KIRTLAND—Crestwood rallied back from a double-digit deficit to knock off host Kirtland on Friday, 67-64.
With the win, the Red Devils improved to 15-2 overall and 9-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division. The victory also clinched Crestwood’s first conference title since joining the CVC in 2020.
“I’m actually speechless, to be honest with you,” said Crestwood coach Josh Jakacki. “I think about what the kids went through the last two years, all the games we were in last year, and the fact that they stayed connected to one another, they believed, they stayed coachable, it just speaks volumes to their character and their toughness.”
Crestwood’s ascent to the top of the Valley Division is even more remarkable when looking at the lack of success the Red Devils have had since joining the CVC.
They were 1-9 in league play last winter, 0-15 in 2021-2022, and 4-3 in 2020-2021.
“We’re actually a year ahead of schedule,” Jakacki said. “We knew we’d be pretty darn good, but we didn’t know we’d be this good. To come over here tonight and do that after we got down, and they punched us and punched us and punched us but they couldn’t knock us out.”
Kirtland had an upset on its mind from the jump.
Nick Barisic and Vince Carriero both hit first-quarter 3-pointers as the Hornets jumped out to an early 20-10 lead.
Crestwood cut its deficit to 24-17 heading into the second quarter then outscored the Hornets in the second, 12-10, as they headed into the locker room at halftime trailing 34-29.
“Our kids stayed connected enough to where we were able to make some plays to keep it close,” Jakacki said. “I told the kids at halftime being down by five was a gift because we could have been down a lot worse. We just kept fighting and fighting and fighting, and then a fighter’s will in the third quarter. They came out and they believed, and they just wanted it. You could see our kids were hungry for this moment.”
Crestwood’s second-half rally started when Dekota Johnson found his stroke.
Limited to just two field goals and a free throw in the first half, Johnson scored seven in both the third and fourth quarters to finish tied with Kirtland’s Vince Carriero with a game-high 19 points.
Johnson’s 3-pointer with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter gave the Red Devils their first lead of the game.
Crestwood took a 48-45 lead into the back-and-forth fourth quarter.
The Red Devils scored the first three points of the fourth quarter but the Hornets kept pace with Crestwood and tied the game at 59-59 on a Carriero steal and layup with 3:04 left in the game.
Crestwood made the key plays down the stretch to hold off the Hornets and seal its first CVC title.
James Durham and Brody Durham also scored in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Steven Lincoln drained three 3-pointers to finish with nine, and Augie and Charlie Schweikert both contributed to the win with seven points each.
“We played tough,” Jakacki said. “We limited (Kirtland’s) second-chance opportunities and I thought Auggie was phenomenal. In the second half, Brody Durham made some huge plays. Dekota Johnson hit some huge shots. I know they tried to take Chuck (Schweikert) away, but he hit a bucket or two there, and James Durham, what can you say about him? I know he had a double-double. He was a man amongst boys out there and really stepped up in the moment. For these kids to have this moment, I’m so incredibly proud, and we still have a lot to play for.”
Carriero led Kirtland with 19 points, Gino Blasini and Barisic both scored 15, Aiden Hurd scored seven, and Will Sayle and Jack Green both finished with four.
With the loss, the Hornets dropped to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in league play.
“It was a heavyweight fight,” said Kirtland coach Shawn McGregor. “We came out and threw the first punch and they did a great job of responding. They’re really talented. Their guards can make plays off the bounce, and their big guys finished around the rim. They shot the ball really well. If we played 10 times, it might be 5-5, but they just happened to get the better of us tonight.”
