glenville in an unforgettable 68-67 district final victory. He had memorable battles with Lake Catholic's Ricky Stanzi (future NFL QB) and Solon's Dallas Lauderdale (future OSU basketball starter). His 32 points were enough to get Mentor the big rivalry win against Stanzi's Cougars during May's senior season. In May's final game, he had 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss to Lauderdale's Solon team at the Akron regional semifinal. He earned First Team All-Ohio as a senior with 23 ppg. May's 1,480 points are 3rd all-time for the program. 

Coach K Says: “Being 6'8, he had great guard skills. Adam had a great basketball IQ being the son of a coach. A play that stands out was at the end of the 2006 district final against Glenville (pass to Joey Meyer to win at the buzzer). Not many times will your best player give up the ball and make the right pass in that situation."

 

Second Team

Luke Floriea

Floriea lettered as a freshman on a district championship squad in 2017. He emerged as a starter as a sophomore before making a huge leap his junior season. Floriea became the heart and soul of two of the best teams in Krizancic's era at Mentor. The small and speedy point guard used his inside/outside game to help guide Mentor to back-to-back district titles. In 2018-19, Floriea was the team's leading scorer (19.2 ppg) in a season where they set program records for regular-season wins (20) and winning percentage (.909). Floriea earned Second Team All-Ohio as a junior. His dominant regular season performance against Euclid boasted career highs for points (39) and three-pointers (eight). But the biggest game of his career came in a highly competitive district final win in 2019 against a very talented Brush squad littered with DI college talent. Generously listed at 5'10, Floriea was the best player on the floor as he scored 30 points in a 77-73 comeback victory for the Cardinals. During his senior season, Floriea demonstrated his determination and skill in a 26-point winning effort at Shaker Heights that helped Mentor win a share of the GCC. Floriea had another big-time performance (20 points) in the district final against Brush. He finished his career as one of the rare 1,000-point scorers in program history. A Kent State recruit at wide receiver, Floriea earned All-Ohio status in football and basketball during both his junior and senior seasons.

Coach K says "Fiercest competitor, just hated to lose. He made that jump from sophomore to junior year and wanted it to be his team as a junior, and we went 20-2 in the regular season. Won three districts in his four years. He came to play in the big games. His competitiveness really rubbed off on the rest of the players." 

Jeff Foreman

How does a team that graduated a Mr. Basketball winner (Fritts), the starting point guard (Danny Wallack), and a third starter (Mr. Football winner Mitch Trubisky) win a state title the following season? There are many reasons, but the play of Jeff Foreman is at the top of the list. A rotation player as a sophomore, Foreman always showed glimpses of his potential to be the next great Mentor guard. After a steady season as a junior in the starting lineup for the 2012 district champs, Foreman was expected to carry a big part of the load in running the offense as a senior. With Fritts/Wallack gone, Foreman was the most experienced and most capable ball handler. His regular-season numbers (14 ppg) were modest compared to gauging stats from some other players. That was by design as that state championship team was incredibly balanced. Nobody, including Foreman, had to put the team on their back and score 30 a night. In fact, it was pretty rare for a player on that team to score even 20 in a game. Instead, the entire starting lineup averaged 10-15 points a game. Foreman earned his reputation as an all-timer with his impressive tournament run. Beginning with the district final, Foreman led the team in scoring (17.6 ppg over the final five games) and assists. His 20 points in the state semifinal were key to upsetting unbeaten and top-ranked Columbus Northland. The next day in the state final, Foreman hit two early three-pointers and scored the first 8 points to help Mentor settle into a high pressure moment. The team would get the 76-67 victory over Toledo Rogers that included 19 points from their senior point guard. Foreman was the unequivocal leader and motivator for the best team ever to play at Mentor. 

Coach K says "Something clicked and he became the best player in the state in March. Jeff did everything for us. He was our best defensive player, but we had to save him on offense. He became a great leader during that stretch run for the state championship." 

