Shaker Tops Mentor in Big Matchup

Shaker Heights trailed Mentor by 17 at one point in Friday night's matchup of premier teams. But the Red Raiders hung around, capitalizing on nearly two dozen Mentor turnovers.

Shaker's basketball team improved to 8-2 after beating Mentor, 72-66, on its own court. Senior Kash Blackwell led the Raiders with 25 points and seven rebounds.

“I have to start by saying I have a lot of respect and admiration for coach (Bob) Krizancic and the Mentor program," Shaker coach Danny Young told OhioVarsity.com after the game. "I watched some great battles between Coach Krizancic and Bob Wonson, and I know what this game is all about. Our guys never quit."

Sophomore Esa Ahmad added 18 points for Shaker.

"When we got down 17 points on the road against a team like Mentor, I was worried," Young said. "But, I wanted the guys to calm down and just take one possession at a time.

“If you would have told me we would hold a team as potent as Mentor to four points in the fourth quarter, I would have asked what you were drinking. You never expect to do that.”

The Red Raiders will face Cleveland Heights at 4 p.m. Sunday at Baldwin Wallace.