Better-than-advertised Warriors to open SWC against Bay
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Dec. 1, 2004

Fairview used some hot outside shooting to build a first-half lead over Lutheran West, but the Longhorns prevailed. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

The Fairview Warriors were supposed to be a lot less dangerous this year. Local folk hero "Bub" Schuler and six other seniors graduated after taking the school on its longest journey into the postseason in the school's history. And despite the fact Lutheran West coach Phil Argento had never defeated his neighborhood rival, many local pundits figured the Longhorns would win by 20 to 30 points.

Instead, Warrior coach and Lutheran West graduate Eric Smith's club led, 37-30, at the half. The Longhorns rallied to win, 70-64.

"I was pleased with my team's intensity and effort but I am not into moral victories," Smith said. "In the locker room, they were very disappointed after the game. They went into the game believing they would win and after they believed they should have.

"We didn't play as well as we can. We did a decent job of taking away their advantages but we didn't handle the ball well enough and we had too many unforced turnovers. We got better shots in the first half; in the second half we got the same shots but we were not patient enough."

Still, the cupboard was supposed to be bare and the Warriors gave the Longhorns a real scare.

"We are still a perimeter team and we will always be one," Smith said. "Yes we had a lot of talent graduate but people forget that Mike Stanton is a three-year starter. He deferred a lot in his role before but what he did Friday night (17 points) he is capable of every night and more. It is now his team."

Smith mentioned several other talented players that no one else has heard of -- yet.

"Steve Manos is a player but he was behind some talented kids last year," Smith said. "Matt Kurz and Dan Schafer had solid years on JV last year. Jimmy Kerrigan transferred from Lutheran West and he can shoot. Kevin Fillinger averaged 18 points a game last year on the freshmen team. And against Lutheran West, I can't say enough about what Matt Faska did for us. He was injured at the end of the first half with a cut over his eye that needed stitches. We tried to get him back for the second half but it didn't work out. That changed the game. Lutheran West is going to win a lot of games this year and we battled them. I am sure we surprised some people but not the 12 guys in the locker room or the coaching staff."

Another coach not surprised was Bay coach Scott Sharp.

"Every time we play Fairview it is a real tough game so I was not surprised they played Lutheran West so tough," Sharp said.

To outsiders, it would appear that Bay is also in a rebuilding year. Sharp has only two returning players from last year's team. Those two starters are seniors Derek Riedel and Dan Howarth. Riedel was first-team All-Conference last season. He averaged 17.5 points per game and 7.4 rebounds.

"Our offense will be centered around Derek," Sharp said. "We will need to young guys to step up. It may take a while; it is something that occurs over the course of the season."

Sharp said he is aware of Fairview's strength.

"They shoot well from the outside," Sharp said. "We will have to try to defend the 3-point shot. We don't have much height so we will have to box out and rebound. It is our first game and you just try to win that first game. Fairview has one under their belt. I am not looking for anything big. We just need to play a solid game and try to come out with a win."

Smith knows his team will need to slow Riedel to win the game.

"He is a load," Smith said. "He has bulked up from football but he is very versatile. He can play inside and out. We have to guard against that."

Smith also knows that you have to come with intensity for every SWC game.

"In our conference it doesn't matter who you play," Smith said. "Our league doesn't get the credit it deserves. Week in and week out, you just have to look at the scores. We were up 10 against Lutheran West. Outside of a two-minute span, Rocky River was there against Walsh Jesuit. Westlake beat Keystone. North Olmsted beat Brecksville. If you don't come to play in our conference, you will lose."