Play by Play Classic: STVM tops Cleveland Heights, 70-66

by Don DiFrancesco @MayorNEOPrep

BEREA, OHIO– In game six of Sunday’s Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic at Baldwin Wallace University, the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish outlasted the Cleveland Heights Tigers, 70-66. The Irish traded baskets with Heights in the first quarter, but surged ahead on the strength of Lunden McDay’s 12 points in the second period to take a 38-35 halftime lead.

SVSM kept the heat on the Tigers in the third quarter behind nine points by Jalen Ross. And when McDay was fouled attempting a 3-point basket with 27 seconds remaining in the quarter, he calmly sank all three foul shots to give the Irish their largest lead of the game at 55-40.

Heights was not finished yet. The Tigers were consistently able to get the ball to their big man, 6’-5” senior Tyreke Smith throughout the fourth quarter. Smith scored 12 points in the quarter and ended up with 27 on the night (to go with 10 rebounds). However, the Tigers were never able to regain the lead and finished on the short end of a 70-66 score.

For SVSM, McDay was the leading scorer with 21 points. Ross and freshman Seth Wilson both scored 11.

In addition to Tyreke Smith’s 27, Heights received 12 points each from LeMaro Smith and Yahel Hill.

Saint Vincent-St. Mary                     12            26            18            14   =     70

Cleveland Heights                              16            19            8             23   =     66