Joey Meyer

He burst onto the scene as the area's premier shooter as a sophomore during Mentor's 2006 district title run. Starting alongside a group of seniors, Meyer played a key role in helping the Adam May-led squad cut down the nets at Euclid. Down two points in the closing seconds, it was Meyer who hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Mentor a 68-67 win over Glenville in the district final. His shot and reputation were so highly coveted that the News-Herald brought in the young sophomore as a "ringer" to square off with the top senior at the NH Classic's shooting competition. Meyer would be the team's leading scorer as a junior and a senior. As a senior, he guided Mentor to a 20-5 record despite sharing a backcourt with a freshman and sophomore. During his senior season, Meyer earned First Team All-Ohio honors as he scored 21.5 ppg for the 2008 district championship team. Aside from his memorable game-winning moment as a sophomore, the biggest game of Meyer's career was a 42 point outburst in a road win at Cleveland Heights. He was a 1,000-point career scorer and was considered by Coach Krizanic to be "the best shooter I have ever seen." That is high praise considering the talent that has come into his gym. 

Coach K says "One of the hardest workers and purest shooters we ever had. Started three years and won two district titles. Close to 90 percent free throw shooter and 40 percent at three, he was a luxury to have."

Eddie Zienkowski

Zienkowski emerged during his sophomore season as a super sub on the 2000-01 senior-laden team that won 17 regular season games and a district title. Filling in as a starter after injury, he was a key part of the 2001 district champs. Eddie was an elite scorer and one of the best shooters to play for Mentor. Zienkowski was the team leader during his junior and senior seasons as he guided the Cardinals to three straight district titles (2001-2003). During his junior season, Zienkowski poured in 31 huge points in a regional semifinal win over Barberton. The unexpected run to the Elite Eight in 2002 was the program's first appearance. Eddie's senior class of 2003 (featuring Nick Meyer, Kyle Binns, Mark Martucci, etc.) was one of the very best at Mentor. This class was good enough for Krizancic to schedule LeBron's James' SVSM team during the 2002-03 season. Zienkowski scored a team-high 20 points, but LeBron and company routed the Cardinals as expected. As a senior, Eddie was Third Team All-Ohio in averaging 25.4 ppg. His best game came in the 2003 district final. In a memorable performance against Brush, Zienkowski scored 37 points as he outdueled a red hot Raymond Mosby in guiding Mentor to an 81-72 win at Euclid. At the time of his graduation, Zienkowski was the all-time leading scorer for the program. His 1,299 career points were eventually passed by Adam May in 2006.  

Coach K says, "He stepped up as a sophomore when injury hit Brad Gerard. He might've shot more free throws than anyone else I coached. He used his body so well. What he lacked in athleticism and quickness, he made up for it in other ways. Eddie used every single ounce of ability."

Third Team

Scott Branchick

Branchick was a three-year starter and one of the more consistent inside scorers to play for Krizancic. His teams won two district titles (2008 and 2009). Branchick emerged with a strong junior season, averaging 13.5 ppg. As a senior, his numbers were not necessarily eye-popping (13 ppg in the regular season) due to sharing a backcourt with the likes of Jaron Crowe and Cole Krizancic. But Branchick's reputation was earned by what he did in the tournament over his junior and senior seasons. Playing his best in the biggest games, Branchick scored 82 points over a three-game stretch in his junior season at the Euclid district tournament. That included 20 second-half points in a 57-50 district final against Glenville to help Mentor erase a 4th quarter deficit and cut down the nets at Euclid. That was the first of what would be six straight district titles for the program. As a senior, he continued his big play in the tournament by scoring 41 points in a sectional win against Shaw and a team-high 20 points in the district semifinal win against Madison. In Branchick's final game, he accounted for more than half of the team's total points in scoring 27 in a 50-43 regional semifinal loss to North Ridgeville. 

Coach K says, "Scott was a great slasher that could get to the hole as well as anyone. A three year starter that was on two district championship teams. He was our leading scorer his senior year. Became a good three-point shooter, a really nice high school player."

