Cardinal Mooney Holds Off Campbell Memorial, Advances To Regional Final

March 9, 2022

Canton, Ohio

 

OHSAA Boys Division 3 Regional Semifinal

 

Campbell Memorial   12        9         12        8    =   41

Cardinal Mooney        13        9         7         18   =   47

 

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, behind a big fourth quarter from sophomore Ashton O’Brien, pulled away from Campbell Memorial and advanced to the regional final with a 47-41 victory on Wednesday evening.

 

Memorial jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but Mooney went ahead for the first time when senior guard Mick Hergenrother scored on a layup as the first quarter buzzer sounded. The second quarter was an even battle and the Cardinals took a 22-21 halftime lead into the locker room.

 

Memorial had a strong third quarter, led by Xavion Leonard. The senior forward scored 7 of his team-high 15 points in that period and, when senior forward Skevos Kouros banked in a layup with 0:12 on the clock, the Red Devils entered the fourth quarter with a 33-29 lead.

 

Enter Mr. O’Brien. He had scored just 2 points in the game as the final frame began, but he tied the game at 33 with two early buckets. O’Brien then scored another 6 points over the next three minutes of playing time before Memorial came back to tie the game at 39 on a short jumper by senior forward Kevin Moore at the 2:49 mark.

 

The score remained 39-39 until O’Brien buried a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:28 remaining. Sophomore guard Rocco Turner, who led the Cardinals in scoring with 16 points, sank 4 clutch one-and-one free throws in the final minute as Mooney closed out the Red Devils.

 

Cardinal Mooney will play Cleveland Heights Lutheran East in the regional final on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to next week’s state tournament in Dayton.

 

Campbell Memorial

Leonard          6 – 3/6 – 15

Weaver           3 – 0/0 – 8

Kouros            2 – 0/1 – 4

Moore, Ka.      2 – 0/0 – 4

Moore, Ke.      1 – 2/2 – 4

James              1 – 0/0 – 3

Will                 1 – 0/0 – 3

 

Field Goals:  16/34, 47%         3-Point Shots:  4/9, 44%         Free Throws:  5/9, 56%

Rebounds:  26                         Turnovers:  13

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney

Turner             5 – 4/4 – 16

O’Brien            6 – 2/2 – 15

Hergenrother 5 – 0/2 – 11

Pecchia            1 – 1/2 – 3

Menough        1 – 0/0 – 2

Pepperney      0 – 0/0 – 0

 

Field Goals:  18/40, 45%         3-Point Shots:  4/11, 36%       Free Throws:  7/10, 70%

Rebounds:  21                         Turnovers:  4

By: Don DiFrancesco               @MayorNEOPrep