Cleveland Heights, Ohio— Cleveland Heights was the Scene as The Lutheran East Falcons (4-0) looked to protect their homecourt tonight. Visiting St. Vincent-St. Mary (0-3) looked to hand the Falcons their first loss. The Falcons beat St. Vincent decisively with a 63-49 win.
Both teams came out launching from three. SVSM got two quick ones from Jayson Walker and Leigh Cotton. They were answered with a pair from Anthony Bruce and Ronald Taylor.
SVSM started to gain some momentum with another jumper for Walker around the four minute mark. John Whorton followed right up with a three point shot. SVSM led 13-8.
Lutheran East went in a quick 6-0 run with a three pointer from Jesse McCulloch and baskets from Alan Mallory and Chris Hill.
The quarter ended with Lutheran East up 17-14.
McCulloch started to get going for Lutheran East in the second. He started the quarter off with a layup and another three pointer. Lutheran East led 21-18 with five minutes left.
A few minutes passed and Walker made two free throws and McCulloch scored 5 quick points. Lutheran East led 29-20 with two minutes to go.
Walker knocked down a midrange jumper and Bruce scored responded with a floater. SVSM got the last bucket of the half. Lutheran East went into the half up 31-24.
Lutheran East carried over their momentum from the first half. They started the period on a 6-0 run with buckets from Bruce, McCulloch and Taylor.
SVSM started to find their footing getting a three point basket from DeCarlo Prince and a putback from Whorton. Lutheran East led 37-29.
A few minutes passed and SVSM kept chipping away at the lead. With another Prince basket and free throws from Cotton they were able to get it down to 42-35 with 2 minutes to go.
A number of free throws for Lutheran East closed the quarter out. Lutheran East ended the third leading 47-36.
The fourth quarter was pretty much all Lutheran East. They started out with a 9-0 run with a three from Bruce and buckets from McCulloch and Chauncey Brashers.
Walker knocked down another three for St. Vincent with around 4:30 left but back to back alley oops from Jesse McCulloch was the beginning of the end.
SVSM was able to score a few more baskets before the game ended but it wasn’t enough. The Falcons came out on top 63-49.
I got the chance to speak with the Head Coach for Lutheran East, Sam Liggins. He looks at this victory with high regard.
“Much respect to St. Vincent - St. Mary," said Liggins. "Anytime you come play a program like that that got so much history and tradition and those guys got state banners the same way we do you kind of take it serious. You lock in just to measure yourself.”
The Falcons will be back in action Saturday December 16th at 5 pm vs Winston Woods . The game will take place at Tri-C.
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