YOUNGSTOWN OH- Both teams came into the game with 12 wins in the regular season. However, as they say, once the tournament starts, throw the records out and instead, it’s either you are one and 0 and get another opportunity, but if you lose, no second chances as the fifth seeded Ursuline Irish who had a bye hosted the 10th seeded Canfield Cardinals who were coming off of a big win against 23rd seeded Ravenna

First Half

The first half saw the Irish get up to a seven nothing run really early with buckets from Terrance Pankey who was in concussion protocol just a week ago, Will Burney and Brady Shannon. However, Canfield would come with their own power in the first from Jake Grdic who scored 10 points as it was 20-19 at the end of the first.

In the second, the Cardinals would find that momentum as Ursuline struggled with the turnovers. Canfield was led by Trey Dye who looked like another Trey in Trae Young shooting dimes and making good fundamental moves. Dye last week did not play in the second half due to his back, but played through this game even with a sore back. Meanwhile for the Irish, they would only have a high of two points from Jakylan Irving along with Pankey and Geno Lucente. At the half, the Cardinals were pulling away up 40-26.

Second half

The second half would not get any better for Ursuline. Irving once again led the Irish and got some assistance from DeMarcus McElroy who had a two point field goal along with two made free throws. Nick Pantelakis and Dye once again led the pack of cardinals who kept on flying away with the lead, stealing Ursuline’s lucky charms. Ursuline would get some seniors in Tyler Beck who hit that same corner three against East and Zack Pipala as they would get some last minutes in with their career at Ursuline ticking away.

In the end, even with the Irish cutting the lead thanks to eight points in the fourth from Shannon, it was Canfield, the tenth seeded Cardinals doing the unthinkable and getting the 80-68 victory eliminating the Irish from the OHSAA Division II NorthEast district one Tournament. Keith Gunther’s team is already looking towards 2021-22.

Ursuline Stats

DeMarcus McElory 10pts

Will Burney 3pts

Tyler Beck 4pts

Jakylan Irving 13pts

Geno Lucente 2pts

Vince Flauto 3pts

Jaden Payne 5pts

Terrance Pankey 10pts

Brady Shannon 18pts

Canfield Stats

Ryan Petro 6pts

Nick Pantelakis 12pts

Trey Dye 33pts

Chase Lowry 5pts

Jake Grudic 16pts

Martine Escobar 4pts

Jake Schneider 4pts

Up Next

10th seeded Canfield (12-9, 2-0 in playoffs) will face off against 14th seeded Chardon (10-9, 2-0 in playoffs) who just shocked the basketball world in Ohio upsetting Perry 79-66. Game will be on March 4th at 7pm from Canfield.

*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*