The Crestwood Red Devils boys’ basketball team’s days of being pushed around in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division appear to be over. The Red Devils stayed undefeated in conference play, overwhelming CVC Valley Division foe Cardinal 62-37 for its sixth victory in the last seven games last Friday evening in Mantua.
“We understand what is at play, but we are really concentrating on the moment,” said Red Devils’ Coach Josh Jakacki. “For a little bit of time there in the first half, the moment became too big for us, and we never got into a real rhythm.”
Since joining the CVC Valley Division in the 2020-21 season, Crestwood (13-2, 8-0) has struggled in league play, particularly against Cardinal (4-12, 0-6) who has defeated the Red Devils five straight times.
After only recording one win against its CVC Valley Division rivals over the last two seasons, Crestwood is finally fighting back. After sweeping the season series against the Huskies, the Red Devils are only two victories away from clinching its first league banner since joining the CVC.
“It’s definitely awesome,” said freshman guard Brody Durham. “We have struggled in the past against CVC teams but to get back, it feels great.”
Crestwood’s last conference banner came when it still belonged to the Portage Trail Conference County Division during the 2019-20 season, its final year in the PTC before switching conferences.
The Red Devils got off to a slow start in the first period, only shooting three-of-11 from the floor, knocking down just one-of-six 3-pointers and committing seven turnovers. Although Cardinal senior guard and leading scorer Troy Domen only scored four points on two-of-five shooting, junior guard Cal Cimenello added six points, while shooting three-of-four, giving the Huskies a 10-9 advantage at the end of the quarter.
Crestwood continued to struggle to find consistency in the second quarter and was sloppy with the ball, committing five more turnovers. Despite their poor ball-handling, the Red Devils’ defense stiffened and allowed the Huskies to score only five points, outscoring them by a 16-5 margin to build a 10-point advantage at halftime.
According to the 14-year coach, Crestwood’s turnover woes were unacceptable.
“It was a really rough first quarter,” he added. “We were able to build a little bit of a lead in the second quarter to bump it up to 10 but I did not feel comfortable with how we were playing. We were playing erratic and were not valuing possessions. “
The 5-foot-10 Durham sparked Crestwood in the third quarter, scoring nine points by driving to the basket and shooting five-of-six from the free throw line, igniting a 13-10 run to increase the Red Devils’ lead to 14 points.
“We definitely recognized the mismatches and just had to attack them,” Durham said. “That was definitely huge. Our coaches preach we have to come out in the second half in those first four minutes and have to get after them and that is definitely what we did.”
It marked just the second game the Red Devils’ freshman played in the last three weeks, being unavailable to play due to illness, but Jakacki acknowledged the impact Durham has on a deep Crestwood roster.
“He has helped solidify us from a playmaking standpoint,” Jakacki noted. “He allows some of our shooters to find space and does a good job of recognizing that he and many of the other guys are excelling in their role and not trying to do things outside of their weaknesses.”
Durham scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists.
After extending the lead to 43-29 in the third quarter, Crestwood was fueled by an 8-2 run in the fourth period, increasing its advantage to 20 points to roll to another crucial conference victory.
Although Domen tied with Cimenello with a team-leading 16 points, the Red Devils’ defense did not make it easy for him, limiting him to shooting only six-of-24 in the game.
“He is a heck of a player,” Jakacki said. “We knew coming in that he was a kid capable of keeping them in the game, but we felt we did a good job of wearing him down and taking him off of his spots and he did not get a lot of space. Augie Schweickert, and Brody and Bryce Giel did a good job of getting enough contact with him to that he was feeling uncomfortable.”
The Huskies fell to 4-13 when they lost to CVC Valley Division rival Wickliffe on Monday night.
Following a road game against Portage County foe Southeast on Tuesday evening, the Red Devils will stay on the road and face CVC Valley Division rival Kirtland in Lake County on Friday night at 6:45 p.m. Meanwhile, Cardinal will host conference foe Grand Valley in Middlefield on Friday evening at 6:45 p.m.
