A reigning Final Four squad from last season is off to a 2-0 start, though it didn’t come without an early test in its second outing.
Kirtland trailed 8-6 midway through the opening quarter before closing the frame on a decisive 15-2 run to take a 21-10 lead after one, setting the tone for a 71-45 Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division win at Crestwood on Wednesday.
“(Angelo DiNardo) is a load to handle, and it took a minute for our big guys to match his physicality, but once we got a body on him, rebounded better, and got out in transition, we went on a run,” said Kirtland head coach Shawn McGregor. “They play physical, play hard, but once we forced some turnovers, we got some easy points in transition.”
Wyatt Januska and Colton Mayle knocked down early 3-pointers to give Crestwood its 8-6 advantage, but Sammy Ridgeway answered with two triples of his own. Lucas Renfro and Mike Dumstorff added four points apiece during Kirtland’s closing surge to cap the first-quarter run.
Renfro kept the momentum rolling in the second quarter, pouring in 12 points in the frame as the Hornets extended their lead to 44-21 by halftime.
The second half was more of the same. Renfro opened the third quarter with a step-back 3-pointer and followed it with a score on a post spin move. Ridgeway added a pair of baskets, as did Ben DiFranco, as Kirtland stretched the margin to 67-30 after three on its way to the 26-point win.
Despite losing a 1,000-point scorer and four-year contributor from last year’s state semifinal run, the Hornets’ offense hasn’t missed a beat early this season.
“We’re very skilled on the offensive end,” McGregor said. “Sammy is a very skilled player who’s learned under Vince (Carriero) for two years. He’s been ready and waiting for his moment. He’s a coach’s kid, he knows what it takes to be good, and nobody works harder than him. He deserves everything he gets. Then we got complements from Ben, Mike, AJ (Runyan), and, obviously, Lucas. It’s just a bunch of guys that can put the ball in the rim, and we have guys that can do a lot of good things.”
With 20 regular-season games still ahead and another CVC title the immediate goal, Kirtland’s sights remain set on playing deep into March.
“These guys are really focused. They have goals and standards they’ve set for themselves, and they’re living up to them,” McGregor said. “Practice is so much fun every day; they work their tails off and compete daily. I can’t ask much more out of a group of guys that’s focused and ready to roll.”
Renfro finished with a game-high 23 points, while Ridgeway added 14 on 5-of-7 shooting. DiFranco and Dumstorff chipped in six points apiece and combined for 14 rebounds. Nick Nead and Jared Cottrell scored five points each.
Crestwood was led by Jackson Mertz and Mayle with nine points apiece. Januska, DiNardo, and Jack Patton each finished with seven.
Kirtland (2-0) hosts Chagrin Falls on Dec. 20, while Crestwood (0-2) travels to Wickliffe on Dec. 23.