Jason Bratten

Bratten was the leader for one of the most talented classes of Mentor basketball players in the last 20 years. They went 33-7 in the regular season over Bratten's junior/senior years. They won the extremely competitive Lake Erie League in both of those seasons. The class of 2001 included starters Rick Martucci, Brad Gerard, Jason Crowe, and Kevin Boyle. As a junior, Bratten's season was highlighted by hitting a buzzer-beating shot to defeat LEL rival Euclid. He also came up big in a program-defining regular season win over St Ignatius. Bratten was the best all-around player on one of the highest scoring teams ever at Mentor. The talented 6'3 guard was also the starting QB on the football team. Bratten finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds in a highly competitive 83-82 overtime win against Glenville in the district final. He averaged 17 ppg as a senior and earned First Team All-District honors. 

Coach K says "One of the best athletes ever in the program. His class set the tempo and started the great run for us in tournament play. Defensively and offensively, his athleticism was off the charts. We played a brutal schedule and still went 17-3 as a senior."

 

Conner Krizancic

The younger son of Coach K was known more for his football accomplishments, but Conner was a four-year letter-winner in basketball and a central part of the 2013 state championship team. After coming off the bench as a sophomore on the 2011 district champs, Krizancic earned a starting role as a junior. Conner proved to be one of the team's top shooters and defenders. He averaged 13 ppg on the state championship team, but increased his scoring when it mattered most. In the regional final win against Shaker Heights, Krizancic led the team in scoring with 17 points. Conner played nearly every second of the two state tournament games and scored a total of 33 points, which was second only to Jeff Foreman. His four triples in the state final helped give Mentor a 76-67 win as well as the school's only basketball state championship. With half of the championship core gone, Krizancic took on more of the scoring his senior year in averaging 16.1 ppg and earning Second Team All-District honors. He finished just short (979 career points) of joining his big brother in the 1,000-point club. When push came to shove, Krizancic had the talent, leadership, and toughness to help both the football and basketball programs reach incredible heights. He is quite possibly the most accomplished multi-sport athlete in Mentor history. 

Coach K says, "He was solid on both ends of the floor. Conner was so tough to guard due to his size and strength. Extremely flexible on both ends of the floor. He was so consistent. One of the smartest athletes I have ever coached." 

Caleb Potter

The oldest member of the most athletic family in Mentor history, Caleb was a standout in baseball (West Virginia commit) and basketball. As part of a talented class of basketball players and athletes that included Brandon Fritts, Conner Krizancic, and Kade McClure (all earning DI college scholarships) - Caleb was as versatile and talented as any. As a sophomore, he was a key bench player on the 2012 district champs. Potter demonstrated his potential with 14 points in a regional semifinal loss to WGH. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior and averaged a team-high 15 ppg for the state championship team. Potter showed his grit most in a roller coaster 24-hour period in between the state semifinal and final. After a frustrating scoreless semifinal that saw him on the bench most of the second half, Potter bounced back and had the hot hand in the championship game. He led the team in scoring with 24 points as the program won their first state title. As a senior, Potter opened the season with a couple of 30-point games. He missed a handful of games due to an injury or he would've been another member of the 1,000-point club. Even still, Potter's senior season saw him average a team-high 19.4 ppg in leading Mentor to their seventh straight district final. 

Coach K says "A really good athlete, one of the best shooters we had. Had a great state championship game. Became very good defensively too. Baseball was number one, but he had a really great basketball career."  

