St. Paul holds off Crestline in key win

NORWALK — There are positives and negatives to any game. And with the stretch of the schedule the St. Paul boys basketball team is facing, just finishing on the right side of the scoreboard is the most important thing. The Flyers finally gained some distance over visiting Crestline Tuesday night in the third quarter of a non-league game inside Harvey Keller Gymnasium. But they also saw a 12-point lead get erased in just over five minutes. However, the Flyers gained enough separation in the final three minutes to hang on for a 50-43 win over the Bulldogs to improve to 6-5 overall. "We're seeing some good competition along with the chopped-up schedule over Christmas," St. Paul head coach Steve Minor said. "There are all kinds of things happening with downtime, but we tried to keep it as regular a schedule as possible." The Bulldogs (6-6) also run a lot of sets, which would have meant just one day to prep for them all after St. Paul lost by 12 at Western Reserve on Jan. 3. "Instead of having our guys trying to memorize 30 sets (Monday), we just talked them through what they do defensively and hoped for the best for the most part," Minor said. "We just grinded it out. "It was that type of game against a team that is similar to ours as far as record and strength of schedules. I think they are a little deeper than us; otherwise, we're pretty even." Leading 21-17 at halftime, the Flyers started their big second-half run about 90 seconds into the third quarter. With a 23-20 lead, Brady Fritz scored in the paint, followed by back-to-back baskets from Isaac Kalizewski. Both shots also came in the key, including one on an offensive rebound the junior stuck back in. After a Crestline turnover, Nate Griffin also scored in transition. Landon Fries then found Fritz under the basket off a Crestline miss, and suddenly a 10-0 run in 4:31 gave the Flyers a 33-20 lead. The Bulldogs scored twice around a basket from Connor Lindenberger to trail 35-25 entering the fourth quarter. Kalizewski kept the lead at 10 with a score with 7:26 remaining, but then Crestline started getting stops and consistently strung together points at the offensive end. After Kalizewski scored to make it 39-33, Crestline's Weston Clark sank consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 39 with 3:47 remaining. It was a 43-41 lead after Griffin scored with 2:20 left, and his next basket came off a turnover and fast break at the other end to make it 46-43 with 1:01 left. Crestline then turned it over twice, and the Flyers got two free throws from Lindenberger with 25.8 seconds to go, then an easy layup by Fries with 12.2 seconds left to close out the scoring. "Landon got over the hump a little bit when we needed him to there," Minor said. "We put the ball in Nate's hands more because they were being so physical with him, instead of letting him run around trying to catch it. "We're trying a different approach to it, but it's a work in progress." Despite using the double-digit lead in a short period of time, Minor was pleased his team found a way to finish. "Especially when they cut it to one and you can feel that run coming," he said. "But we got a few stops, and some of the 50/50 balls went our way. They just missed on a three, and luckily we were able to come down with it, and we got some home runs at the other end. "We didn't make a single three-pointer tonight. In a season we have had 13 in a game and now none; it's nice to win both ways." In the first half, the Flyers led 10-9 after one quarter. It was still just a 17-16 lead late in the half on a basket by Crestline, but Fries scored with 1:02 left in the half, then Lindenberger scored down low with 9.7 seconds left to put St. Paul up four at halftime. Fries finished with 12 points for the Flyers. Kalizewski added 11 points and five rebounds, while Lindenberger had 10 points and six rebounds. Griffin added nine points and nine rebounds, while Fritz added eight points. Up next for St. Paul is perhaps its most challenging weekend of the season. The Flyers (1-4 FC) visit Plymouth (6-2, 5-0) in a Firelands Conference game Friday before heading to Sandusky to take on St. Mary Central Catholic (6-0) on Saturday. "We know what we will see Friday at Plymouth," Minor said. "Some of the older guys know what it's like, and others don't. Some will remember, and some will learn. "We'll see what we can do, but it's going to be a challenge, no doubt." CRESTLINE (6-6) Kody Lawhorn 1-0—2; Weston Clark 5-3—15; Kordaie Robinson 2-0—4; Adam Burton 1-0—2; Kieran Barnett 4-4—13; Quentin Kapp 2-1—5; Brett Cheney 1-0—2. TOTALS 16-8—43. ST. PAUL (6-5) Nate Griffin 3-3—9; Connor Lindenberger 3-4—10; Isaac Kalizewski 5-1—11; Brady Fritz 2-4—8; Landon Fries 5-2—12. TOTALS 10-14—50. Crestline 9 8 8 10 — 43 St. Paul 10 11 14 15 — 50 3-point FGs: (CR) Clark, Barnett. JV: St. Paul, 40-28.