Plenty of subplots for Western-Crawford showdown

NORWALK — Where does one begin? One team is undefeated and finished as Associated Press poll champions. The other team took its only loss in the regular season finale when it was ranked No. 2 behind them — to another AP poll champion in a different division. It will also be a rematch of a thrilling 43-39 game from last season. The career assist leaders for both programs will be on the floor, among the many individual honors and accomplishments for several key players. Oh, and the two head coaches may know each other, too. There is no shortage of storylines and anticipation in Saturday's 8 p.m. Division III district championship game at Norwalk High School. In a matchup that has been anticipated for years, AP No. 1 Colonel Crawford (24-0) takes on AP No. 6 Western Reserve (22-1). The winner advances to face either No. 7 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep or Richwood North Union in next Wednesday's 6 p.m. regional semifinal at the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University. The Eagles advanced with a 46-26 win over Elmwood Thursday night in the first district semifinal in Norwalk. The Roughriders followed with a 55-43 win over Willard. Two years ago, Western Reserve head coach Chris Sheldon said in hindsight, he regretted not addressing "the elephant in the room." Crawford had just defeated Willard, and his team followed with an overtime loss to Eastwood. The "elephant" in this instance is his oldest brother of their family, Dave, is the head coach at Colonel Crawford. The two head coaches for each team Saturday night are the oldest of the Sheldon family, and one is going to get the opportunity to coach in a Sweet 16 game next week on a college campus. "We did not address it before (Thursday) night's game," Chris Sheldon said. "And I didn't because we knew Willard was a very good team that was going to challenge us. I could tell after three days of practice we were locked in on Willard. "There was nothing that told me we were worried about who we could possibly play next," he added. "A lot of times as a coach, you have to trust your instincts. My gut said that my guys were locked in and not worried on Saturday." But after the win on Thursday? "Yes, it was addressed," Chris said. "The guys know how many people out there are making this brother versus brother. But I also say this all the time — coaches dictate 10 percent, or maybe on a good night, 15 percent of a game on game night. Players are ultimately in control. "This game is Western Reserve kids against Colonel Crawford kids," he added. "The coaches will dictate an outcome of a game before it tips by preparation. If we've done our jobs, the kids know they are the ones who determine the outcome." In Tuesday's district semifinal win over Willard, Western was led by 18 points and eight rebounds from Matt Jarrett. The senior scored 15 of his team's 20 points in the first half. Jude Muenz finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including 12 points in the second half — 10 of which came in the third quarter. Carson Roe added 11 points and seven rebounds for the 'Riders. Western held Willard scoreless for the first 5:20 of the second half, going on a 16-0 scoring run in that span to break the game open. It was the third straight game that the 'Riders trailed after the first quarter. That wasn't a common sight during their 20-game win streak. "That's mental discipline at its finest," Chris Sheldon said. "When you believe in yourself and the guys around you as much as our kids do, then you always believe you're going to win. Our kids don't let time and score rattle them. They know it takes 32 minutes to win a game, and they are going to play until that final 32 is up." The Eagles have three players who average double-figures, led by 5-foot-11 senior point guard Mason Studer. The Northern 10 Conference and OHSBCA District 6 Player of the Year averages 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Studer is the career assists leader at Crawford, where he has been a part of more wins than any player in program history (90). Senior Carter Valentine (6-6) averages 17.7 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles. The 1,100-plus point scorer was All-Ohio second team last season and is committed to NCAA Div. II Ashland University. Junior forward Braxton Baker (6-4) adds 12.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Though the trio averages 47 points per game for the Eagles, in Thursday's 46-26 win over Elmwood, senior Carson Feichtner scored a team-high 12 points. Studer had 11, while Baker scored nine and Valentine had seven. Defensively, it marked the fifth time in 24 games the Eagles held a team under 30 points. The Eagles led 21-14 at half, though a quick five points by the Royals made it a 22-19 game in the third quarter. However, a quick 7-0 scoring spree by the Eagles allowed them to regain control and ultimately cruise to the win. "Studer is the engine that makes them go," Chris Sheldon said. "His IQ is off the charts. He dictates where teammates need to be offense and defense, but can also handle the ball and score when he wants. One of the main challenges at that end of the floor will be to disrupt him and slow him down, but still cover everyone else. "And Carter is a special elite athlete," he added. "There is a reason why he is a scholarships player. Then the hardest part is they have shooters around those two who get wide open looks around them. They are just as good at finding and making right pass to open teammates. Our coverage on defense will be put to the test." Muenz paces seven players for Western who average from 6-to-12 points per game. He averages 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Cam Hankins has made 46 three-pointers and averages 9.9 points for the 'Riders, while Matt Jarrett adds 9.1 points, four rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Rounding out the starting five is Roe with seven points and 4.9 rebounds, and Jake Jarrett with 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Off the bench, Aiden Edwards adds 6.5 points and Chris Buchanan scores 5.7 points with 3.4 rebounds. "They can score in a variety of ways from all five spots on the floor," Dave Sheldon said of Western. "They are unselfish and only care about winning, which is why they have been successful all year long. "I think defensively, Western has always played tough, physical hard-nosed defense," he added. "And this group continues the tradition of Western pressure defense up the full length of the court, which creates challenges for their opponents." The siblings have met once prior as head coaches, with Colonel Crawford pulling out a 43-39 win over the Roughriders in November 2020. That was a regular season game hastily scheduled at the height of the pandemic. Saturday night will be higher stakes to say the least. Crawford won the district in 2020 and the 'Riders won the district title last season. "I know for the outside world it's entertaining and exciting, but our kids and Crawford kids at this juncture have been doing this since middle school," Chris Sheldon said. "We've practiced and scrimmaged every year, summer and fall. A lot of them are good friends on social media. There is a mutual respect there." But with a catch. "These are both Sheldon-coached teams," Chris said. "Friendships, blood and family are put aside for 32 minutes — because Dave and I have been trying to kick the crap out of each other for 43 years. "Saturday night in front of 2,000 people isn't going to be any different, there will just be a lot more people watching for once," he added. "Both teams will embody that competitive spirit for 32 minutes. And it won't have anything to do with my brother and I. It will be Western against Crawford kids."