Micah Potter

In terms of pure ability and potential, there has not been a bigger talent (both figuratively and literally) than the 6'10 Potter. Micah is the biggest Potter brother, sandwiched in between Caleb (all-time Mentor great basketball player and West Virginia baseball recruit) and Noah (Mentor's All-Ohio defensive end currently playing football for OSU). Potter committed to the Buckeyes for basketball shortly after his junior season at Mentor. A couple months later, Micah would leave Mentor and Ohio as he transferred to a prep school in Florida for his senior season. Without having the full potential of his entire career at Mentor, it is hard to rank him against players that did. But still, Potter's final season in Mentor was one of the more dominant single seasons in program history. As a sophomore, Potter played alongside Caleb and a few other core members of the state championship team. During the second half of the season, Micah put together a string of double-double performances that showed his potential as Mentor advanced to the district final. During his junior season, Potter was the focal point of the offense. He used his size and skills to dominate the opposition. He scored a career-high 37 points in a regular season win against Strongsville. He averaged 20 and 9 as a junior, earning Third Team All-Ohio honors. Potter's final game for Mentor was a triple double that included ten blocks. Had Potter stayed for his senior season, he would have finished higher on this list. After an impressive end to his college career at Wisconsin, Potter is playing in the G-League in hopes of making an NBA roster. 

Coach K says, "Micah had a great work ethic. He slimmed down a bit in between his sophomore and junior year. You can look at him now and see that he has made himself into being one of the most skilled big men in college." 

Chad Rogers 

A Penn State recruit for baseball, the strong and agile Rogers (6'5, 230) put together two of the most impressive offensive seasons in recent memory. He finished just short of 1,000 points in his career despite missing his sophomore season due to Tommy John surgery. Rogers was one of the best post players that Krizancic has coached at Mentor. His ability to score inside and outside helped make Mentor one of the best offensive teams in the state during his junior and senior seasons. Rogers was 2nd team All-District as a junior while averaging 16 and 8 in helping Mentor win a district title in 2019. As a senior, he was part of the most talented Mentor trio (along with Luke Floriea and Luke Chicone) since the 2010 run. Rogers led the team in scoring as a senior with 21.5 ppg to go along with averaging 8.5 rebounds. A consistent scorer, Rogers showed off his ability to take over a game with 39 points against Elyria that included a 17-point outburst in the 2nd quarter. He scored 21 points in the 2020 district final win while going up against a national top 100 player in John Hugley, a 6'10 Pitt recruit, from Brush. This came a year after Rogers scored 18 points in the district final win the season before against Hugley and Brush. Mentor won 43 games in the two seasons with Rogers in the lineup. 

Coach K says, "He came out his junior year and shocked everyone after being injured as a sophomore. He developed into a really great player, just 16 points short of 1,000 points. He had two of the best years, especially coming off Tommy John surgery. One of the best shooting bigs. I loved coaching Chad." 

Honorable Mention

Rick Martucci and Brad Gerard: Martucci and Gerard were key parts of a talented senior class that helped take the program to the next level. Martucci was one of the leading scorers (15 ppg) and rebounders on Mentor's district title team in 2000-01. The team finished with a 21-4 record with Gerard playing point guard and averaging a team-high 19 ppg. Both players were all-district selections as seniors. Martucci led the team with 23 points in the huge district final win over Glenville. This senior class began a stretch of three straight district titles, and 10 district titles over 13 seasons. 

Nick Meyer: The 2nd leading scorer (behind Zienkowski) and an All-District guard on Mentor's back-to-back district championship teams in 2002 and 2003. Meyer's biggest game of his career came in a district semifinal game against Collinwood in which Zienkowski played sparingly and eventually fouled out. Meyer put the team on his back and helped guide the Cardinals to a 62-61 win. Meyer scored 24 points, including the go-ahead free throw with 5 seconds left in the game. 

Brandon Fritts: While football was his best sport, don't sell Fritts short on the hardwood. A three-year varsity player, Fritts was a key rotation player as a sophomore on the 2012 district champs led by older brother Justin. He was one of the team's best rebounders and a key part of the full-court defensive pressure that made Mentor so dangerous. Fritts missed the first month of his junior season due to a football injury, but still averaged 12 and 8 as a starter on the 2013 state championship team. Fritts, the most accomplished receiver in Mentor football history, didn't play basketball his senior year due to graduating early to enroll for spring ball at UNC. Had he stayed and played, Fritts' basketball career would've been even more special.

