North Olmsted celebrates after defeating Olmsted Falls for the first time in a decade. (Photos by Larry Bennet)

Eagles finally knock off Bulldogs after 19 straight losses
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Jan. 12, 2005

Olmsted Falls has dominated the SWC for a decade. They did not lose a conference game the last two years and many teams have long losing streaks against the Bulldogs. North Olmsted coach Tim Schmotzer has said repeatedly that for anyone else to have a chance to win the league they have to win on Falls court.

Schmotzer remembers exactly how long it had been since the Eagles had won at Olmsted Falls.

"This is my 11th year coaching at North Olmsted," Schmotzer said. "My first year here we beat them here. I said to myself that was pretty easy. Well, they beat us 19 straight times. So I was hoping to keep it out of the 20s. If we beat them 18 in a row then I am .500 against them."

Sean Troha

The key to the game was the third quarter. Olmsted Falls led at the half 42-40. The Bulldogs would score the first and the last bucket of the quarter, but the Eagles scored 17 in between to lead 57-46. The Bulldogs made a run behind Pat Braddock and Corey and Tyler Sparks, but the Eagles were resilient and won 80-70.

After the victory the North Olmsted student body mobbed players on the court. The game moved the Eagles to a first place tie with the Bulldogs. Schmotzer said he wished he and his team had handled the win differently but said it was hard because it was so long in coming.

"At the end of the game we did get a little too emotional and you would like to keep it on a more even keel but since it has been so long, it is hard to do that," Schmotzer said. "I have been around long enough that it is just another game. My only frustration is that we couldn't beat them. I am a doggone competitor and it is hard not to take it personal."

Olmsted Falls led 18-8 at one point in the first quarter. Schmotzer said he expected a slow start but believed his team would rally.

"We felt at the beginning at of the game, we were a little overwhelmed," Schmotzer said. "They were a little more intense. We were erratic with the ball. But late in the first, early in the second, we righted the ship a little."

Coming up huge for the Eagles were captain Jason Mahon, junior Sean Troha and reserve Brian Grauel.

"In first quarter, we just tried to weather the storm," Mahon said. "They play great here. We just wanted to stay close and have a chance to win at the end of the game. We really dug down. We didn't play good defense in the first half, but that is what made the difference in the second half."

Jason Mahon

Because of foul trouble to the Eagles top two ball-handling guards, Grauel got big minutes in the second quarter and responded with eight points in the quarter, including two huge threes.

"Brian has sparked us before early in the season," Schmotzer said. "He lost his confidence a little and lost his shot. He is very capable of doing something like that. He was a great spark for us in that first half. Hibinger picked up two quick fouls and we were grasping for how we would fill that role. Brian did an excellent job."

"In the second quarter we were playing from behind," Mahon said. "Brian hitting those two threes was just huge. That second quarter showed we could play with these guys."

Mahon seemed to get every big rebound. He hustled from every end of the court and often brought the ball up from the forward position.

"Jason has been huge for us all year," Schmotzer said. "With Chris out, Jason was our only healthy captain. Losing bothers him and believe it or not, that is not true for every kid now."

Troha had a team high 22 points. He hit big basket after big basket.

"The basket has been a lot bigger lately after I was struggling at the beginning of the year," Troha said. "Coach told us to kept attacking. He told us to be smart, but we didn't want to get trapped and get tentative. We were playing to win rather than playing not to lose."

Troha's development into a complete player has been huge for North Olmsted.

"All his sophomore year was a learning experience," Schmotzer said. "Varsity is so different than AAU. He is now not just spotting up and shooting threes, but he is taking it to the basket. He is an extremely smart player and very unselfish. He is the type of player who is a joy to coach."

Schmotzer said the win was important, but his team can't afford a letdown.

"We can't have a letdown now," Schmotzer said. "The two keys were a good start and you have to beat Falls at Falls. Now we have to not lose our focus. Last three quarters we played very hungry and we will have to continue to do it. If you win at their place it shatters that mystique. But don't get me wrong they are going through a little bit but their coaching staff will get them together and I am sure they will be fine. They suffered a little setback, but bottom line, they are still tied for first place."

Olmsted Falls coach Pat Donahue gave credit to North Olmsted.

"That is one very good basketball team," Donahue said. "North Olmsted played a great game. They were very well prepared for us."

Earlier in the week, Olmsted Falls captain Clayton Lawrence was kicked off the team for a violation of school policy. Donahue said he hoped his team did not use that as an excuse.

"If they use it as an excuse then they are wrong," Donahue said. "In athletics you are training boys to become young men and you have to learn to deal with those particular things. They played very hard. As Tim said- in your paper, the world famous quote I would rather lose a kid at the beginning of the season and get him back then lose him in the middle. He is 100 percent correct. Other kids now have to step up in other roles and we had two days to do that. If we played this game next Friday, I would feel a lot more comfortable about those kids making those adjustments. I have nothing but positive things to say about how we played and about how North played. Our kids didn't quit."

Olmsted Falls can still determine their own fate.

"We control our own destiny," Donahue said. "We don't have to hope someone beats North or someone beats Fairview or Amherst. If we win the rest of our games we are the conference champs. It really is that simple. We will be fine. We have some quality kids. It is a setback and we will make the adjustments. Now some other kids have an opportunity."