ORWELL–Grand Valley used a 20-13 fourth-quarter run to down visiting Cuyahoga Heights, 57-44, in a Division VI district semifinal on Tuesday.
The Mustang advanced to their first-ever district title game with the win over the Red Wolves.
“It’s special for sure,” said Grand Valley head coach Justin Turk. “Especially for most of these guys, I’ve coached them in third, fourth, and fifth-grade basketball. It’s great to see them reaping all the benefits of the hard work they’ve put in. It’s special being able to do it with Carter, he puts a lot of time in.”
Braden Hart opened the game with a 3-pointer, and then Carter Turk put together a seven-point opening frame for a 10-7 lead after one. Maurice McClardy scored all seven of Cuyahoga Heights’ points.
Hart knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, while Solly Schultz also found the range to give the Mustangs a 23-14 lead at the break.
The Red Wolves worked back into the game thanks to nine McClardy points, and Brody Boyert got rolling with six points and a 17-13 run in the third.
Turk paced Grand Valley with seven points in the third before he capped off a 30-point night with 14 fourth-quarter points to send his team to a district title game.
Grand Valley’s adjustments to Cuyahoga Heights’ 1-2-2 zone allowed Turk the space he needed to sink 21 second-half points.
“We were hoping if we got the lead they would go to the 1-2-2, and we knew we could get baskets running right at the rim,” Turk said of the gameplan. “Thankfully, we got the early lead and played with it, and then knew we could spread it out and find openings (in the zone).”
Grand Valley boasts a young roster that handled the playoff atmosphere well against a good defense, and will now have to do it against Dalton at Salem this weekend.
“It was important to have a quality record to get ranked where we were, and get multiple home (playoff) games,” Coach Turk said. “I don’t think the guys realize the magnitude of a district semifinal game when you’re not at a neutral site. We’ve been on our home game, where we’ve won a lot of games. It was just another game in their minds. We just have to make sure our guys are ready to go and put them in the right spots to be successful. It is new (to be at a neutral site), but that’s the joys of playing high school basketball.”
Turk paced all scorers with 30 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field while going 11-of-15 from the free-throw line.
Hart knocked down three 3-pointers on his way to 14 points, and Payton Plizga added seven.
Cuyahoga Heights finished its season with a 16-8 record and sent off seven seniors.
“I’m proud of their basketball accomplishments this season,” said Cuyahoga Heights head coach Michael Tartara. “I didn’t know what to expect with losing two seniors who went to the college level in Braylan (McClardy) and Cade (Davies). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but everybody played their role so well, and they were competitive. What I’m most proud of is the relationships we’ve developed. Those seniors, I care for them so much.”
The Red Wolves bring back McClardy, who is their top offensive threat, for his senior season.
“Maurice does so many things for us to the point where it’s almost unfair to him,” Tartara said of his soon-to-be senior. “It’s a blessing to get anyone in the McClardy family back. We had Braylan back all four years, and now we get Maurice back for his senior year. I expect great things, and he’ll put a lot of work in like he always does. We’ll see what happens.”
McClardy paced Cuyahoga Heights with 22 points, while Boyert pitched in with 11, and Zach Unger finished with eight.
Grand Valley advanced to play Dalton in a Division VI district championship at Salem High School on March 1.