Brody Nelson, Michael Gallagher, Kade McClure: These were three key members of the 2013 state championship team. Nelson, part of the starting five, was the team's defensive stopper and a double-digit scorer. His 17 points against previously undefeated Columbus Northland in the state semifinal was instrumental in the championship run. Gallagher was an infectious energy player that came off the bench to provide defense and timely shooting. McClure, a mismatch as a 6'7 athlete with the skills of a guard, is now pitching for the White Sox organization. McClure provided incredible depth off the bench as a junior before averaging 14.5 ppg as a senior starter in the 2013-14 season.

Jack Korsok: After showing some scoring potential as a junior, Korsok stepped it up and put together an incredible senior season. He averaged 21.3 points and 5.7 rebounds a game and was named to Third Team All-Ohio. His regular season was highlighted by a record-setting 10 three-pointers in a 44-point game against Euclid and then later a memorable showdown with NEO legend Michael Bothwell. Bothwell, a DI recruit at Furman, was a three-time All-Ohio guard at Cornerstone Christian Academy (2016 DIV state champs). Korsok matched him shot for shot in scoring a team-high 35 points to help give Mentor a dramatic 92-90 victory to close the regular season. His 37 points in the district semifinal against Glenville and then 18 points in an 84-61 win over Solon in the district final helped give Mentor their first district title in four years.

Jonah Waag and Steven Key: These two guards transferred into Mentor for their senior seasons in 2020-21. They worked alongside Luke Chicone to form one of the most talented trios in the state. Waag and Key were instrumental parts of Mentor's record-setting 19-0 perfect regular season and Final Four appearance. The Cards finished #1 in the final AP poll, a first in program history. Waag was Second Team All-District and Key was Third Team. While they didn't have the lengthy career impact that the others did, they will forever be integral parts of the special 2021 run. 

**Thanks to media outlets such as the News-Herald, Cleveland.com, and the OHSAA for providing the additional research I needed to complete the details/stats of each caption. 

Opponent Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

Week 10

Who: Elyria Pioneers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

When: October 30th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Devlin Culliver (2nd season at Elyria, )

History: Mentor and Elyria were in the LEL together in the late 90's and early 2000's. After a 13 year absence of playing, the two met up as GCC members in 2015. Elyria beat Mentor at home (27-24) that season. The Cards won the past four games against the Pioneers, averaging almost 60 points per game. 

Looking Back...
Nearly five years removed from one of the biggest wins in program history, Elyria has been on a down spiral ever since. After making the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2013-2015, Elyria has fallen on hard times. The Pioneers are just 5-36 since that Week 10 win over Mentor in 2015. Last season's game at the beautiful new Ely Stadium was over by the end of the 1st quarter. Mentor jumped out a 35-0 lead after 12 minutes before eventually winning 73-0. It was legendary coach Steve Trivisonno's 200th career win. Elyria ended a 15-game losing streak with last season's win was against Bedford, but it was their only win of the season. They surrendered 55+ points in five consecutive games during the middle of a eight-game losing streak. The last thing Elyria wants to do is look back at 2019. 

Schedule...
The Pioneers begin the season with Midview (5-5 in 2019), Bedford (5-5), and Lorain (6-4). This is the identical non-conference schedule they had last season. Last season Elyria beat Bedford, 7-6. With Shaker leaving the GCC for the LEL, Elyria filled that open date with Avon Lake. The Shoremen were one of the better teams in DII last season, making it to the regional final. The GCC is as good of a league as there is in Division I, so expect Elyria to have their hands full once again. Last season's closest GCC game was a 20 point loss to the now-departed Shaker Heights. The Pioneers have finished at the bottom of the league the past four seasons. The most likely opportunity for a win will be in the first two games of the season. 

