The Crestwood Red Devils boys’ basketball team appeared as if they were still finding their way on the basketball court at the beginning of the season but now look the part, having survived a furious rally from Cornerstone Christian Academy and beat the Patriots 46-44 for their sixth consecutive victory last Saturday evening in Mantua.
“They have come a long way and are maturing very quickly,” said Coach Andrew Mertz. “They had to grow up quickly. They are doing that and a game like this, that type of physicality, is good for us. We learn from it and we bring it to practice and experience it and I think it is just helping everyone as a whole.”
After experiencing a 1-7 start to the season, the Red Devils (10-10, 3-6) have found a spark, winning eight of their last 11 games and are currently riding a six-game winning streak into the final week of the regular season play.
According to senior forward Angelo DiNardo, Crestwood has found confidence from within and also drawn confidence from defying the outside expectations.
“It feels great,” DiNardo noted. “We were only predicted to win three games and now we are at 10 wins. We came into the season and were the underdogs. No one thought of us getting over three wins and it feels good.”
On Saturday, the Red Devils set a physical tone from the start, holding a lead throughout most of the game but CCA did not wither.
Crestwood’s halftime lead of 24-15 was trimmed to seven points after they only scored five points in the third period and the Patriots kept attacking in the fourth period, storming back on a 17-9 run to take a one-point lead after senior forward Darien Davis scored on a hook shot, pushing the Patriots ahead 39-38.
CCA’s lead was short-lived, as sophomore guard Colton Mayle buried a 3-point shot off an assist from senior guard Joel Custer, spurring the Red Devils back ahead 41-39.
“I just knew that we needed a score, and I was wide open when Joel kicked me the ball, so I just had to shoot it,” noted the Crestwood sophomore, who paced the Red Devils with 17 points and four rebounds. “It just gave us a bunch of momentum to keep fighting back and get our lead back.”
Mayle’s fourth quarter was his best period, shooting a perfect three-of-three, including connecting on a pair of 3-point baskets and went two-of-two from the foul line.
“That is Colton,” said Mertz. “That has been Colton all season. He is one of the few that does not typically get flustered when the game is on the line in the final seconds. He wants the ball in his hands, I want the ball in his hands and good things typically happen.”
The Red Devils never relinquished the lead again, stretching their lead to 45-41 in the final minute of regulation.
CCA continued chipping away, as freshman guard Jared McCain knocked down a right corner 3-point shot from Davis, cutting Crestwood’s lead to only one point but the Red Devils maintained possession, forcing the Patriots to foul and sent DiNardo to the foul line in the final seconds and he split a pair of free throws, extending the lead to 46-44.
Although the Patriots collected the rebound off of DiNardo’s missed second free throw, they did not have enough time to advance the ball past halfcourt to generate a quality game-winning shot, enabling the Red Devils to claim their sixth consecutive victory.
Not only did the winning streak reach six games, but it marked the third game in the winning streak where Crestwood gutted out a close victory in the final minutes.
The first-year coach noted that Crestwood is beginning to find the winning formula.
“Another thing that has been really good for us all year is the way that this group is playing in that 3-2 defense and the way this group moves when the ball is in the air. The length that they provide up front there is tough for teams to figure out,” he added.
As much as Mertz is taking satisfaction in the way the Red Devils have surged at the end of the regular season, he acknowledged that the team’s rapid growth and maturity has surprised even him.
“That has been our message the entire year, play like you have nothing to lose,” he said. “We can be a dangerous team when everybody expects us walking into every game to lose. I think the kids have really bought into that. I know that they are a good group of kids and there is a lot of talent there.”
Following a road duel against Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division foe Rootstown on Tuesday night, Crestwood will take on Akron Coventry in its regular season finale on Friday night in Akron at 7 p.m.
