Lyndhurst, OH- The 5th annual Chet Mason Invitational kicked off this past weekend for a two day event at Charles F. Brush High school. The event started by Arcs men's basketball head coach Chet Mason was started as a way to bring spotlight to the underrated basketball talent there is in the northeast Ohio area.
Saturday showcased the top girls talent including local teams such as Cleveland Central Catholic, Toledo Rogers and one of the top state schools, Gilmour Academy.
Sunday showcased the top boys talent both in-state and out of state from teams such as Imani Christian Academy (PA), Medina, Cleveland Heights and the two best teams as of right now in Garfield Heights and St. Ed's.
Capping off the event, was the host school Brush Arcs (6-7) and their rivals from neighboring city Cleveland Heights Tigers (11-5) which ended widely.
The Arcs started this game aggressively and physically on both ends of the floor. They started the game on a 6-0 run before the Tigers came back with a 5-0 run of their own holding a small two point deficit going into the second quarter at 11-9.
Both teams kept the contest close failing to pull away in the second quarter, walking into the half tied at 26.
Similar to their matchup against Maple Heights a week ago, the Arcs turned the intensity up even more in the third. Heights senior guard Jaden Lawson open the second half up with three of his 10 second half points. Junior guard Kaleb Burge was fouled on a three pointer and Arcs senior big Tyler Williams made his presence known in the paint, at one point letting Heights sophomore big Jay'Quan Stubbs know that he was trying to get in his head.
Heights senior guard Jaden Lawson knocked down a triple before Shemarion Hardy found guard Braylon Irby for a layup taking a slim 46-43 lead into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter gave every Arc and Tigers fan in the building their monies worth. Brush guard Mike Hatcher Jr. opened the quarter with a triple to ignite the back and forth scoring between both teams for majority of the quarter.
With about 1:08 left in the fourth, the Arcs held a one point 57-56 lead over the Tigers before Heights senior forward Manny Delk shot a floater over Arcs senior forward Tyler Williams giving the team a 58-57 lead.
With 19 seconds left in the game, junior guard Kaleb Burge hurried down the court where he would find fellow junior guard Chris Brownlee who showed the true ice in his veins. Guarded by Hardy, Brownlee would not be denied. A hard dribble to the left and right before taking a step back three over Hardy to win the game seemed normal shot for him.
"He practices those type of shots everyday so it's not new" said Williams after the game about his teammate. "He told us give him the ball and get out his way"
Brownlee finished the game with 11 points.
The Tigers were in this game from start to finish, although one of the leaders in Hardy struggled majority of the game. Hardy couldn't find many whistles in his favor each time his body smacked the floor from the contact the Arcs were handing out. Hardy finished the game just 3 points.
Lawson(17) and Rondelle Pollard(18) both stepped up throughout the struggles of Hardy combining for 35 of the Tigers 58 points. Williams led the Arcs with 16 points. Both Lawson and Williams were named MVP for their perspective teams.
Other northeast Ohio games of note played include:
St. Edward 56, Garfield Heights 48 (OT):
The top two schools in the Cleveland area faced each other in a test that both teams had been looking forward to for a few weeks. The #1 Eagles came into the game on day three of a back to back to back looking to keep their undefeated record perfect, while the #3 Bulldogs who slipped to Maple Heights on Friday, looked to get that bad taste out their mouths and show what their team is truly about.
Bulldogs freshman phenomen Marcus Johnson had a bounce back game for the ages.
Johnson and Eagles senior guard Lucas Perusek started the game off with a steal and score for their perspective teams. Both would continue to battle each other back and forth knocking down back to back threes before the half, even leading their teams at the half with points. Johnson with 15 and Perusek with 13.
Neither team would take a big lead throughout the game. The Bulldogs jumped out to a six point lead before senior forward Danny Lavelle made a layup to cut the Ed's deficit to 4.
Down five entering the fourth, Eagles head coach Eric Flannery could be seen frustrated at some of the questionable calls made and mishaps by his players. The Eagles turned the ball over well over 20 times.
Senior guard Brevyn Coleman showed his clutch gene knocked down a huge three pointer late in the fourth to tie the game at 48-48 sending the contest into overtime. Coleman finished with 10 points.
The Eagles shutout the Bulldogs in overtime going on a 8-0 run to secure the win.
Johnson led all scorers with 24 points, receiving MVP honors for his team. Perusek finished with a team high 16 points and also received MVP honors.
No. 11 Lutheran East 85, Shaker Heights 58:
The top school in division III, Lutheran East Falcons (11-4) faced off against the Shaker Heights Red Raiders(7-7) in what some might consider a lopsided affair. The Raiders fresh off a 75-62 loss to Cleveland Heights on Friday, we're looking to get back on the right track of winning. The Falcons led by point guard Cody Head help a margin by as much as 20 before the first half ended.
Head finished with 18 points. Fellow teammates, sophomore T.J. Crumble and junior Jesse McCullough each added on 19 points as the Falcons blew past the Raiders. Raiders senior combo guard Kellon Smtjh led both teams with 26 points and was named MVP along with Head.
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