2020 Elyria Outlook...
Elyria averaged just 9 points per game in the first half of the schedule before averaging 26.2 points over the final five. This included a 50-point explosion in a Week 7 loss to Shaker. Did the offense find something late season that could translate to 2020? The good news is that a lot of experienced players on offense do return. QB Daylan Sharlow, now a senior, began getting some starts as a sophomore in 2018. Receivers Jesse Stevens and Andrew Palos return. Jaheim Atkinson is a talented back that had several 100+ yard rushing games a season ago. Like Sharlow and Stephens, he will be entering his third season as a starter. Up front, four offensive lineman return after starting in 2019. Simon France (6'3, 265) is a big left tackle that is getting some college looks. Offensively, Elyria should see a lot of improvement. Atkinson is the player to watch out for, but overall this should be a group capable of scoring a lot more than they did last season. 

Defensively, the team has a lot of room for improvement after giving up an average of 45.3 ppg in 2019. Their top defensive player (1st team All-District LB Ben Doehr) has graduated. This team might be able to score, but they will need to improve a lot on defense if they are to be competitive with this schedule. Culliver is only in his second year as coach of Elyria after a few stints at area schools like Shaw, Harvey, and Maple Heights. This will be the last year that Elyria is in the GCC as they are moving to the Southwestern Conference in the fall of 2021. 

Opponent Preview: Euclid (Week 9)

Week 9

Who: Euclid Panthers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Euclid Community Stadium

When: October 23rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jeff Rotsky (6th season at Euclid, 44-16 record)

History: Mentor and Euclid have been on each other's schedules for many years whether it was in conference or out of conference. The Cardinals have a 26-17 record in the overall series. Since the two joined the GCC together in 2015, Mentor has won four of five. 

Looking Back...
The Panthers finished 8-2 in the regular season, including three wins over eventual playoff teams (Glenville, Canton McKinley, and Medina). Mentor shutout Euclid in Week 9 last season, 45-0. After a home playoff win in Week 11 against Jackson, Euclid lost to St Edward in the regional semifinal. Rotsky has brought the program back into relevance with five playoff wins since 2015. The continued thorn in their side would be St Ignatius and St Edward. The Panthers are 0-7 against those two since 2015, including losing all five playoff games. Key graduated starters from last season include QB Dion Valentine, lineman John Brown, and 1st team All-District RB Jaabir Mujihad. 

Schedule...
Euclid has a schedule with few holes as only one opponent had a losing record in 2019. Seven teams on their schedule made the playoffs last season. The non-conference portion is highlighted by state juggernaut St Edward, the team that knocked Euclid out of the playoffs four of the past five seasons. Playoff teams Cleveland Heights, Glenville, and Benedictine make up the rest of the non-conference schedule. The league will be crowded at the top with four returning playoff teams that bring back many key players. Solon, Medina, and Mentor will all be huge games for Euclid. Since the formation of the GCC in 2015, Euclid has beaten either Mentor or Solon in all but one year. Winning at least one of those games puts the Panthers in great playoff positioning as well as giving themselves a chance to win at least a share of the league title. Euclid is 19-1 against the rest of the league (Strongsville, Medina, Elyria, and Brunswick) over the past five seasons. From top to bottom, this is one of the most difficult schedules in Ohio. 

2020 Euclid Outlook...
On offense, Euclid brings back plenty of punch. Nobody in the league will have the kind of talent they do at the skill positions. Primarily a running team, Euclid's backs rushed for well over 2,000 yards a season ago. While the now-graduated Mujihad was the lead back, Atiba Fitz (Air Force commit) and Savion Jones combined for over 1,000 rushing yards in 2019. Fitz/Jones will likely be sharing carries as Euclid looks to control the clock. The Panthers will have one of the top receiving duos in the state. Senior receiver Armond Scott (6'3, 200) is ranked as high as the #16 prospect in the state. He committed to Kentucky this summer after a season in which he posted 40 catches for over 700 yards and 15 TD's. Junior Claishon Ivory made a big impact last season as he earned 2nd Team All-District honors with 37 catches for 684 yards and 9 TD's. Ivory has also been offered by Kentucky. Lineman Herman Taylor (6'4, 280) returns after earning 2nd Team All-District last season as well. One glaring hole for the Panthers will be at QB as they look to replace two-year starter Dion Valentine. His replacement does have the luxury of a variety of talented weapons. 

