NILES PUTS AWAY THE WILDCATS

NILES OH- One point in the game, you’re nearly up by 30 points with the momentum on your side.  Then next thing you know, a scare happens and your opponent comes soaring back.  That is what happened in this Northeastern 8 classic rivalry at the Veterans Memorial Gymnasium between the Niles McKinley Red Dragons and the Struthers Wildcats.  The first half was all Niles making shot after shot, barely missing a beat while Struthers could not score on offense nor make a defensive stop.  What helped too was the technical fouls on Struthers that led to Sam Perrone free throws.  

However the second half was a different story.  Niles could not score as Struthers was guarding the paint.  For the most part, it was that defense that coach Wernicki used back when he was the assistant at YSU. The Wildcats were led by Nick Delgratta who finished with an impressive 35 points, half of those in the second half.  Rocco Garchar would put up 10 points for the Wildcats, with Chance Laczko scoring nine.  A combined six points would be made then by Nico Farina who was the cause of the technicals, Austin McCullough, and Sincere Miller. Brady Clyde who fouled out late finished with two.  

Almost the whole squad on the Red Dragons side scored in double digits.  Even with foul trouble, Doug Foster’s squad never backed down.  Sam Perrone scored 15 points, 14 points for Keuyshon Talley, combined 36 points for Anthony Budak, Stefon Dorsey, and Robert Strickland.  Matt Kozak did foul out but had six points and a free throw for Alex Fernandez.  Niles would hang on to win 72 to 62. After the game, Ian O’Brien caught up with coach Foster and Sam Perrone. 

*Contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*