Cleveland regional semfinal top performers
As we’ve all come to learn, all state high school postseason events in Ohio have been postponed indefinitely according to OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass due to the outbreak of the coronavirus that has spread across the United States. With…
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Continue ReadingAs we’ve all come to learn, all state high school postseason events in Ohio have been postponed indefinitely according to OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass due to the outbreak of the coronavirus that has spread across the United States. With that in mind, there might not be any more basketball games played this year. I covered the Cleveland regional semifinal matchups Wednesday night featuring Shaker Heights vs Canton McKinley and Mentor vs Medina.
In game one, Shaker Heights defeated Canton McKinley 83-71. Game two was the third meeting between Mentor and Medina and in the end, Mentor came away with the 76-72 win. Here are some of the top performers from Wednesday night’s action.
Standouts
Shaker Heights vs Canton McKinley
Dakota Cochran Dakota Cochran 6'2" | SG Shaker Heights | 2020 OH , Shaker Heights
Very active on the ball early on, it was Dakota Cochran Dakota Cochran 6'2" | SG Shaker Heights | 2020 OH ‘s playmaking ability that lead Shaker Heights to a 20-point first-half lead. The senior guard had 15 points in the first half, including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to head into halftime with a commanding 41-21 lead. One aspect of his game that may be a bit underrated is his defense, as he was able to force a number of turnovers along with a few monster blocks that halted scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs. Chochran ended with a game-high 28 points and played one of the best games of the season Wednesday night.
Eric Mudd Eric Mudd 6'5" | C Shaker Heights | 2020 State OH , Shaker Heights
Eric Mudd Eric Mudd 6'5" | C Shaker Heights | 2020 State OH couldn’t be stopped on the glass all night. In fact, on one possession in the second quarter, Mudd was able to keep Shaker with possession of the ball after grabbing three offensive rebounds, which later resulted in a score for the Red Raiders. He’s very physical near the rim and is tough to slow down as he is always chasing for the next rebound. Mudd has a very soft touch going for putback opportunities and his strength is almost unmatched inside the paint.
Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'4" | SG Canton McKinley | 2021 State #233 Nation OH , Canton McKinley
Limited to just six points in the first half, Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'4" | SG Canton McKinley | 2021 State #233 Nation OH fought through a face-guard the whole night. That slowed him down a bit in the open court but was effective when he got the ball near the rim. Has good court vision and knows when to make the extra pass when driving to the basket for an easy bucket. Johnson finished with a team-high 20 points and six rebounds during the loss.
Danny Young Jr Danny Young Jr 6'2" | CG Shaker Heights | 2022 State OH , Shaker Heights
The sophomore stepped up big in the regional semifinal against Canton McKinley. He poured in 21 points for the Red Raiders and was the beneficiary to a fourth-quarter lead that had him consistently at the free-throw line. In fact, he finished the game going 14-16 from the free-throw line, eventually putting the game out of reach for the Bulldogs. Young was not afraid to attack the basket whenever he had the opportunity and he’s improved his basketball IQ throughout the year. He knows how to handle pressure well and has shown immense growth as a sophomore.
Mentor vs Medina
Luke Chicone Luke Chicone 5'9" | PG Mentor | 2021 State OH , Mentor
When Mentor needed a bucket, there was Luke Chicone Luke Chicone 5'9" | PG Mentor | 2021 State OH . Everytime he wanted to get near the rim for a layup, it seemed like he did that and his ability to fight through contact despite being a bit undersized doesn’t seem to faze him. The junior was electric, finishing with a game-high 39 points, including a game-sealing steal on Medina’s Kyle Szumski Kyle Szumski 6'2" | SG Medina | 2020 State OH with five seconds left to play. Chicone has a shot at turning more heads next year, making him a Mr. Basketball candidate for his senior season.
Kyle Szumski Kyle Szumski 6'2" | SG Medina | 2020 State OH , Medina
Despite scoring just four points in the first half, senior guard Kyle Szumski Kyle Szumski 6'2" | SG Medina | 2020 State OH was able to keep his team within striking distance in the second half after pouring in 25 points in the second half and both overtimes despite the losing effort. A floor general, Szumski was able to score most of his points near the rim, getting to the basket often due to his game-changing speed and elite ball handling.
Corey Tripp Corey Tripp 6'3" | PG Medina | 2021 State OH , Medina
The other guard that shined bright was rising junior Corey Tripp Corey Tripp 6'3" | PG Medina | 2021 State OH . He was able to use his size to his advantage, forcing his way to easy buckets throughout the second half. He ended the night with 24 points, shooting 10-11 from the free-throw line as well. Tripp scored the tying basket at the end of the fourth quarter to force overtime and has a nice touch shooting the ball, despite both teams struggling from three for most of the game. After the game, Tripp received an offer from Cleveland State University.