Defensively, the Panthers gave up 45 and 47 points in losses to Mentor and St Edward. That side of the ball will have to improve if they want to make some noise in the region. Alex Reese (6'4, 280) is a big returning defensive lineman that should be a major impact player for the Panthers. Reese committed to Akron this summer. LB Andre Tillman is a three-year starter and will be one of the defensive leaders. Fitz/Jones started on defense last year in addition to their offensive production. Senior DB Cam Smith (Eastern Michigan commit) is a top returning talent in the secondary. Senior safety Michael Gravely Jr. (Michigan State commit) transferred from Glenville recently and is sure to make a big impact for the Panthers on defense. 

Before Rotsky came, Euclid hadn't won a playoff game since 1993. Since his arrival, he has guided the Panthers to five playoff wins as they have made the postseason every year. Euclid has done very well in the league and there is no reason for that to change in 2020. If they can overcome a grueling schedule with at least 6 or 7 wins, this will be a battle-tested team come playoff time. Expect a 6th straight playoff appearance as Euclid looks to compete for the top of the league and Region 1. 

Next Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 7)

Week 7

Who: Brunswick Blue Devils (6-4 in 2019)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium

When: October 9th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Mark Pinzone (4th season at Brunswick, 12-18 record)

History: Mentor has won ten in a row (including a playoff win in 2014) over Brunswick since the two joined the same league in 2010. One of the biggest games in the history of both programs was a state semifinal matchup in 2007. Mentor defeated Brunswick, 39-14, and went on to their second straight DI state championship game. 

Looking Back...

From 1995-2009, Brunswick had 12 playoff appearances under legendary coach Rich Nowak that included multiple league championships and two regional titles. The last decade was a step back with only two playoff appearances (and zero playoff wins) in the past ten seasons. However, Pinzone helped guide the Blue Devils to a surprisingly winning season in 2019. After starting the season 3-0 in non-conference, the Blue Devils went 3-4 in GCC play. Their two best wins of the season were against Lorain and Strongsville. The Blue Devils showed a competitive punch even in losses to playoff teams like Solon (33-29) and Medina. With a playoff berth on the line, Brunswick came up short 45-35 against Medina in Week 10. Lineman Eddie Sevastos and Mike Grzybowski are among the graduated seniors that helped the Blue Devils achieve their 2019 success. In last year's game at Mentor, Brunswick was shutout 45-0. 

Schedule...

In non-conference, Brunswick brings back two of their opponents from 2019 and adds two new opponents. Returning on the schedule are Lorain (6-4 in 2019) and North Royalton (4-6). Brunswick beat both of those teams last season. New to the schedule are Highland (4-6 in 2019) and Olmsted Falls, a 7-3 playoff team a season ago. At a minimum, Brunswick will need at least three non-league wins to put themselves in contention for a winning record again. The top of the league (Mentor, Solon, and Euclid) remains a daunting challenge for the Blue Devils. Since 2013, Brunswick is just 1-19 against the Big Three of the GCC. The games against Strongsville and Elyria are must-win games if they are to continue to build on 2019's winning season. The Week 10 showdown with county rival Medina could end up being another season-defining game.

2020 Brunswick Outlook...

Brunswick had three all-league players a season ago. All three are coming back to lead the 2020 charge. Twins Jake and Kyle Scherette and lineman Tomas Rimac are sure to be three of the better players in the GCC once more. Jake, a QB, is entering his third season running the offense. In his two previous years, Jake has been used as a runner even more than a passer. The Blue Devils like to run the ball, and they also bring back last year's starting RB Nick Vadini. The offensive line returns a few starters, led by Rimac. The 6'6, 280-pound senior chose West Virginia over several other college offers. With talent and experience running behind a line keyed by Rimac, the running game should be one of the strengths for the Blue Devils. 

