CHESTERLAND—West Geauga pounded visiting Cardinal on Friday, 61-24, to record its first season-opening victory in five years.
“We talked about last year and all the things we were able to do, win a playoff game, and beat Chagrin for the first time in five years,” said West Geauga coach Micah Young. “This was another thing we didn’t do last year, so we really wanted to get this one; break that spell.”
How far have the Wolverines come in just one season?
Last year, Cardinal defeated the Wolverines, 64-61.
West Geauga controlled the game from the opening tip.
The Wolverines jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead; the same way Cardinal took a big lead on them last season.
“We talked about doing the same thing they did to us last year,” Young said. “Our guys came out, played super hard, and competed.”
Andrew Marino opened the game with an and-one to start his 11-point performance.
The Wolverines began the second half on fire as Landon Lear scored 11 of his 13 points in the third, knocking down a pair of triples in the process.
“We have multiple guys that can score, and we didn’t really have that last year,” Young said.
As good as West Geauga’s offense was, its defense was equally impressive in limiting Cardinal’s lone returning starter Troy Domen to just 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
“We had a great defensive effort and a total team effort,” Young said.
Despite the win, West Geauga still has some aspects of its game to tweak as the season progresses.
“I thought defensively was a good overall effort, but our principles still aren’t great,” Young said. “We just gotta’ get better at our defensive principles, and offensively, the shots will fall.”
Lear led the Wolverines with his 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Marino and Baylan Semplak each pitched in with 11 points, and Colin Whiting scored 10.
Landon Gallagher and Blake Strever each scored five points for the Huskies.
The Wolverines return to action on Dec. 5 when they travel to Kenston while Cardinal will look to bounce back when it hosts Geneva on Dec. 6.
