Xavier Perez and Tate Yonker both scored in double figures to lead Chagrin Falls past visiting Orange on Tuesday, 49-38.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.
“We had to grind this one out tonight,” said Chagrin Falls coach Dave Bargar. “We played well throughout most of the game but weren’t able to stretch out any sort of comfortable lead, but we will take the win heading into Hawken on Friday.”
Perez led the Tigers with 18 points and he also recorded four steals and three assists. Yonker contributed with 13 points, two steals and three assists, and Jack Stauffer added eight points and six rebounds in the win.
“I thought we did a much better job tonight with our man-to-man offense,” Bargar said. “We moved the ball and hit a lot of cutters. When Orange went zone in the second half, I thought we got some really good looks but didn’t convert. Overall, however, I was pleased that we got back to doing what we do best.
Chagrin Falls turned to a 1-3-1 defense to pressure the Orange’s ball handlers.
“We haven’t used our 1-3-1 defense much this year but tonight it gave us a spark defensively,” Bargar said. “Orange does a really nice job staying patient and waiting for you to make a mistake so we wanted to pick up the pace a little on defense.”
Chagrin Falls travels to Hawken on Friday while Orange hosts Beachwood.
