HOBAN SURVIVES A STRONGSVILLE SURGE

By Ty Bartell 

ELYRIA, Ohio — In a thrilling clash at Elyria Catholic High School, the Archbishop Hoban Knights boys basketball team held off the Strongsville Mustangs’ fierce comeback attempt to secure a nail-biting 55-54 victory in the division 1, northeast 5 district semifinal.
The matchup unfolded with both teams exchanging momentum-shifting shots in a tightly contested opening quarter. Despite spirited efforts from both sides, neither team managed to gain a decisive advantage, resulting in a deadlock at 13-13 by the end of the first period.

However, the second quarter saw a decisive surge from the Knights, who capitalized on stellar defensive plays by Kenny Scott and Sam Greer to ignite their transition offense. Behind a 17-6 run, Hoban surged ahead to claim a 30-19 lead heading into halftime.
Following the break, the game mirrored the intensity of the first quarter, with both teams trading baskets throughout the third quarter. Despite Strongsville’s efforts to chip away at the deficit, Hoban maintained control, entering the final quarter with a 41-30 lead.
In a dramatic fourth quarter, the Mustangs launched a spirited comeback bid, employing a pressing defense to force turnovers and converting crucial 3-pointers on offense. Despite narrowing the margin to a single point, Strongsville fell short as time expired, allowing Hoban to escape with the narrow 55-54 win.
Kenny Scott earned the title of Player of the Game for Hoban, showcasing his offensive prowess with 13 points while also making significant contributions on the defensive end with his active

hands. Leading the Knights in scoring was Jonas Nichols with 15 points, supported by Sam Greer’s 11 points primarily in the post.

On the opposing side, Josh Byers led the Mustangs with an impressive 24-point performance, followed by Ryan Byers with 11 points.

With the victory, #12 Archbishop Hoban (17-7) advances to the division 1, region 1, northeast 5 district final, where they will face #2 Brecksville-Broadview Heights (20-4) on Saturday, March 9th at Elyria Catholic High School, with a 2 p.m. tip-off.
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