Shaker Heights Boys Basketball Team Falls To Mentor In Regional Championship

There was no comeback for Shaker Heights boys basketball team on Saturday.

This time the Mentor Cardinals held onto their lead.

After losing 17-point leads in each of the regular-season meetings against the Raiders, Mentor jumped out at halftime by that exact number once again - coincidentally - and more than just held on in defeating Shaker Heights, 76-56, at the Wolstein Center.

With the victory, the Cardinals (23-5) are headed to the state final four where they will play Columbus Northland on Friday afternoon at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University.

It is the second time in program history they will play in a state semifinal, which they first did in 2010.

When Shaker Heights fell behind, the Raiders faithful had to hold out hope that it would be a repeat of the two regular-season wins over Mentor.

But it didn't happen.

Cardinals leaped ahead of Shaker Heights (20-7) midway through the first quarter and never let up.

Conner Krizancic (17 points) hit a pair of 3s in the first quarter, and Michael Gallagher and Kade McClure each added a triple as Mentor ran out to a 20-12 lead after 8 minutes of play.

The Cardinals outscored the Raiders, 18-9, in the second quarter to lead by the very eerie number of 17 points, but that turned out to not be a problem at all in the second half.

Senior point guard Jeff Foreman scored 14 points and dished out 7 assists. Caleb Potter hit two big 3s and finished with 13 for the Cardinals. McClure knocked down both of his attempts from beyond the arc, as Mentor made 12 of 23 from 3-point land on the night.

Meanwhile, Mel Leach scored 15 points for Shaker Heights, Esa Ahmad added 13 and Rosel Hurley chipped in 11. Standout guard Kash Blackwell was limited to six points.