Matt Krulc drained three 3-pointers and Brandon Samsa scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter as Kirtland came from behind to defeat visiting Cardinal on Friday.
The Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division rivals battled to a 14-14 draw in the first quarter but the visiting Huskies outscored the Hornets, 32-24, in the next two quarters to build a 46-38 lead heading into the final eight minutes of play.
“Matt Krulc’s energy defensively was superb and he hit three big 3s down the stretch to help us win,” said Kirtland coach Nick Gallo. “He is really doing a great job giving us a lift off the bench.”
Samsa scored four first quarter points then went quiet until the fourth. He started his run with a 3-pointer then converted on 7-of-8 free throw tries.
“Brandon Samsa was much more in attack mode tonight,” Gallo said. “The more he continues to be that way, the better we will be.”
Krulc finished with 12 points and Seann McGill also finished in double figures with 11. Dominic Capretta and Dawson Cosgrove pitched in with nine and eight, respectively.
Robbie Bruncak and Robbie Mulh both scored a game-high 16 points for the Huskies while Parker Kosh added 10.
Kirtland 62, Cardinals 56
Cardinal: Bruncak 16, Mulh 16, Kosh 10, Cummins 5
Kirtland (9-5, 7-4): Mueller 2, Samsa 14, Fulco 6, Krulc 12, McGill 11, Capretta 9, Cosgrove 8
Cardinal 14 15 17 10 — 56
Kirtland 14 10 14 24 — 62
Free throws: Cardinal 5 of 9, Kirtland 12 of 16; 3-pointers: Cardinal 5 (Bruncak 3, Kosh 2), Kirtland 8 (Samsa 2, Capretta 2, McGill 2, Cosgrove 2, Krulc 3);