Defensively, the Blue Devils are led by some two-way players like DE Tomas Rimac and LB Kyle Scherette. Rimac is being recruited for his offensive game, but he is a difference-maker on defense too. Scherette was 1st team All-District on defense in 2019. He is joined in the middle by returning starting LB's Kyle Haber and Quintyn McKinely. Expect linebacker to be a position of strength. Brunswick has a strong and deep senior class that should put the team in a lot of competitive and winnable games. If their experience can guide them to a strong start out of the gate, expect the Blue Devils to once again be in the mix to return to the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the league is incredibly deep and they will need to get a win against one of the top teams in order to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. 


Next Preview: Berea (Week 8)

Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 6)

Week 6

Who: Strongsville Mustangs (5-5 in 2019)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

When: October 2nd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Lou Cirino (4th year at Strongsville, 64-41 overall coaching record)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 13-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch). Mentor beat the Mustangs last season, 56-21. 

Looking Back…

After surrendering a total of 21 points in their previous six league games, Strongsville matched that number in Week 10 against the Cardinals. Still, Mentor did score 8 touchdowns in a comfortable victory. The Mustangs started the season 4-0 before dropping five of their final six games to finish the season at 5-5. They had two big wins in non-conference play against Hudson and Brecksville. Both of those teams made the playoffs in Division II. Back to back one score losses to Brunswick and Euclid in Weeks 5 and 6 proved to be the difference between making the playoffs or not in a very deep Region 1 field. Under Cirino, the Mustangs haven't had a losing season. All-District graduates include RB Garret Clark, DE Andrew Keating, and DT Ryan Seefeldt. 

Schedule…

The Mustangs' nonleague schedule kept all three opponents they had last season (Berea-Midpark, Hudson, and Brecksville). To fill for the departed Shaker Heights, they added Midview. Strongsville went 3-0 in non-conference games last season. Berea-Midpark (4-6 in 2019) is a team Strongsville has beaten the past few seasons. Hudson and Brecksville are coming off playoff seasons, so those games should present a challenge. After a strong run of making the playoffs five times in six seasons from 2012-2017, the Middies (5-5 in 2019) have failed to make the postseason since. This is a manageable non-conference schedule for the Mustangs that includes three DII teams. If they want to contend for a playoff spot, it is critical to win all of those games. In the league, Strongsville has been about a .500 team in GCC play (10-11 record) since Cirino took over. Most of those losses came at the hands of Mentor, Euclid, and Solon. Since 2009, the Mustangs are 0-30 against the Big Three of the GCC. Until Strongsville can find a way to win at least one of those games, there is incredibly small margin for error to make the playoffs. The games that will make or break their season are their longtime conference foes, Medina and Brunswick. 

2020 Strongsville Outlook…

If you see Strongsville this season, the first player that will stand out will be junior OL Blake Miller (6'6, 300). The tackle has offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Florida, and many others. Despite bringing back one of their most coveted recruits in years, the Mustangs graduated most of their starters on offense. Senior Ryan Kahn will be given the opportunity to be the starting back after gaining some experience last year behind 1st team All-District RB Garret Clark. QB Maddux Beard got some starts last season as a sophomore, so expect his growth to be an important part of the team's success. Beard is a dual threat QB that showed a lot of ability to run the football last season. 

Defensively, the secondary looks to be a strength with a few returning starters that include corners Shane Slokar and Kyle Patrick. Kahn played safety last season, so it is possible to see him play on both sides of the ball. LB Jack Stephenson and DT Garrett Manney return on defense after strong 2019 seasons. Miller played some defensive line in the past, but it remains to be seen if he will be utilized on defense this season. Look for this team's success to be built on defense and the running game. If they can get out of the gate with a few wins like they did in 2019, that will go a long way as they hope to keep moving forward toward building a consistently winning program. 

Next: Brunswick (Week 7)